Wish I was there: Alison Luntz’s photographs of imaginary lockdown escapes

The New York-based photographer's series In Spirit explores the gaps between where we are, where we want to be and who we want to see

In the bedroom of her apartment in Brooklyn, Alison Luntz has a large landscape photograph she took in 2018 on the Isle of Skye. A road snakes through dramatic, iridescent green hills. Last April, experiencing mild cabin fever from the Covid lockdown, the 34-year-old photographer decided to have some fun with the image. Positioning herself in front of the photograph, wearing a woollen beanie, she had her husband direct a fan so her red hair looked believably windswept and clicked a self-portrait. Two self-portraits actually: the first, a tighter crop, where it looked like she was in Scotland, posing with a spectacular view behind her; and a second, which showed she was really in Bushwick. Luntz then posted both on Instagram.

I didn't have any serious intentions with this picture in the beginning," says Luntz, on a video call from the same bedroom. It was really just out of bleak humour at the situation and wanting to poke fun at it in some way. But instantly, it was clear that so many people loved this idea that I started thinking, maybe there's another way to use the same format in a more substantive way to express the loneliness and alienation we're all feeling right now."