In Pictures

Coronavirus: Meeting the neighbours during isolation

  • 20 April 2020
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Dan, Lily, Harry and Caroline Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Dan, Lily, Harry and Caroline have lived on the street for 20 years

At a time when people can't socialise with friends or see family, photographer Zoe Savitz began a portrait series of her street in Dalston, east London.

Savitz spent about 20 minutes with each household, standing on the pavement, chatting at a distance before taking their photo.

Sometimes, her housemate would join her, drawn by the opportunity to interact with people again.

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"Hearing everyone's stories, where they came from, what they were doing in the world before it stopped and how long they lived here for was so interesting," she says.

"Some families have lived on the street since the 70s.

"From Windrush generations, to families from Kashmir, Mauritius, Japan, America, Australia and Europe."

Tracey Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Tracey moved to the street from Cheshire five years ago
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Savitz now has a pen pal who lives at the other end of the road.

"He's called Theo and is four," she says.

"We draw pictures and post them to each other.

"We have borrowed puzzles from a few doors down, had neighbours make us sourdough and have been offered discounts on home-office furniture.

Patrick Image copyright Zoë Savitz || www.zoesavitz.com
Image caption Patrick moved in with his girlfriend when the lockdown started
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"Since sharing the project amongst members of the street, I see people chatting outside each other's doors, recognising one another from the photos.

"Now there are so many familiar faces I see on my daily walk, I feel a great community connection that will last a long time and is so rare for city living.

"After seeing my photos, one lady messaged me to say, 'There is so much history on this road and I'm so glad you are doing this project.'"

Yoni Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Yoni is from New York
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Bilgin and Jens Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Originally from Germany, Bilgin and Jens have lived here for two years
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Romana, baby Leyla, Isaac, Ayten Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Romana, pictured with baby Leyla, Isaac and Ayten, has lived on the street since 1977
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Tobi Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Tobi, a resident for two years
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Sophie and Esther Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Sophie is from France, Esther from Spain
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Elizabeth, Ben, Josh and Tom Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Elizabeth, Ben, Josh and Tom
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Jonathan, baby Sara Haru and Theo Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Jonathan, baby Sara Haru and Theo, from London and Japan, have lived on the street for 15 years
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Triplets Abigail, Amanda and Josephine Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Triplets Abigail, Amanda and Josephine have lived on the street for more than 20 years
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Lucy Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Lucy is from Manchester but has just returned from New York and been living here for just a couple of months
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Kiran, Arvid, Nilesh, Jay and Rooma Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Kiran, Arvid, Nilesh, Jay and Rooma have lived on the street since 1972
Ivy, Racheal, Niamh, Gareth and Louis Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Ivy, Racheal, Niamh, Gareth and Louis
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Sibylle Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Sibylle, a resident for three years, is originally from Switzerland
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Cristina, Elizabeth, Georgia and Emily Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Cristina, Elizabeth, Georgia and Emily, from Spain, Ireland and New Zealand, have lived on the street for more than two years
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Sherief Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption Sherief moved in with his girlfriend a month or so ago
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James and Ben Image copyright Zoë Savitz
Image caption James and Ben have lived in London for 10 years but only a few months on this street

All photographs by Zoe Savitz.