Temporarily Closed

When New York declared a state of emergency on March 14, 2020, my world, like everyone else's, turned upside down. My study abroad semester in Japan – cancelled. My trip to Joshua Tree – gone. College became a series of screens, and home felt more like confinement than comfort. But in this chaos, I found my escape through my camera lens. Every other week, I would step out into a New York I'd never known before. The same streets I'd walked countless times now felt like a different world entirely. With my camera in hand, I wasn't just taking photos – I was documenting history as it unfolded before me. From March through August 2020, I captured moments that still feel surreal: the iconic lion statues wearing masks outside the New York Public Library in Bryant park, empty subway platforms that should have been packed with commuters, and sidewalks so quiet you could hear your own footsteps. What started as my personal therapy – a way to escape the crushing weight of uncertainty – grew into something much more meaningful. Through my lens, I witnessed how my city, usually defined by its constant motion and endless energy, found a different kind of strength in stillness. I saw how New Yorkers, known for their tough exterior, revealed their softer side through small acts of kindness and solidarity. This zine is my record of those extraordinary months – not just of what our city looked like, but of how it felt. It's about the eerie quiet of Manhattan streets, yes, but also about the resilience I discovered in every corner. It's about the pain of seeing "Temporarily Closed" signs everywhere, but also about the hope hidden in messages of unity and support taped to windows and doors. These images tell my story of 2020, but they're also our story – everyone who lived through those uncertain days when the city that never sleeps took a collective pause. Through this project, I learned that New York's soul isn't in its crowded streets or tall buildings – it's in its people's unwavering spirit, in our ability to find light in the darkest times, and in our power to stand together even when we had to stay apart. As I wandered those quiet streets with my camera, I wasn't just preserving memories – I was discovering a new way to love this city. This collection is my tribute to that time, to that New York, and to all of us who found ways to stay connected when the world told us to stay apart.