DISCLAIMER: SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES WERE FOLLOWED CLOSELY AT THE TIME OF THIS PHOTOSHOOT WITH ALL THE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT MYSELF & MANNAN.
To finish 2020’s photo-sets for the series, the last subject I’ve photographed for 2020 is Mannan Khan.
Before the second lockdown, we did a lot of catching up as we hadn’t seen each other in over a whole year.
It was so refreshing to chat about work and open up about our mental health as 2020’s been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s changed how we all work, including how it’s affected all of us physically and mentally.
Mannan opened up to me about how the pandemic’s helped him to self-reflect as he freely expressed his genuine emotions and how life’s changed for him since the beginning of the pandemic, which shines through in these photos.
Moving Forward, My Focus is On Achieving My Goals! 
What?! How is This Going to Help?!
Oh That’s Now Put Me in a Bad Mood!
Why Does This Always Happen to Me? Why Can’t I Catch a Break? 
I Just Don’t Know How It’s Even Possible For Me to Feel This Way.
His wellbeing and how he sees the world now as opposed to life before COVID uncover how he felt in these photos at those specific moments in time.
I’m Taking a Few Moments to Breathe. This Pandemic Has Really Affected The Way I Genuinely Feel, But It’s Opened My Eyes to How Much I Can Still Achieve While Believing in Myself More.
Is That What I Think I Can See in The Distance?
I Can See Something Else Over There That Looks Similar to What I Saw in the Distance.
That Looks Interesting! That Looks Better Than I Imagined it Would Be. 
What’s Going On Down There?
I was inspired by his freedom of expression in this photo-set, as he showed his genuine emotions, and Mannan showed he was on edge but wasn’t afraid to make his feelings known.
Do They Seriously Think I’m Not Aware of What They’ve Said? Do They Honestly Believe I Care? Do They Get The Thrill Out of It? Either Way I Don’t Care Anymore. 
So, You’ve Got My Attention, Now, What Do You Want Me to Do? 
I Feel Like My Life is On the Edge. Like You, I Want This Pandemic to End, It’s Getting Too Much For Me to Deal With.
The Future’s On The Horizon. I’m Going to Embrace It & Take Every Opportunity That Comes My Way.
I’ll Always Be Me & No One Can Ever Change Me For Being My True Authentic Self.
I’m Embracing My True Authenticity & I Want You to Embrace Your Authenticity.
Always Be Your True Authentic Self & Embrace It!
I admire Mannan’s genuine emotions in these photos because his feelings capture the vulnerabilities that are ignored by the public eye.
This year’s been a chaotic whirlwind of emotions.
As mental health becomes more widely recognised now than it’s been in the last 10-15 years, this year’s been about self-reflection.
We’ve taken care of ourselves more, making sure we can put our families and ourselves first mentally before anything else, all while working hard for ourselves to achieve and make the best of what this pandemic has given us.
It’s not the end of the road yet, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Let’s keep opening up more, contacting one another more and being there to support one another because we all matter, but most of all, our mental health matters.
If you enjoyed this final photo-set for 2020, please let me know.
I’m interested to hear how 2020 has been for you, and I hope this photo-set, including the photo-sets throughout 2020 inspired you to open up.
I’ll be aiming to photograph more subjects in 2021, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!
I’m aiming to travel around other parts of London throughout 2021, and I’m praying that 2021 is a better year for all of us.
I love you all!
Stay safe, everyone!
Alex Smithson
Equipment Used:
- Nikon D3300
- TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2
- App Used: Instagram (Free)
- Filter Used: Inkwell
Location of Photoshoot: Croydon, United Kingdom
Date of Photoset Produced: Saturday 10th October 2020
