The Essentials, 2020
︎︎︎ Link to YBCA feature
Project Type:
Photography, Social Practice, Photo Essay
Photography, Social Practice, Photo Essay
The Essentials is a photo essay honoring essential workers in the Mission District neighborhood of San Francisco. Using my daily quarantine walks, I created a project that examines race and labor in San Francisco’s coronavirus epicenter. The portraits ruminate on the dichotomy between essential yet unprotected, or essential yet accessorial.
Ramon, Urban Alchemy
Leo, United States Postal Service
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Aura, Self
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Robbie, UCSF at San Francisco General Hospital
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Mike, Mission Groceteria
Aura, Self
Robbie, UCSF at San Francisco General Hospital
Mike, Mission Groceteria
Gabby, Calle 24
Sam, Samy’s Liquor
Billy, SF-Marin Food Bank
Jon, TODCO, Calle 24, Vota Ya, City and County of San Francisco Dept of Building Inspection
Lovely ladies, Dynamo Donut
Francisco, Spice Jar
Jay, Recology
Bryan, Amazon
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Santos, L’s Caffe
Santos, L’s Caffe
Jake, Purple Star M.D.
This work was developed as part of my fellowship with YBCA in 2020.
Special thanks to my collaborators and producer Anna Lisa Escobedo.
All images copyright.
©2020 Cheyenne Concepcion