Daniel Rolider

As the streets of my hometown grew emptier, the wadi has become more alive than ever. The fields, forests and valleys surrounding Kiryat Tivon, a small town in northern Israel, have always been a significant part of the town’s identity. They were a place where people could run free, travel and meet with their families and friends.

These places were also my childhood landscape, where I searched for solitude, under the great oaks, and fell in love for the first time. However, today this environment plays a much crucial role in the way my community is experiencing the Covid-19 outbreak and its circumstances.As Israel went under a lockdown in early March, and as uncertainty and stress increased, nature has become a spiritual refuge for many of us. The easy access to the outdoor allowed people to find peace without putting themselves, or others at risk. It allowed them to slow down and to look closer at their lives and their decisions. Suddenly, all the background noises disappeared and the daily-life pressure was gone. Within this serenity, I couldn’t help but wonder how our environment effects our mental health in times of crisis.

Since the first days of the national lockdown, I made daily trips to the fields and photographed the people I’ve met there. Each person photographed, a complete stranger or a close friend, was asked to reflect upon our new reality by writing and drawing. Later, the texts and photographs were integrated, as every encounter provided a fresh, new insight into the individual’s private world.