The above image was taken a year ago today. There were only a handful of tourists in a nearly empty Times Square on that Sunday, a day before schools closed and just a few days prior to a cascade of other closures and restrictions that would ultimately result in a full lockdown. New York City was about to become the epicenter of the virus. Italy already knew what we were in for.

March 15, 2020 is also the day that I started documenting the year that was 2020. The images that follow are of some of the most recognizable places in New York City as they looked during the height of lockdown and the summer—a surreal reality of empty streets and tourist Meccas.

Devoid of people and traffic, this view of Grand Central looked very “I Am Legend” (sans Will Smith obliterating poor Fred).

A lone policeman on horseback patrols an empty Fifth Avenue in front of Saks in the heart of Midtown.

When I rounded the corner I had no idea I would see the Rockefeller Center skating rink featuring #NewYorkTough. I had it completely to myself, a rare privilege for all the wrong reasons.

A few months later in June, as some restrictions are lifted, Prometheus and the other iconic statues at Rockefeller Center and around New York City don masks to set an example for New Yorkers.

This is a view of High Line Park, perfectly overgrown following months of being closed, just a few days before it opened to the public July 16 with artfully done social distancing measures in place.

It’s bittersweet to experience Manhattan’s most iconic and crowded places and have them to yourself, save a few other fellow New Yorkers.  These images captured some of the beauty I sought out amidst all that has happened in the last year. 

The entire world changed in 2020 and continues to experience a shared reality. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on us all, 2020 was a tumultuous year for the U.S. It marked the largest social justice movement and ongoing protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd, the most toxic political environment in modern history, and underscored a deeply divided country.

I’ve been working on a project reflecting all of this, which I’ll share in the coming weeks.