The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
MAKING OTHERS SMILE
Eight-year-old resident brings people joy during pandemic
ONEIDA, N.Y. » “Say cheese!” is what a photographer might say to make their subject smile. That’s exactly what eight-year-old Alex Farwell hopes to do for people during one of the most stressful times in the 21st century.
In mid-march, Alex Farwell’s mom, Michele Farwell, asked her son to think of a project that could make people smile. Amid the recent chaos and now having to school from home, Alex Farwell came up with a perfect idea to perk up his neighbors while also adhering to strict social-distancing protocols.
And that idea was taking people’s pictures.
“Pictures make people smile,” he said simply. His mom loved the idea, and so the project went underway.
First, Alex Farwell had to become well-acquainted with his mom’s digital camera. With a little practice, he was ready to hit the streets.
Soon he would have a photo collection of family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers, all smiling, having fun and sharing a special moment in front of his lens.
He said he instructs his subjects to
“[The families] got on their front lawns, and it was the first time that they were out of their houses in a really long time, so they were excited.”
— Michele Farwell
He said he instructs his subjects to take a nice smiling picture, and also a sillypose picture, all while he shoots the camera from different angles and orientations. The photos mostly depict people in their front yards, porches, and driveways.
The idea to take people’s pictures during the pandemic hasn’t just been Alex Farwell’s idea, with many other photographers, both professional and non, doing similar projects of their own, often called “porch portraits.”
Michele Farwell said she is impressed that her son thought of the idea on his own at the same time and space as other photographers
around the country. Both mother and son hope other people will join in and take their own pictures too.
Social distancing is a crucial component to fight the spread of COVID-19 and is important to Alex Farwell as he takes people’s pictures. In compliance with the protocols, he said he makes sure his project keeps him and his subjects safe.
Michele Farwell explained that some of the families they visited were immunocompromised, so she and her son would stay in her van and roll down the window to snap the photos.
“[The families] got on their front lawns, and it was the first time that they were out of their houses in a really long time, so they were excited,” she shared.
All are welcome to participate in his project, Alex
Farwell said. “He stopped and talked to a couple people he didn’t even know and took their picture too,” Michele Farwell shared.
So far, Alex Farwell has taken porch-portraits of around two dozen people from Oneida to Canastota, and the scope of his project is only expected to grow.
Most people hear about the photo opportunity from Michele’s Facebook page, where she spreads the word, coordinates the photo sessions, and shares the resulting pictures.
“People were really embracing it and sharing it,” she said.
In a Facebook post, Michele Farwell shared the hashtags she and her son came up with for the project, #Capturingquarantine and #Illuminatingisolation.
Alex Farwell hopes his efforts will capture the attention
of renowned talk show hosts Ellen Degeneres or Jimmy Fallon.
Degeneres, in particular, with her reputation for giving to others, has been an inspiration of his, Alex Farwell shared, saying, “She does funny stuff with people, she does good things, and she helps people out, and she’s my inspiration for doing good things, really.”
He now watches her show on Youtube since, for the time being, she’s no longer shooting new shows.
Alex Farwell said it would mean a lot to him if Degeneres recognized him for his project. “She’s cool,” he said matter-of-factly.
In the meantime, Alex Farwell is proud to have gotten the attention of one of his favorite third-grade teachers, Mr. Clarke, who shared Alex Farwell’s efforts with his whole thirdgrade
class.
Considering everyone’s response thus far to his idea, Alex Farwell said, “It makes me feel happy that other people are happy.”
The idea for a project like this came easily to the eightyear-old, who is usually bubbly, outgoing, and always down to make a new friend.
“I’m never shy!” he exclaimed proudly. Just recently, he and his mom rode their bikes around their neighborhood to wish everyone a happy April Fool’s day.
“Whenever there’s a chance to talk to somebody and make a new friend, I’m going at it,” he shared.
Though often high-spirited, Alex Farwell had to admit that he isn’t always so positive, especially during days blanketed by COVID-19.
“I’m having a little bit of
a tough time. That’s another reason I did this project, so I can get outside, do some fun stuff, and actually see some kids from my school.”
He said he really misses in-person connections that have been taken away during the pandemic.
“Outside of Facetiming and calling people, you don’t really get to be next to them and say hi and have a real conversation,” he shared.
Until the day he can get close to his friends again, Alex Farwell will have to continue to get creative to make people smile, and so far, he’s quite happy to do so.
Those in the greater Oneida area that are interested in getting their picture taken by Alex Farwell can reach out to Michele Farwell via email at capturingquarantine@gmail. com.