The inspiration for this series began five years ago during covid. With the international borders closed, as an American living in London I was unable to return home. Therefore, I was living in Le Barroux with only my cat as company, devoid of real human interactions. To add to the anxiety generated by the uncertainly of the lockdown, I faced an ever-increasing workload, with incessant online meetings and unachievable demands by the management of the multinational where I was working.
To help manage my feelings of loneliness and increasing mental and spiritual exhaustion, I found a routine in exercise - walking with my camera and documenting the landscape and the light. It provided some relief in a bizarre situation. The endless paths through vineyards and woodlands, up the steep craggy slopes and down the scree-laden hillsides, offered a backdrop to my thoughts and provided a narrative for my photos. The photos became a visual diary of the time, my moods and thoughts. The ever-changing landscape and seasons gave me sustenance during what was a unique and challenging period.
The writer Annie Ernaux has spoken about the idea of ‘la secheresse de l’ame’ – a feeling of spiritual emptiness. This phrase resonated with me profoundly, and I felt that it encapsulated how fundamentally the period of the two years of lockdowns had affected me in every way – emotionally, physically and, ultimately, professionally. It seemed a fitting concept for this series.
In the deep mid-winter of early 2025, I decided to revisit the places around Le Barroux which became familiar and to try to express through my photographs the feelings of isolation, emptiness and abandon that had hit me during the lockdown. Winter there is my favourite season. To me it is both bleak and beautiful, the season that reveals the soul of this part of Provence – sparse, challenging and yet rejuvenating.
The immutable beauty of this village and its terrain has replenished my spirit and provided me a wealth of inspiration.
