'Expressing the terror of the times': Photographer captures pandemic in old-fashioned portraits Share Updated: 1:26 PM CDT Apr 5, 2021 Andrew Ozaki Share Updated: 1:26 PM CDT Apr 5, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript JULIE: PORTRAITS TAKEN IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC. A LINCOLN PHOTOGRAPHER RECORDS THE HISTORIC TIMES ON THE FACES OF FRIENDS AND STRANGERS. ROB: KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S ANDREW OZAKI SHOWS US HIS WORK IN THIS NEW STORY AT 10:00. FARRELL: WHAT’S LIFE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU DURING THIS PANDEMIC? WHAT IS IT THAT HAS BEEN RUNNING THROUGH YOUR MIND, DAY BY DAY AS YOU’RE TRYING TO COPE WITH THIS? ANDREW: BUT WHAT MIKE FARRELL CAPTURED THROUGH HIS LENS PEERED EVEN DEEPER THAN HE EXPECTED. FARRELL: SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXPRESSING THE TENOR OF THE TIMES ON THEIR FACES, OR THE WAY THEY’RE STANDING OR HOW THEY’RE LOOKING. ANDREW: THE 73-YEAR-OLD HAS DIRECTED AND PRODUCED SEVERAL AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARIES FOR NEBRASKA EDUCATIONAL TV. WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT LA MARCH, HE HAD TIME TO SIFT THROUGH OLD FAMILY PHOTOS. AND REFLECT. FARRELL: THINKING TO MYSELF, I’M 73, IF I GET THIS DISEASE, I’M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SURVIVE, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE THAT WON’T SURVIVE. SO, IF I’M GOING TO DO ANYTHING MEANINGFUL, I BETTER DO IT NOW I CAN DO IT. ANDREW: HE PUT NOTICE FOR HIS PORTRAIT PROJECT ON FACE BOOK. FARRELL: GET IN TOUCH IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, AND ALL THESE PEOPLE COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK. ANDREW: HE THOUGHT HE’D GET A COUPLE DOZEN. FARRELL: TURNED OUT I GOT 93 PEOPLE. ANDREW: AND THIS WASN’T JUST SNAP AND SHOOT. HE USED AN OLD-FASHIONED VIEW CAMERA WITH 8 BY 10 NEGATIVES FOR THE FINEST DETAIL. FARRELL: I WANT IT TO BE SLOWED DOWN, I WANT THEM TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, WE’RE GOING TO MA MAYBE 5 TO 8 EXPOSURES. ANDREW: HE SET UP A SOCIALLY DISTANCED SET IN HIS BACK YARD. AND BEGAN TAKING PORTRAITS IN LATE SUMMER AS THE PANDEMIC STARTED TO TAKE IT HEAVIEST TOLL. FARRELL: I HEARD ALL KINDS OF STUFF. CAN’T GO VISIT GRANDMA, AND SHE’S GOT SHE’S GOT ALZHEIMER’S AND SHE’S IN THE NURSING HOME AND I CAN’T GO IN AND SEE HER. I CAN’T PUT MY ARMS AROUND HER. I CAN’T HUG HER. ANDREW: HE COMPILED THEM INTO A BOOK ALONG WITH PEOPLE’S COMMENTS. FARRELL: I’M WORRIED I’M GOING TO GET THIS MYSELF I’M SUCH AND SUCH AN AGE AND I’VE HAD HEALTH ISSUES IF I GET IT, I’M GONE. ANDREW: BUT THERE WAS ALSO HOPE. FARRELL: THIS LITTLE BOY AND SOME OF THESE OTHER CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, THAT’S THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THIS, THE HOPEFUL SIDE OF THIS PROJECT. ANDREW: EACH GOT THEIR OWN PORTRAIT FOR PARTICIPATING. FARRELL: I’VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF THIS THIS IS A MEANINGFUL THING TO ME. AND SO THAT TO ME IS THAT’S THE REWARD. ANDREW: HOPING THESE PHOTOS WILL TELL A STORY OF THESE TRYING TIMES. FARRELL: I’D LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS WORK IS MEANINGFUL AND THAT IT WILL LAST BEYOND MY LIFETIME. ANDREW: ANDREW OZAKI, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. ROB: FARRELL ESTIMATES HE SPENT ABOUT $10,000 ON THE PROJECT. HE HOPES SOME DAY TO HAVE THE ENTIRE WORK DISPLAYE