COVID-19 Lockdown

Confusing times, we all agree on that. What seemed unthinkable, even unimaginable, a few weeks ago, is happening today. Wherever we are in the world.

I live in Paris, France and as in most of the countries, we went into lockdown on 17 March 2020, to prevent the COVID-19 from spreading further. There is an important message here

PLEASE STAY AT HOME

Early into the lockdown, my wonderful father-in-law, Martin Schneider, challenged me to share images every day to lift up the spirits of the family. He asked me to share chosen images, my favorites, from the bulk of my work, and left the free choice to me. So here they are, my images. As I’m hosting this collection on my website, I try not to share images that are already shown on my site, but if double shows occur, please excuse me for it.

So here we go, please see my collection of images from my archives that have not (mostly) been published on my site and that have a meaning for me. I hope some of them might make you travel to a different place where you are at the moment, either physically or in your mind.

I’m also doing a series of my everyday life under the lockdown, but be prepared, no hidden gems over there.

And please let me quote the eloquent Martin Schneider :

“Cette fois je m’adresse à toi avec une requête spéciale. Les temps sont durs, et Dany nous le rappelle encore.« Stay at home to save lives!» Mais il ne faut pas se laisser gagner par le découragement, ou un ennui stérile. Il faut lire, écouter de la musique, réfléchir ou méditer, et généralement rester heureux et confiants.

Raffi va nous organiser un tele-seder, moi je vous promets quelques chroniques amusantes ou nostalgiques, et nous comptons sur toi pour le côté artistique.

 Je sais que tu n’as pour le moment pas l’occasion de faire «la chasse aux images» comme tu le souhaiterais, mais tu nous ferais plaisir en nous diffusant, jour après jour, des «morceaux choisis» de ton talent, au gré de ton humeur. Zadia et moi nous chantons tous les matins pour bien commencer la journée. Une belle photo, parfois évocatrice d’un lieu ou d’un  souvenir, parfois gaie et  dynamique, parfois émouvante, ou tout simplement belle à voir et à revoir, nous rendra la journée encore plus agréable. Pas de fausse modestie, tes images sont très belles, permets nous d’en profiter.”

So, here’s looking at you

Zadia, Martin

Dany, JD, Léa, Benji, Bilou

Raffi, Pak, Lola, Tessa, Thad

David, Victor

Kaarina, Lassi

Ripa, Mari

AND EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO READS THIS

on va s'en sortir sans sortir

I’m closing this challenge as France lifts the lockdown on Monday 11 May 2020. Stay safe, friends. This is definitely not the end of the virus.

The French lockdown started on Tuesday 17 March 2020 at 12 a.m. CET. My project only starts on Friday 20 March, but I’m nevertheless counting the days from the beginning. Just not to get lost in days…