Photographer Greg Morgan II is driving around Bethel on the weekends, taking picture of people on their front porches. He’s going to use those photos for a public exhibition. Morgan got the idea when he noticed people in other communities sharing their pictures of household members in front of their homes during the pandemic.
On his first weekend taking pictures, Morgan II went to 41 households and took over 700 frames. This week, he’s editing them to get the best, and also emailing the better ones back to the families. On the first weekend, one of the pictures included the family pet.
“They’d just received a new dog. If you look at [the Facebook page] "It’s going on in Bethel!" right now, and you can see a photo of them and the family, and just the excitement they were having the dog. It, especially during this time, everybody’s being kind of a little sad or kind of not knowing what’s going on. They just had some smiley, happy faces that just made me feel pretty good that we’re doing something right,” Morgan II said.
Morgan II plans to exhibit the photos at the Cultural Center when the Bethel Council on the Arts and the Kuskokwim Art Guild hold an exhibition of art made during the pandemic. Morgan said that these pictures will provide a historic document of what life was like during this time.
“Words can only go so far, I think. Photos, to me, speak a thousand words. Every time you look at a photo you see something different. Taking photos is fun. It’s contagious,” Morgan II said.
Morgan II doesn’t charge people for taking their portraits. To have your household photographed, send an email to him at bethelphotoproject@gmail.com and he will put you on his weekend schedule.
During the week, Morgan II is hunkered down taking care of his three young children and running his business, “Midnight Sun Moving Company,” which he says has not been hurt by the pandemic. There is still plenty of cargo to move, and moving to be done.
“As of right now we feel pretty good, but we’ll see in the future. You know, we’re staying positive, and just holding on for the ride, and controlling the things you can,” Morgan II said.
His fly-fishing guiding operation is another story. No one knows what the rules will be this summer. Meanwhile, Morgan II is busy taking pictures of people on their front porches.
