The Virtual Classroom: A Glimpse of Life in Quarantine

When the students in Danielle Picard-Sheehan’s photography classes left for spring break, they never imagined that their assignments might turn into a reflection of the Coronavirus pandemic. With the move to remote learning, the students were asked to create a photo essay of eighteen images that investigated parts of their lives.

Some original examples shared with the students were adolescent love, environmental concerns, or the elderly, but it’s no surprise that their projects quickly shifted to the quarantine. Students used this assignment to show their home, their time spent together with family, and the struggles of the pandemic.

David Shields ’24 presented a photo essay showing the emptiness of Chicago during the pandemic. In his Statement of Purpose, David says, “Looking through my images you can see the emptiness of Chicago. From empty train cars to empty streets this city has changed a lot. I feel a little lost or sad for how much this city has changed, and that is also the emotion that I am trying to portray in my work.”

Not all projects were directly quarantine or pandemic related, Melissa Ford ’21 shot images exemplifying mental health and human nature. Her photo essay combines images of people, patterns, and nature. In her statement, Melissa says, “Through this project, I hoped to bridge the gap that has been made by modernization between humans and nature.”

All of the students’ projects conveyed strong messages and emotions. Below, you can catch a glimpse of what they were seeing from home.