Genna is Locked Down on an Island

Locked down on an island, Genna Martin is making the best of it. I’m lucky I have a studio with a view and share photos taken from the deck. She is stuck in the Azores off Portugal’s coast, where her ancestors lived. Before the coronavirus hit, it was supposed to be the first stop in a year of travel,

NatGeo picked up her story. It’s lovely and Genna is a suggested follow.

When my partner and I touched down in the Azores, a lush volcanic archipelago some 900 miles off the coast of Portugal, it was supposed to be the first stop on our round-the-world year of travel. We had both left jobs in Seattle—she as a corporate security trainer, I as a staff photojournalist. We needed a change, had a yearning to experience more of the world, and thought: Why not now?

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I was able to photograph Francisco and Cândida Parreira a few weeks ago as their daughter Adilia, who is our wonderful Airbnb host here on Terceira, was dropping off lunch to them on Easter Sunday. The Parreiras both were born on the island, have been married 48 years and raised their four children in the two-bedroom home they still live in. They were devastated to not be able to spend Easter with their family in person or attend mass this year, but the family was able to celebrate together over a video chat. This image is an outtake from the @natgeotravel story on our time here the Azores that published online this week. There’s a link in the bio over at @lostbroads, if you care to give it a read. Every grandmother here reminds me of mine. . . . #azores #terceira #ilhaterceira #easter #eastersunday #natgeo #makeportraits #covid19 #stayathome #travel #photojournalism #vamostodosficarbem #coronavirus #quarantine #shelterinplace #catholic

A post shared by Genna Martin (@gmartphoto) on Apr 29, 2020 at 12:16pm PDT

Locked Down on an Island

I’m not sure when I’ll travel again, even with trips on the books to faraway places with Sony gear like the 20mm, taking wide-angle photos. Seeing Genna’s photos keeps my inspired to think about it and just last year I was in Portugal. I was there as a tourist, not in the land of my ancestors.

My daily shooter is Sony A1 with a vertical grip and various Sony lenses attached like the FE 20mm F1.8. Find more gear recommendations in our shop. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.