Over the course of the last year and a half, the Covid-19 pandemic depleted our economy, affecting people’s homes, livelihoods and wallets. To document the hardships, as both a lament and a tribute, Ashley Gilbertson spent 8 months photographing how the pandemic economy ruptured New York, witnessing stark examples of widening inequality, the changing ways of work and commerce, and ultimately tears in the fabric of the place—even amid growing signs of hope for immunity and recovery. In this discussion, Ashley discusses the project with the editor of the project with whom he worked, Renee Melides. The duo discusses their year of COVID-19 coverage in New York City, the genesis of the project, the complex production of a months-long story from initial pitch to publication, and the importance of collaboration. Ashley and Renee also look at many images from the series, and give insight to the stories behind the pictures.


Renee Melides is a Photo Editor at The New York Times and is currently based in New York. Renee also worked for The Times in both their London and Hong Kong bureaus. Prior to this, she was the Deputy Photo Editor at Monocle Magazine in London. Before venturing into the realm of photo editing, Renee spent her years as a photojournalist. Working for clients such as The Financial Times of London, Reuters, Monocle Magazine, The Age, Australian Financial Review and the Sydney Morning Herald, to name a few. Renee has interned at both the VII and Magnum photo agencies and CNN International. In her spare time she also works on her own personal documentary projects and visual stories.


Ashley Gilbertson is an Australian photographer and writer living in New York City recognized for his critical eye and unique approach to social issues. Gilbertson is a member of VII Photo, a frequent contributor to major media outlets and a collaborator with the United Nations. For over twenty years, Gilbertson’s work focused on refugees and conflict, an interest that in 2002, led him to Iraq. His work from that country was awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal, and in 2007, Gilbertson’s first book, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, was released, going on to become a bestseller. Post Iraq, Gilbertson shifted his focus to veterans, drawing public attention to post traumatic stress disorder and suicide. Gilbertson’s second book, Bedrooms Of The Fallen, a collection of photographs depicting the intact bedrooms of service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, was released in 2014. That work received a prestigious Ellie award. Today, Gilbertson documents global migration in Africa and Europe, and works on climate, social and health issues in the United States and Asia. He writes regular opinion and news stories for outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, ProPublica, and UNICEF. In 2014, a multimedia story on the militarization of the South China Sea earned him an Emmy nomination. He has worked on commercial assignments for Apple Computer, Axa Insurance, and the Ad Council. Gilbertson’s prints and books are included in permanent collections of numerous museums and art galleries around the world, and has been exhibited widely at institutions including The Smithsonian (Washington), Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne), Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas), The Museum of The City of New York, and The National September 11 Memorial Museum (New York).