i-Files: Thompson
"This too shall pass."
COVID-19 has dominated our screens and consumed our thoughts since the beginning of the year, and whilst the UK’s current lockdown has been slightly relaxed following an update from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, quarantine is slowly being lifted globally and normalcy being restored. Whilst we’ve all adjusted to a new state of “normal”, these new rules mean that previously non-essential outings like recreationally going to the park, unlimited exercise, and meeting one other person from a different household are now allowed, with social distance measures still to be adhered to.
In our latest series of i-FIles, we’ve caught up with creators, from stylists, photographers to illustrators as we wanted to get an idea of what the creative community is doing during lockdown. We caught up with Thompson - portrait photographer and visual artist who’s shot the likes of musicians Arlo Parks, L Devine and Jordan Stephens to name a few, to see what he’s been doing since the UK went into lockdown.
EQ: Hey Thompson. What have you been doing to stay busy right now?
T: I’ve been fortunate in that work hasn’t totally dried up. In the first few weeks of lockdown, I did a few virtual FaceTime shoots - those were really fun and meant that I could keep shooting - and I’ve had a few other projects in the background, too. I’m isolated with my sister and her husband, and they’ve just had a baby, and it’s a massive treat to be able to spend so much time with them.
EQ: What are the top three tracks on your playlist at the moment? Anything in particular you can’t take of repeat?
T: I’m late to the game on this one but I’ve been listening to the new Lana Del Rey album basically on repeat. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Jordan Mackampa and Arlo Parks.
YouTube/Lana Del Rey
EQ: What would you recommend we all tune into on Netflix/Amazon Prime?
T: I really wish I could say something more highbrow, but we’re fully addicted to ‘Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins’.
EQ: With so much content out there right now across socials, is there anything that has stood out to you that you can share?
Jake Michaels shot Larry David in quarantine for the NY Times and I can’t express how good it is - it’s the best work I’ve seen created in lockdown. There’s also this brilliant documentary photographer called Jamie Lee Curtis Taete who is capturing some amazing stuff of the protests over in America.
EQ: Do you have a lockdown self-care routine? And if so, what does it look like?
T: I’m trying to exercise at least once a day, making sure I get up at the same time. My life doesn’t have a huge amount of structure anyway but it’s good to have some anchors.
EQ: What’s a positive mantra that’s getting you through this time?
“This too shall pass.”
EQ: With all the spare time, how are you tapping into your creativity?
T: I’ve been keeping a note on my phone of any concept I come up with in isolation; it’s good to keep thinking about these things even if they can’t happen immediately. The FaceTime shoots have kept me busy, too. They’re great, and a lot of fun, but sadly nothing compares to being in the studio!
EQ: First place you’ll head to when everyone comes out of isolation?
T: To be an enormous cliché, I’m just looking forward to being in a pub with all of my mates.
EQ: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the later in the year? Any exciting projects we should be looking out for?
T: There are a few projects that were put on hold as a result of isolation - I can’t wait to get my teeth back into those. I had planned a trip up to the Scottish Highlands to shoot a personal project and I can’t stop thinking about that.
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For advice or information on the Covid-19 Virus, we recommend that you thoroughly read the NHS’s Corona Virus Advice page.
If you or anyone you know are feeling unwell, and suspect you may have been in contact with an infected individual, then please (as instructed) self-isolate immediately, stay away from vulnerable persons, and call your local 111 service for further advice.
Please remember to wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, think about others, and stay safe in this period! ❤️
Love, Team EQUATE.