Diss teenager photographer tells story of De Lucy House Care Home during pandemic

A rising photography star from Diss has been helping to tell the story of how one of the hardest hit age groups coped with life during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ella Osborn, 17, was invited to speak to staff and residents at De Lucy House and capture some posed photos to represent people’s memories of the pandemic.

The work, part of a project in which students interpret the idea of intersection, formed part of her two-year college photography course at City College in Norwich.

“I thought about how problems can intersect and shape our lives, and the ways we cope with them,” said Ella.

“I got in touch with De Lucy House as my mum has been a carer there and, having spoken to her, she thought it would be good to capture moments and memories of how people coped.

“So we recreated those things by posing photos with the staff and residents who wanted to be involved, and then I chatted to them about what they remembered about it.”

She added: “I like doing portraits, but I’ll take photos of anything. There is something special about capturing what people are going through and the ways they cope.”

Ella started taking photos on her phone, before receiving her first camera for her 16th birthday.

Her mum, Jackie Cartwright, said: “When she first got in to photography a few years ago, we thought it would be a five-minute wonder, but she has stuck with it.

“I work at De Lucy House myself, but I was away on maternity leave during the pandemic, so I was fortunate. The idea for her project was all down to Ella.

“After college, she is hoping to go on and do a university course and then work in photography. She’s great at all types of photographs, so I’m not sure she’s chosen an exact area of photography yet.

“We’re so very proud of her though, and know she’ll be brilliant with anything she decides to do.”

Her photos can be found on Instagram at artbyella15