Last weekend, we went on a photo journey across San Francisco, attempting to capture the spirit and transformation of a city under shelter-in-place orders. What follows is a series of unusual moments that have now become commonplace. Amid the closures and social isolation, we have managed to adapt and find new ways to flourish.
Friends relax while social distancing on a beautiful Saturday morning.San Francisco street fashion in 2020.A long line of customers waiting to get into the Yin Xing Food Co. grocery store on Clement Street; only a few patrons at a time are allowed into the store.A cyclist waits at a crosswalk on the corner of Clement and Arguello.A masked woman stares into the window of a closed bakery.Author Alia Volz holds an impromptu book signing with three friends and a rabbit in attendance. She was supposed to start a multi-city book tour on April 20 for her memoir, ‘Home Baked.’ Unfortunately, the tour was canceled due to Covid-19.UCSF pharmacy students collect PPE donations for hospitals. If you have unopened hand sanitizer, boxes of glove, disinfectants, goggles, or unused N95 or other surgical masks, you could help save lives. Click here to find out how to donate.A person walks by a shuttered store covered in street art and graffiti.A San Francisco park ranger maintains social distancing rules in Alamo Square Park by approaching groups of four or more to confirm that they all live together, are staying far apart from others, and are taking active safety precautions.Friends take a walk for some fresh air.A San Francisco resident poses on the hill at Corona Heights Park wearing a shirt showing his pride for his city, along with a Phoenix Rising pin, the symbol on San Francisco’s flag illustrating the city’s ability to rise from the ashes and regenerate.We took photos of each other as we chronicled a new normal.
Our journey left us feeling hopeful in ways we hadn’t anticipated. We had been focused on the negative aspects of lockdown: fear of sickness, economic disaster, and the freedoms we have lost. This walk showed us that people are still finding new ways to enjoy themselves, even under the strict parameters of lockdown. San Francisco’s vibrance and character will not be lost to the pandemic.
