Ruth Medjber - Twilight Together: Portraits of Ireland at Home

This window was where it all started. I spend a lot of time in this house, with my friends Maeve and Paul, and their baby, Beth (aka Bumble Bee). When I first had the idea to shoot this style of window portrait, I needed to test it out to make sure the vision in my head was achievable. Maeve, forever my cheerleader, kept Bumble Bee up past her bedtime so that it would be dark enough for twilight.

It was 23 March 2020 and just after 8 p.m. when we got the first shots. It was strange being at their house and not being able to go in. Not being able to kiss the baby goodnight, or join my friends on the couch to watch TV and drink tea. I walked away that night not knowing what would come of this project, or when Id see my friends again.

I knew that the idea had worked, that there was a certain type of magic in these windows at that time of night. However, I could never have imagined the journey Id go on, the people Id meet, or that I would spend nearly every single night of the following sixteen weeks standing in front of peoples windows and looking in.

My parents, Mohamed and Tina Medjber, are far from cocooning age, but I still wanted to help them minimize the time they had to spend in crowded shops. So, for the first couple of months of lockdown, I did all of their shopping for them. Anything they needed, they were to call me and Id go and grab it for them, without fuss or hesitation.

The socially distanced queues in shopping centres stretched out of the doors. I would join them, with my mask on and my list in my hand. The trolleys were assigned outside and only one person per household was allowed in. It was like a military operation. After being disinfected at the door, and with a nod from the security guard, it was my time to shine. I would bounce around the aisles in record time, trying to decipher my mams handwriting, and would make sure to add extra treats that they might like but wouldnt think of asking for. Anything to make the isolation easier for them.

When I pulled into their drive, Id beep the car horn so that theyd open the front door (one less thing for me to sanitize afterwards). One day, as I dropped the bags of shopping on the step, having carefully wiped them down, I noticed that Dad had his coat and shoes on.

Have you been out? I asked.

Yes, just popped down to the shops to do the lotto.

Give me strength.

Una is an accomplished artist and John proudly showed me some of her finest paintings. However, it was John who knew exactly how hed like this photo composed. When I arrived, the chair was in place already and the lighting was set just right.

Im going to sit here, like this, and Una will have her hand on my shoulder, just like they did in those old Victorian photos.

The night I took this photo, Mick and Kim were supposed to be getting married. Instead, they raised a glass with their families and friends on Zoom (and Leonard the cat).

I visited my friends Claire and Ais on their houseboat the night the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced the 2 km travel restrictions. I suspected it was coming, so I wanted to make sure I saw them while I could (albeit from a safe distance).