To help bring his community together during self-isolation, one Connecticut man is turning to photography with the Suffield Front Steps Project

Residents of Suffield, like everyone else in the state, are self-isolating to help stem the spread of coronavirus. Inspired by the Front Steps Project, Rob Faber is bringing them together again with his camera.

Faber teaches fourth grade in Granby. He spends his weekdays helping his 39 students with their lessons online. He also is a photographer with a small business, RJ Photography.

This past weekend, Faber took his family for a car ride around town. They stopped at the homes of some of their friends to take pictures of the families on their front steps.

The volunteer initiative started by Cara Soulia, a photographer in Needham, Mass., aims to bring communities together in a time of social isolation. Other communities around the country have glommed onto Soulia’s idea, creating their own local Front Steps Projects, including Faber’s in Suffield.

“People were walking around their neighborhoods. People were out in their front yards,” Faber said. “I shot from about 10 to 20 feet away with an 85 mm lens, which allows me to have plenty of social distance.”

Faber posted the photos on rj-photo.com for free download and asked his subjects to donate to Suffield Community Aid, a social-service organization.

“At this time in our history, photos are very important. When we look back every major event, we look at photos and videos,” Faber said.

Faber isn’t just documenting history. He’s letting Suffield residents know that their fellow townspeople are all right when they might not be able to see them in person.

“It’s great to see the families out there, not dressed up or dolled up like they are for formal pictures, and with dogs in the pictures,” said Kelly Wright, whose family was photographed. “It brings up everybody’s morale because you’re not seeing them so much. At a time like this, people need something to smile about.” Faber shot Wright’s family first, because Wright told him about The Front Steps Project.

Faber’s project has energized the town. “I’m getting emails and messages, come to this neighborhood, come to that neighborhood,” Faber said. “I’m going to start putting on my website what so-and-so day I’ll be in what so-and-so neighborhood.”

It’s energizing Suffield Community Aid, too. Janet Frechette, the executive director of the organization, said $2,000 has been donated through the Front Steps Project since it launched.

“People are donating through PayPal. Every time we get a donation, it sends an email to me. I couldn’t understand why I was getting a donation every couple of minutes. I knew there had to be a source, then I found it, RJ Photography,” Frechette said. “He’s just regenerated spirit in our community by doing this. Everybody is smiling. It’s just something hopeful when everybody is feeling so much in despair.”

Jennifer Bombard’s family and dog, Lily, also were photographed. “When you’re not seeing someone, it’s such a great thing to see my Facebook feed blowing up with such wonderful pictures,” she said.

Faber is planning more photo-shooting trips in his car: his wife Tracy at the wheel, his daughter Courtney updating his Facebook page and his sons Colin and Brady looking out the window and waving people down to have their pictures taken.

Back at home, he said, his family is “holding it together, taking it a day at a time.

“What’s happening is life-changing. We’re living through an event like never before,” Faber said. “I’m glad I’m in a position to be home with our kids and I can document what’s happening now for when this is all done.”

Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.

Amid the fear and isolation gripping our state right now in wake of the coronavirus outbreak, neighbors are stepping up in extraordinary ways to help others. In our new “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” series, we will profile those acts of kindness and generosity. If you have an idea, please email it to kmccallum@courant.com.