These black and white photographs were made for the Bronx Documentary Center’s Claremont Documentary Project, which explores the lives of residents of Claremont Village, a New York City public housing development located in the Morrisania section of the South Bronx.

In the Morris Houses, one of Claremont Village’s four adjoining projects, live the Paul family. In October of 2018, Pierre Paul, 57-year-old chef, and father of 7, lost his wife, Towanda Paul, to a heart attack at age 47. In the months following her death, the family adjusted to life without her. Pierre and two of his children (Hope, 21, and Jonah, 23) created a new family unit in their Claremont apartment. Hope graduated from high school, a major milestone in her pursuit of a cosmetology license. Jonah started a tattoo business in his room while working a retail job nearby. Pierre searched for new employment to better support himself and his family.

The work offers an intimate look at loss as the Paul family lives the first year of their lives without their mother and wife. Though the story is centered around loss, it is also made up of hopeful moments that capture the Paul family’s resilience. Whether it’s Hope getting ready on the morning of her graduation or Pierre sitting by a vase of fresh flowers, my photographs highlight intimate moments of the Paul family as they look to the future.