HistoryCoronavirus Coverage

Glimpses of grief and resilience, captured over an unforgettable year

“The pandemic stripped away a lot of fears and amplified my desire to connect with others.” One year into COVID-19, photographers reflect on their own images.

By Tucker C. Toole

PUBLISHED March 11, 2021

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"This is a portrait of the so respected spirit of the Amazonian plants, as they believe there is a profound Human connection with nature. The Healing Plants are a representation of the heritage, history, and cosmovision of the Shipibo-Konibo Indigenous people from Peruvian rainforest, whose leadership and vast connection with biodiversity and traditional plant-based medicine are under threat amid the coronavirus pandemic.During the sanitary crisis in Peru, I accompanied the Shipibo-Konibo people in their quest to survive this violent disease. I was able to enter their universe and understand why they consider the plants of the Amazon to be like doctors protecting humanity. I saw them take refuge in their origin, in their forest. And I felt myself in refuge with them."

Photograph by Florence Goupil

It was a moment we will never forget. Professional sporting events were canceled, colleges sent students home, the lights went out on Broadway, offices closed their doors. Last March, the world went on lockdown as COVID-19 swept across the globe.

The projected toll was then unimaginable. Since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic one year ago, more than 118 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded worldwide and more than 2.6 million people have lost their lives. The United States leads the world in COVID-19 cases and deaths: More than 29 million people have contracted the virus and more than 520,000 have died.

It was a year that tested our humanity. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Funeral homes raced to keep up. Millions lost jobs. Acute hunger increased dramatically. Family members stayed away from each other.

During the pandemic, the National Geographic Society launched an emergency fund to support journalists covering COVID-19. From resilience to reconnection, photographers captured impactful moments of people around the world, dealing with the pandemic in different ways. We asked some of the grant recipients...

Read the rest of this article on NatGeo.com

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Glimpses of grief and resilience, captured over an unforgettable year

“The pandemic stripped away a lot of fears and amplified my desire to connect with others.” One year into COVID-19, photographers reflect on their own images.

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