Michael Rayment, The alien (PEOPLE 2022)

In this self-portrait that I decided to capture whilst feeling quite emotional, I am wearing Covid protection gear whilst visiting my mother in an aged care facility. She suffered from severe bed sores so was on strong pain killers that caused confusion. Wearing the compulsory face shield and mask prevented a direct kiss and only made her comprehension of who I am that more difficult. Holding her hand and caressing her forehead gave me a feeling of connection despite the physical barriers. Through her confused state coupled with my face apparel, she would often look at me as if I was a stranger – not her son but an alien. She passed away shortly after this image was taken.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.