Photographer captures snapshots of life in lockdown

Ross Mitchell has been out and about every day for the past 110 days taking photos of ordinary folk – and their dogs – in his local community.

So far he’s taken almost 800 photographs, which he hopes to display in a special exhibition once the Covid-19 crisis is over.

A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Ross is a full-time freelance photographer with a number of prestigious commissions under his belt.

When lockdown was first announced, he was making a documentary for the Scottish Gliding Centre and doing fashion photography for a major Scottish retailer.

But like many others, he found that work dried up overnight as lockdown came into force.

“I could not work as I usually do and needed something to keep me busy and focused in this uncertain time,” said Ross (40).

“So I thought I would go out with just my camera and take photographs of the local people my partner and I met while on our daily exercise allowance, keeping in line with social distancing rules.

“Working as a photographer normally involves me using multiple lights on location, but due to the corona virus I became restricted on how I captured my photography so I decided I would go back to basics.

“At first it was a surreal experience, as nothing like this has ever happened in our lifetime.”

He continued: “But I never thought I would get so much interest! So many people have told me what a great idea this is and say they look forward to seeing the photographs every night and to keep them coming.

“People have said that it makes them feel connected with the world, especially as some are in isolation, so seeing their friends and family in the photographs somehow makes them feel close to them, not to mention the comments about how many canine companions there are Kinross and Milnathort!

“A few have said it would be good to see them in a gallery format or even a book, documenting a social historical record of Kinross 2020, and suggested putting them in the time capsule at the square.”