New Jersey in the Days of COVID-19

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The US has shut its borders and Caitlin is now stuck in New Jersey. She decided photograph the usually busy time of day on the boardwalk during COVID19.

“Being in America at this time has been strange, the buildings themselves look surreal to me even without a very noticeable absence of people. This combined made this environment emulate that of the setting of Spirited Away”.

For this shoot Caitlin used a Nikon D60 camera with a Nikon 24-85mm lens. The photos were taken between mid afternoon and early evening, where the light hit the buildings along the seafront from behind, casting long shadows and illuminating shop fronts beautifully.

The first two images show a clear change following the current crisis. A contrast between the advertisement celebrating Shrivers as open ‘year round’ yet the notice on the door shows the true story during the current Covid-19 crisis.

The first two images show a clear change following the current crisis. A contrast between the advertisement celebrating Shrivers as open ‘year round’ yet the notice on the door shows the true story during the current Covid-19 crisis.

This image documents the way people search for answers in their daily lives - from astrology for example - yet even this is empty and (picture 6) we can see that it is closed. In a time of quarantine, the need to find answers seems even more pressing.

This image documents the way people search for answers in their daily lives – from astrology for example – yet even this is empty and (picture 6) we can see that it is closed. In a time of quarantine, the need to find answers seems even more pressing.

Normally this restaurant would be full of people - empty chairs proving their absence. The sunbeams hitting the floor is eerie and yet beautiful.

Normally this restaurant would be full of people – empty chairs proving their absence. The sunbeams hitting the floor is eerie and yet beautiful.

The ellipsis following the opening notice documents the uncertainty surrounding this current crisis.

The ellipsis following the opening notice documents the uncertainty surrounding this current crisis.

The cancellation of communal prayer proves how even traditional coping mechanisms have to be put aside in this current climate of uncertainty.

The cancellation of communal prayer proves how even traditional coping mechanisms have to be put aside in this current climate of uncertainty.

This is the only place that remained open on the boardwalk at Ocean City.

This is the only place that remained open on the boardwalk at Ocean City.

The rows and rows of empty benches highlight the absence of people along this walkway and what should have been.

The rows and rows of empty benches highlight the absence of people along this walkway and what should have been.

For some this represents the impact on our daily social connections.

For some this represents the impact on our daily social connections.

But for others family becomes even more important.

But for others family becomes even more important.