Lockdown’s extraordinary impact on family life is revealed in these prize-winning snaps.
Taken by amateur photographers they remind us how all our lives were transformed overnight by the coronavirus outbreak.
Overall first place in the competition organised by Cartridge Save went to Chelle Lundy, 35, from Leeds with a breathtaking image showing her holding her three-week-old son Jorek.
Stay-at-home mum-of-four Chelle said: “This is us feeling safe in our bubble at home, and looking out at the world during lockdown.
“I had Jorek by homebirth in the middle of the outbreak. My daughter was shielding at the time, so as a family we spent all our time together indoors – getting to know our new arrival.
The under 18s category was won by student Ruby Barnes, 17, from Leicestershire, with a striking snap of herself donating her hair to charity The Little Princess Trust, during the peak of the pandemic.
She said: “My hair had grown super long during lockdown and I decided to donate it to The Little Princess Trust when I was finally able to have a haircut. I was able to donate over 13 inches of hair and managed to raise £50 for the charity.”
Health worker Lorna Lyons, 39, from Glasgow, scooped glory in the 18-50 category with an image of her sons thanking the NHS for their service.
She said: “I had a particularly challenging shift at work and really couldn’t wait to get to bed, but when I pulled up at my front door I was met with these two smiley faces which made everything else just disappear.”
Jacqui Ruddock, 61, from Derbyshire was chosen as the winner of the over 50s category, with a heartwarming image of her family meeting a new addition for the first time through social distancing.
The NHS worker commented: ““I entered the competition because I felt the photograph demonstrated how life is through the pandemic for many families and I like the concept of these times being documented.”
The winners of the competition were decided through a combination of a public vote on cartridgesave.co.uk and the input of a panel of expert judges – freelance newspaper and magazine journalist Deborah Linton and national press photographer Mark Waugh.
Mark hailed Chelle’s winning snap, saying: “The soft window light contrasting with the dark interior draws you in to the lovely moment of a mum and her newborn.
“I feel the light coming in through the window represents the freedom of normal life with the dark interior representing being trapped inside. Others might think the interior is the safe environment with the light representing the dangers of the outside world.
“I think that’s part of the delight of this image: It will tell a different story dependent on different imaginations.”
Managing director of Cartridge Save, Ian Cowley, commented: “We’ve had some fantastic entries to the competition, and it’s been incredible to see how people have coped during lockdown.
“These images showcase how families and friends have adapted to a new way of living from all over the UK, and these photographs will be a part of history for future generations to look back on forever.”
