There are moments in life when the world changes so quickly that you can hardly recognize it. That is what California felt like during COVID-19. Places normally filled with traffic, tourists, music, and people were suddenly quiet. I picked up my camera because I wanted to remember what it actually looked like—not just what we saw on the news, but what was happening on the streets and beaches I knew.
I’m used to getting out and exploring. Whether I’m wandering along the coast or heading into Los Angeles, there’s usually something happening around every corner. During quarantine, the familiar places looked almost unrecognizable. Hollywood Boulevard without its usual crowds. Empty downtown streets. Beaches where the signs told us to stay away.
It was strange, unsettling, and at times heartbreaking. I don’t think I could have described it all in words back then, so I let the photographs tell part of the story.
Hollywood Without the Hollywood Crowds
Hollywood is usually anything but quiet. The Walk of Fame, theaters, museums, and shopping areas are places where you expect to see people everywhere. During the shutdown, the empty sidewalks and closed attractions told a very different story. Even the movie marquees seemed frozen in time.
When Los Angeles Stood Still
Anyone who has spent time in Los Angeles knows that traffic is practically part of the landscape. So seeing roads and downtown streets nearly empty was one of the most surreal parts of the experience. The signs about social distancing, the closed cultural landmarks, and the absence of the usual city energy made it feel as though someone had pressed pause.
I photographed the streets, the museums, and the Arts District because these were scenes I never expected to see. They are also reminders of how much everyday life depends on the people who fill these places.
California Beaches in Lockdown
When I need to clear my head, I go to the ocean. The waves, the salt air, and the feeling of sand beneath my feet have always helped me find a little perspective. During COVID, even that simple escape changed. Beach access was restricted, parking areas were closed, and familiar stretches of coastline looked deserted.
These photos of Huntington Beach, Venice Beach, and the boardwalk capture something I never imagined I would witness. The ocean kept moving, of course. But the life surrounding it had changed.
What the Photographs Can’t Show
Looking at these images now, I can see the empty streets and closed beaches. What I can’t see is everything people were feeling: the loneliness, uncertainty, frustration, fear, and grief. A photograph can capture an empty sidewalk, but not the reasons someone’s heart might have felt empty too.
I know that for many families, this was much more than an interruption to everyday life. People lost loved ones, milestones, livelihoods, and time together that they could never get back. I don’t want the quiet beauty of some of these images to overshadow that reality.
Finding a Little Peace Behind the Camera
One thing I’ve learned through travel is that being present matters. When I spend too much time thinking about the past, I can feel myself getting stuck there. When I focus too much on what might happen next, the uncertainty can become overwhelming. Photography gives me a reason to stop, look around, and pay attention to the moment I’m actually in.
That’s why I took these photographs. Not because I wanted to make a difficult time look beautiful, but because I wanted to document it honestly. These images are a small record of California during an extraordinary chapter of our lives—and a reminder of how much we sometimes take the ordinary days for granted.
If you were living through the lockdowns, what do you remember most? Did you find a new way to cope, or was there something familiar you missed more than you expected? I’d love to hear your story.