Rosa Duran-Perez works the cash register at Fred Meyer while wearing the required protective gear.

Wednesday Morning, April 22

While still fairly depleted, the toilet paper isle of Fred Meyer is no longer completely empty.

Wednesday Morning, April 22

Signs all around Fred Meyer advise the store's occupants to practice social distancing.

Wednesday Morning, April 22

Closeup - A Flowering Cherry Tree

Taken at 8:07 PM, 4/13/2020 - Albany

My other two photos for this week are based around places that have become closed due to the current quarantine. Because of this, I wanted to include an image of something that has remained constant through all of this chaos. I have seen cherry blossoms such as these blooming all over town this week. Many
flowers appear in the spring, but few are as bountiful and charming as the flowers of a cherry tree. Stores may be closed and events may be canceled, but the wonders of nature continue on, unhindered.

Overall - Forbidden Playground

Taken at 6:10 PM, 4/16/2020 - Deerfield Park in Albany

A local park is shown here wrapped up in caution tape. Small text below the sign says, "This park facility or fixture is closed to the public in accordance with guidelines from the local health authority. Please contact us with questions." I have to admit, even though I did not enter the restricted area, there is something quite unnerving and surreal about being this close to something that has been wrapped up in red tape and plastered with warnings. As harsh and scary as this sign may seem, it also provides a link to a Facebook page where people can find activities to pass the time, shining a bit of humanity into this otherwise troubling situation.

Medium - Empty Theater Display

Taken at 7:01 PM, 4/16/2020 - AMC in Corvallis

Many stores have shortened their hours or closed for the remaining duration of the quarantine, but few exhibit their abandonment as well as movie theaters. The large, empty display windows glare out into the parking lot, reminding every passerby that the world is a whole lot quieter now than it was just a few weeks before. There will likely be few chances to see an entire wall of movie posters completely empty, so I took this opportunity to capture the melancholy scene. This is easily my favorite photograph of those I have taken this week.

My Life in the Quarantine

Me and My Collection of Halloween Skeletons

These have been interesting times, and I have had numerous conversations with friends and family talking about what has changed in their lives since the start of this quarantine. I know people who have lost jobs or had to cancel events, but I myself have not seen much change in my own life. I do hope, though, that everything goes back to normal in time for Halloween.

Besides my classes at LBCC, I had no obligations to be infringed upon by the quarantine. Most of my interests and hobbies involve activities I can do at home, such as computer programming or gaming. This means that the quarantine has, if anything, given me more time to pursue my interests and enjoy myself. I understand that many people are having a very difficult time right now, and I am very lucky to be in the position I am in.

The one change that has quite directly affected my life is the transition of all LBCC classes to an online format. Even this has not changed my life much, as I am quite used to working from home. I homeschooled my entire life, even through high school. Making my own schedules, keeping track of assignments, and utilizing online classes are all things I have done several times.

My parents and sister have also been handling the quarantine well, as their interests also lie largely at home and my father is considered an essential worker. There is a lot of peace of mind in knowing they are doing well, which also helps this situation be manageable.

An Introduction to Josh

Greetings, everyone! It seems you have come across my photojournalism blog. My name is Josh, and this is where I will be posting during my photojournalism 134 class at LBCC.

I've lived in Albany my entire life, and I have visited a significant portion of Oregon's sights and scenery. Autumn is my favorite season of the year due to the crisp colorful outdoors and the event of Halloween. I spend far too much time and too many resources every year decorating the house and planning Halloween parties.

My family has always had a fondness for pets, and so I have helped raise all sorts of animals, from saltwater fish to ducks and chickens. Our most recent feathered friends are two adorable chicks from Coastal Farms. Don't worry, we raise our chickens like pets, not food, and we never eat them.

I probably spend most of my time working with computers, whether that be practicing some programming, virtually socializing with family members in other parts of the country, or doing some casual gaming. I'm excited to see how my experience with electronics will help me with my photojournalism, and I hope to build my knowledge even further. I picked photojournalism as a class because I wanted to try something new and experiment with a skillset unfamiliar to me. My goal in this class is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of both photojournalism and photography in general.

I'm looking forward to what's in store, and I hope you are as well.

Let the quarantine-conscious adventures begin!