Emily Schiffer

Photographer

www.emilyschiffer.com

Staying Home

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Nationality: USA

Biography: Emily Schiffer is a photographer and mixed media artist interested in the intersection between art, community engagement, and social change. She is a Co-founder and Creative Director of We, Women , the largest social impact photography... read on

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-2645.jpg

March 25, 2020: Lola and I are in her room when flute music stops us in our tracks. Our neighbor is playing an impromptu backyard concert. We open the window and let the music flood in. Lola dances on the windowsill for a good half hour.

Photography image - Loading AmalBirthday-1-10.jpg

April 24, 2020: Yesterday one of our best friends turned 6. Four families on the block came out with signs for a socially distanced rendition of happy birthday. Afterwards the kids gleefully jumped in puddles. I’ve lost track of how long it’s been since we went out front. Needless to say it was the highlight of our lockdown. So much has changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Most of us have lost people we love and the kids no longer need reminding to stay far apart.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-3132.jpg

April 1, 2020: Lola is willing to do a worksheet for school if I sit with her in her fort.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-3071.jpg

March 27, 2020: Quarantined on our stoop, Lola watches her friends on bikes ride by. Yesterday she was allowed to pass a soccer ball with the other kids. Today news of friends with the virus coupled with a new tightness in my chest prompts me to take extra precautions. I've changed the rules again, and inconsistency makes things harder.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-2744.jpg

March 25, 2020: Dance Class.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-3281.jpg

April 2, 2020: After bickering over school-prescribed worksheets that neither of us want to do, Lola releases pent up energy to the background song of incessant ambulance sirens. I am grappling with the instability and anxiety these days hold, and decide in this moment to forgo phonics and math in favor of just about anything that sparks joy.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_StayingHome-7079.jpg

May 5, 2020: Today Lola discovered gel. Unfortunately for her it was only a curl enhancer, not the kind that stiffens the hair and keeps it from moving. To achieve her desired look she used half the jar. Here, we are washing it out before bedtime.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily_09_Lola-2.jpg

March 21, 2020: A few weeks ago I posted an image of Lola dancing on the windowsill while our neighbor played his flute in the backyard, and I mentioned that she's been begging for flute lessons. The mother of my former students saw the flute and sent us one she'd had kicking around since her daughter was in middle school. Lola was delighted to receive it and has been teaching herself ever since.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-3023.jpg

March 26, 2020: Seeking privacy, Thierry makes work calls in our bedroom.

May 1, 2020: 7pm cheer.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily-3089.jpg

March 24, 2020: Lola and Omar hug themselves to keep from hugging each other. Under normal circumstances the children on our block free flow from one apartment to the other.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_Emily_08_Thierry_and_Julian-11.jpg

March 21, 2020: Our 8 month old son is the only one who doesn't understand that life is different. For him everything is new and exciting. Here my husband Thierry shows him the big leaves of our rubber tree.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_StayingHome-3640.jpg

April 9, 2020: Before the quarantine Lola was known to spend hours painting with Bob Ross. Today she asked for a canvas so that she could make a present for my husband Thierry's birthday.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_StayingHome-2913.jpg

March 26, 2020: After two weeks inside I allowed Lola to play social distance soccer with her best friends on the block.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_StayingHome-3514.jpg

March 7, 2020: Lola tries to amuse her brother while we cook breakfast.

Photography image - Loading Schiffer_StayingHome-.jpg

March 20, 2020: I usually shoot documentary style, but today I tried to pose my family for a portrait. No one listened. This is not at all what I was planning.