Five years ago today, I mapped out my first route through town for We Are Medway – Porch Portraits. On March 22, 2020, my wife and I set out, crisscrossing Medway, capturing portraits of families in exchange for food donations. What started as a one-day idea quickly grew into a multi-week project.
All the food—and eventually money (many people discovered Venmo that month)—was donated to the town’s two food pantries. Looking back at the collection now, I’m struck by how many of the people in those portraits have become friends, some of whom I barely knew before this project began.
Families have grown and changed since then, but this project remains a time capsule of our town at a pivotal moment—573 families, over 2,250 people, countless dogs, a few cats, and at least one chicken.
I took every photo and used them to create a mosaic of the dam at Choate, ensuring each image appears—more than once. I hope it brings back memories, even just of the moment the photo was taken. More than a few people admitted it was the first time in days they had put on real clothes—or even showered—before stepping outside for their portrait, glad I could be part of those decisions.
tr/trp
What a wonderful work of love. Superb composition!
Your picture of the Choate Dam was the first picture I bought at TC Scoops. Love it.
It was a thrill to meet you as everyone was talking about you.