Em in Quarantine, Brooklyn, NY ©Vanessa Rondon — *Em in Quarantine, Brooklyn, NY* ©Vanessa Rondon

I'm a photographer who documents my life and loved ones through intimate photographs. My work is influenced by different parts of my background and identity; it's a constant exploration of who I am, where I belong, where I came from and where I am and want to be. I'm queer, I’m non-binary, I'm a Venezuelan immigrant, I was undocumented, I was raised in Miami, FL, I’ve lived in New York for the past 12 years, I'm one of 10 siblings and so much more. All these identifiers inform who and what I choose as a subject and the themes I explore in my work. My work is personal, intimate and honest. It offers a glimpse into my life and into those whose lives are connected to mine. I explore themes of longing, loss, the notion of belonging rooted in being an immigrant, intimacy, queerness, family, friendship, and community.

*Untitled, Brooklyn, NY ©Vanessa Rondon*

*Riis in The Time of Corona, Queens, NY ©Vanessa Rondon*

“Covid-19" is an extension of past themes in the context of a pandemic. Here, in New York City, we are asked to “shelter in place” and isolate and minimize our outdoor activities to essential needs. However, we are also allowed to go on walks so long as we socially distance and wear masks. These photos were made during mid March through June when the city was hardest hit with Covid-19.

Forest Park Queens, NY ©Vanessa Rondon — *Forest Park Queens, NY ©Vanessa Rondon*

*Em in The time of Corona, Queens, NY ©Vanessa Rondon*

Living in a small Brooklyn apartment, overlooking a hospital, my partner and I often felt trapped, but we were also faced with the harsh reality of the pandemic when we looked out our windows and witnessed the bodies of those who passed being carried out into refrigerated freight trucks. It was crushing to witness but also made such an invisible enemy very real.

Doing the best we could to keep busy at home we decided we also needed to go outside for our mental health. We resolved to find safe places outdoors. My intention with these photographs is to portray this isolation but also inspire hope in dark times. This is a reminder to myself that the world is still here and so am I, I just have to give this time to pass.