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.