A Shanghai-based photographer has captured the unusually quiet streets of Shanghai during the mass fear caused by the global outbreak of coronavirus. She found that public spaces in the city of 24 million people that are usually bustling with people were eerily empty.
Nicoco is the photographer behind the series. She titled the collection of images 一个人城市 (“One Person City”), which she began in the days after Wuhan was quarantined. Her outing timed with when Chinese New Year holiday celebrations were due to begin, something she’d sworn to avoid after experiencing huge overcrowding back in 2014. Except when she ventured out this year, the streets were deserted.
The virus has robbed Chinese people from what should be the happiest time of year.
Nicoco used a Canon 7D Mark II and Canon 6D at 24mm to shoot the series, intentionally opting for wide shots so as to “capture the vast openness,” of the vacant streets.
My experience living in Shanghai during the coronavirus outbreak, and seemingly many others, is isolation. It is more than people avoiding areas they think will be crowded, it is people not leaving their homes entirely.
Check out more of Nicoco’s work at her website or on Instagram.
All images courtesy Nicoco, and used with permission.