Hold Still update from the Duchess of Cambridge
With one week to go until the deadline for submitting images to Hold Still, The Duchess of Cambridge has recorded a video message to encourage people across the UK to play their part in this ambitious community photography project.
In the message, Her Royal Highness says:
“There have been so many amazing entries to Hold Still over the last few weeks. From families up and down the country showing how they are adapting to life during lockdown, through to some of the most amazing NHS and social care staff who are putting their lives on the line to save the lives of others.
“But it isn’t too late to take part. So please take a moment to capture what life is like for you, because together I hope that we can build a lasting illustration of just how our country pulled together during the pandemic.”
Launched by The Duchess in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery on Thursday 7th May, Hold Still aims to create a collective portrait of lockdown in the UK, capturing the spirit, mood, hopes, fears and feelings of the nation as we continue to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. To date, over 12,000 images have been submitted to the project.
Completely free and open to all ages and abilities, Hold Still focuses on three core themes:
- Helpers and Heroes
- Your New Normal
- Acts of Kindness
Members of the public can submit their own photographs until 6pm on Thursday 18th June at: npg.org.uk/hold-still.
One hundred shortlisted portraits will then be selected to feature in a gallery without walls – a one of a kind digital exhibition open to all, hosted by the National Portrait Gallery. Each image will be assessed on the emotion and experience it conveys rather than its photographic quality or technical expertise.