Like a lot of freelancers, when California enacted its shelter-in-place order, I lost all of my work. For quite a few weeks, I was very depressed — if I had a day where I cooked, showered, and went outside, that was a huge accomplishment.
I’m a photographer, and throughout this quarantine, I realized the reason I enjoy the work so much: collaboration with other people. And as long as California is social distancing, it’s going to be a while before I can work with people in the same creative ways I used to.
So when The Bold Italic sent me out a mission to take (socially distanced) portraits of people throughout the Bay Area, I was excited to get back to working with other humans, even if it was from afar and from behind a mask. To be clear, I took it seriously to be further than six feet away from the subjects.
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I was a little nervous when I headed out on a recent Saturday, with a list of San Franciscans in hand who had signed up for being photographed. I rented a long lens, put on a mask, and prepared to interact with someone in real life for the first time since March. I must say I was glad that my first visit was to Andrea Campos, who is also a photographer for The Bold Italic. I texted her that I was there, across the street, and when she opened her door, I felt thrilled to see someone else. I think that we both didn’t know what to do for a moment. It was weird; it felt both normal and also surreal, especially since she lives on Haight Street, where most of the restaurants and stores are boarded up.
I took her photo. It felt really good. We parted with promises to hang out in real life, someday when we can do that again. Then I went all over the city and photographed others: in a downtown high rise, in a co-op, and in beautiful Victorians. Despite the disappointment of not being able to pet anyone’s dog or shake their hands, I left the experience feeling so energized and full.
Here, I hope you enjoy these snapshots of San Franciscans at home — smiling in their windows, standing in their doorways, or chilling on their porches — all doing their part to stop the spread of this virus.
Andrea Campos, Haight Street
“I live in Lower Haight between restaurants and bars that have been shuttered for weeks now. Shelter in place has completely changed the dynamic of this neighborhood — with some of my personal favorites already closing down for good. The once vibrant street is quiet and eerie, which I guess is why I’ve gone out of my way lately to try and dress in a more vibrant way. It’s like my own personal body armor against the shelter-in-place blues.”
Chris Luecke, Cole Valley
“I’ve lived in Cole Valley for five years after moving here from Houston and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’m a podcaster of two beer-focused shows. Since I’m tied to the food and beverage industry, during quarantine I’ve been dressing as Joe Exotic from Tiger King and have been Zoombombing people’s calls to raise money for hospitality worker relief. It’s entertainment for a good cause.”
Juell Stewart, Duboce Triangle
“I’m a policy research manager at a racial justice organization professionally, and I’m riding out shelter in place at home with my two roommates.
“All things considered in these crazy times, I’m pretty lucky. I’m grateful to have the flexibility to work from home, and happy that I have great roommates whose company I genuinely enjoy. But I miss the energy of urban life more than I can describe. I get so much joy from being in crowds, and meeting strangers, so I suppose I took part in this project to feel even the tiniest spark of connection and camaraderie with my fellow San Franciscans in this time of physical isolation.
“I chose to celebrate my favorite thing about the city — our parks! I’m lucky enough to live within walking distance of some of our most amazing outdoor areas, which have been a saving grace for much-needed solo exercise and fresh air. Did you know that everyone in San Francisco lives within 10 minutes of a park?! It’s a tremendous asset that we shouldn’t take for granted, which has become even more essential these days.”
Christian Rieta, East Cut
“I’m a quality nurse manager at Alameda Health Systems, including Highland Hospital. I live in the ‘East Cut’ district of San Francisco with my partner Jeremy, who is a social worker for the city/county of San Francisco, where he works to ensure elderly and disabled residents have the resources and care they need while sheltered in place.
“We are both essential workers during this Covid-19 crisis. We’ve lived here for about seven years and love the inclusiveness and openness of San Francisco. We miss being able to explore the life of the city but appreciate the progressive actions of Mayor London Breed and believe that the city is a great example of proactiveness.”
Ashley and Ryan Wensley with their pup Kira (left) and Mikaela Sugarman and Joe Hanson with their french bulldog Duke (right), Inner Richmond
“My name is Mikaela, and my husband Joe and I — and our French bulldog Duke — live in the Inner Richmond area. We own a place with our friends who live in the unit downstairs. I’m 19 weeks pregnant with our first child. I’ve spent almost the entirety of my pregnancy in quarantine so it sounded really fun to be part of this photo series. We don’t have any photos of ourselves during this time and thought it would be an amazing way to capture this very unique season of our lives.”
The Kellgren Family, Inner Richmond
“It’s an odd new normal when your three-and-a-half-year-old has mastered the polite, but quick, exit from the virtual preschool meeting. We wanted to participate in this documentation project because we’re not sure how much she’ll remember, but when she comes to us in the future, asking about that time she had meetings and masks and couldn’t play on the playground, we want a visual to show her and to remind her of the dedication of those who helped us through this time.”
Phoenix and Shalaco, Mission District
“I’ve lived in the Mission for 10 years in this permanently affordable member-managed co-op. It’s a beautiful double wide stick Victorian. We wanted to participate in this photo series to inspire people to see the beauty in their everyday lives.
“This is a great time to take a minute and appreciate what’s right in front of you — to take pause and stock in what’s important to you and give that complete attention. For us, it’s the people, plants, and architecture of our neighborhood, which we love exploring as we cruise around on our tandem. Things are pretty much the same in our neighborhood, yet also radically different.”
The Mackler Family, Nopa
“It’s me, my husband, my four-year-old, and my one-and-a-half-year-old in our cozy converted two-bedroom in an old Victorian in Nopa. We were excited about the photos because we could really use a little pick-me-up and something to look forward to. We’re just trying to survive! We love our neighbors and our neighborhood.”
Sunny Haire with dogs Bill and Romeo, Bernal Heights
“I own and operate a dog walking company called Sunny Day Dog Walks and I’m a musician who has been performing for many years. In the photo with me are my elderly pups, Bill and Romeo. I started the quarantine with a lot of focus and intention toward ‘I just did the best workout and feel so great’ or ‘I just alphabetized my record and book collection!’ You know, the overachiever who excels when no one is looking.
“Turns out, when no one is watching I am lazy, sleepy, and unfocused! Real talk, about 10 days into shelter in place, my sweet baby dog, Bill wound up in the emergency room and is technically now in heart failure. There’ve been a lot of ups and downs with her health so I’m essentially in palliative care for the intrepid part of my tiny dog duo. She’s been up and down but I feel like I am getting more one-on-one time with her than I’d ever get during regular life. So, I suppose I’m trying to find the things to be grateful for. I know my dogs help me every day so hopefully, their ridiculous faces can help someone else.”
