Local photographer Sally O\u2019Callaghan is passionate about photographing drag queens and shared her experiences with being a creative during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Callaghan is used to working with drag queens in person at different venues \u2014 she said the majority of her work is done at shows. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shutdown of bars and clubs, O\u2019Callaghan hasn\u2019t been able to work the same way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t actually work out of a studio space, I bring it with me so I\u2019m very limited in terms of space,\u201d she added. \u201cI don\u2019t wanna be unsafe and be too close to people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the last year, there has been a lack of opportunities for O\u2019Callaghan to pursue the projects that the Ottawa drag scene would offer under normal circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cOttawa\u2019s also become in the last couple years a fire space for the bigger shows, so like girls from Ru Paul\u2019s Drag Race coming in. When they come in there\u2019s an opportunity, usually I\u2019m lucky enough to do the meet and greet photos and the show photos which is super fun and it also provides the opportunity to the performers locally to perform on a bigger scale,\u201d O\u2019Callaghan said.<\/p>\n
The pandemic has slowed down the momentum Ottawa had gained as a big hub for drag performers O\u2019Callaghan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can only hope that when things go back to whatever kind of normal that you know, the community doesn\u2019t forget about the drag queens.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the lack of opportunities to work, O\u2019Callaghan said her work ethic has fluctuated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say the biggest challenge is probably connecting with the art,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can definitely lose that drive and that ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of me had moments where I wanted to prolong all the projects that I had for as long as possible just to keep something going, keep myself busy,\u201d O\u2019Callaghan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, I think when things kind of reopen and hopefully improve in the maybe near future, then it\u2019ll maybe induce some renewed vigour for the art and working with the queens.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Callaghan said she was first drawn to the world of drag photography by the queens themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrag queens are just such beautiful people and I wanted to capture as much as that as I could and be involved,\u201d she said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cWhen someone\u2019s made their own costume or you know, they\u2019re portraying this character that they\u2019ve created for a couple months or years or decades even. Just seeing someone in their element that you can tell they just passionately enjoy so much, it brings a lot more to the photos and it brings a lot more to the experience,\u201d O\u2019Callaghan added.<\/p>\n