IN DEFIANCE
A Year Worth Living
"In a year when the world held its breath, I chose to look for moments that made my heart beat faster. Between the silence and the fear, I found whispers of joy, fragments of connection, proof that even in darkness, humanity's light refuses to dim. Through my lens, 2020 revealed itself not just as a year of survival, but as a year worth living."
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PHOTOGRAPHER CHOOSES TO SEE BEAUTY IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS?
2020 transformed Barcelona's streets into something none of us had seen before. But beneath the masks and behind the barriers, life persisted with a fierce determination. I walked these altered streets with my camera, not to document the crisis, but to capture the moments of defiant joy that blossomed despite it, or perhaps because of it.
In this collection of 100 black-and-white photographs, I invite you to see 2020 through a different lens. Not as a year of loss, but as a testament to human resilience, to our unwavering capacity for finding light in darkness.
THE POETRY OF PERSISTENCE
Follow me through the empty plazas where lone skateboarders carved arcs of freedom in the silence. Stand with me beneath balconies where neighbors serenaded each other across canyons of isolation. Watch as children chase bubbles through deserted streets, their laughter echoing off ancient stones that have witnessed centuries of human perseverance.
These photographs capture moments when joy became an act of rebellion. Where every shared smile, even behind masks, was a declaration of hope. Where every gesture of kindness became a revolution against despair.
"These images discover poetry in a year many thought devoid of it. Each frame is an act of resistance against darkness, a reminder that beauty persists even in our darkest hours."
- Mia N., Photojournalist
WHY BLACK AND WHITE?
In a year dominated by clinical blues and sterile whites, black and white photography strips away the harsh medical reality to reveal something much more vital. Without color to distract, we see the fundamental truth of 2020: that human connection endured, that love persisted, that joy survived. These photographs explore the space between isolation and intimacy, between fear and courage, between what was lost and what was found.
THE RHYTHM OF RESILIENCE
Every day brought its own form of defiance. Morning light revealed messages of hope chalked on sidewalks. Afternoon sun caught the steam rising from coffee cups shared between friends on opposite sides of a street. Evening brought music from windows and rooftops, transforming the city into an impromptu concert hall.
I walked these streets day after day, seeking not the tragedy that dominated headlines, but the beauty that existed alongside it. Sometimes it appeared in grand gestures. But more often, it came in quiet moments.
FINDING FREEDOM IN CONSTRAINTS
What I discovered through my lens was transformation beyond survival. Restricted spaces became stages for creativity. Barriers became canvases for expression. Distance became a new way of measuring love. These photographs capture moments where limitation bred innovation, where isolation fostered connection, where fear gave birth to courage.
In the soft light of uncertain days, ordinary moments became extraordinary. You'll see it in the way people found new ways to share, to connect, to love.
THE REVOLUTION OF JOY
These images document a different kind of revolution: The uprising of hope against despair, of connection against isolation, of joy against fear. Through my lens, I sought to capture those moments when the human spirit refused to be quarantined,
What emerges is a testament to our resilience, our creativity, our unstoppable capacity for finding light in darkness. In the face of unprecedented constraints, people found unprecedented ways to express love, share joy, and celebrate life.
"This work stands as a powerful reminder that even in our darkest hours, the human spirit finds ways to shine."
- Dr. Carla M., Visual Anthropologist
This collection represents 365 days of choosing hope, thousands of kilometers walked in search of light, and countless moments where beauty defied darkness. Within these pages, you'll find:
100 black and white photographs that capture the unstoppable human spirit
Images spanning from the first days of lockdown to the gradual reawakening
A journey through a year that taught us new definitions of connection and courage
THE MONOGRAPH
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“In a year when most cameras focused on empty streets and medical drama, this collection dared to seek out moments of joy and connection. Barbara has has captured what was found in 2020, what was created, what was reimagined.
What makes this work exceptional is its courage to look beyond the obvious narrative. These aren't images of crisis. They're documents of resilience, creativity, and the countless ways humans refused to let their spirits be quarantined.”
- Elena T., Street Photographer
“This monograph will stand as one of the most important alternative documents of the pandemic era. While others focused on the trauma, this photographer captured the triumph of the human spirit. These images show us not just how Barcelona survived, but how its people found ways to thrive.
The choice of black and white proves revolutionary, stripping away the clinical aesthetic we associate with 2020 to reveal the warmth, connection, and joy that persisted beneath the surface of crisis.”
- Jemma D., Photographer and Sociologist
“These photographs possess a rare quality. They make you forget the masks and barriers and see straight through to the human spirit. Through this lens, we're not witnessing a city in crisis, but a community discovering new ways to connect, to celebrate, to live fully despite everything.
The sequence builds like a symphony of resilience, from the stark early days through moments of creative adaptation to celebrations of newfound strength. This is a book that reminds us of our capacity for joy even in the darkest times.”
- Laura D., Travel Photographer and Writer
“As someone who lived through this year in Barcelona, I am deeply moved by how these images capture the spirit of our resilience. This isn't the 2020 of news headlines, but the real story of how we found new ways to live, love, and connect. Barbara has shown remarkable sensitivity in capturing moments that might have seemed ordinary but represented profound acts of defiance against despair.
These photographs honor both our struggles and our triumphs. They show how crisis became a catalyst for creativity, how distance fostered new forms of intimacy, how isolation revealed the true strength of our connections.”
- Sofia B., Community Arts Organizer
“What sets this collection apart is its unwavering commitment to finding light in darkness, to capture the human spirit's capacity for joy and connection even in the most challenging times. Barbara Bernini has managed to capture how it felt to be in Barcelona and choose hope day after day.
The photographs allow us to see beyond the surface tragedy, to touch human resilience and our capacity for joy. This work reminds us that photography can be an act of resistance through beauty.”
- Reese Z., Documentary Photographer
READY TO SEE 2020 THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES?
Your window into a year of defiant beauty awaits.
Let's walk these transformed streets together.
IN DEFIANCE
YOU WILL GET A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, LIMITED-EDITION MONOGRAPH WITH 100 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS
A luxurious, exclusive, collectible book for art and photography enthusiasts who are looking for an unforgettable viewing experience and an exquisite piece to display on their bookshelf or coffe table.
The limited edition hardcover is sold out.