SAN FRANCISCO: SOCIALLY DISTANCED

Nothing describes social distancing quite like San Francisco in the age of Covid-19. A recent job took me to the City by the Bay. While I was there, I couldn’t help but capture the startling emptiness.

SAN FRANCISCO & SOCIAL DISTANCING

In a city known for wall-to-wall traffic, the deserted freeways in San Francisco were a bit unsettling.

Without the bustle of people, even the famous Transamerica Pyramid seems lonely.

The bridges, highways, and byways around the city are bare — a commuter’s dream.

Without people on the streets, it feels as if you are walking in a maze.

The shops and restaurants sit completely empty, as if there’s no thought of returning.

SAN FRANCISCO PIER: SOCIALLY DISTANCED

For a city with a population over 890,000, it seems like someone performed a magic trick to make everyone disappear. Now, we wait for them to snap their fingers and reveal the grand finale.

Everything sits patiently waiting for tourists to return.

The pier is completely desolate. Besides a security officer and the regular bird lady, I was the only visitor. The only sounds heard were flags flapping in the wind.

MORE SOCIAL DISTANCING ON THE PIER

There wasn’t a lot of social distancing happening as hundreds of birds stayed close to this woman. The birds followed her up the pier, as if she was a regular. Thinking about it, the birds who are fed by tourists, are probably starving — she’s their savior.

Occasionally you’ll see a local braving the outdoors. Everyone wearing a mask and social distancing in San Francisco.

Here’s to the hope that this will pass, and San Francisco will return to being the vibrant, bustling city it once was.

Gear

• Fuji GFX 100
• 23 mm F4

STAY CURIOUS.