Quarantine Chronicles: Luiz C. Ribeiro in New York
Wall Street: New York - MARCH 18, 2020 © Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News
There are photographers on the frontlines documenting Coronavirus hotspots throughout the world, revealing how the pandemic has affected each country. Like a type of war photography, they are capturing what will eventually be glimpses of the past. This is a monumental task. Street photographers have set out across some of the largest urban cities to document the spectacle of empty plazas and untouched park benches. Photojournalists have stood directly beside patients and doctors, documenting the selfless work being done by healthcare professionals, public transit workers, grocery store clerks, sanitation employees and government employees.
Times Square: New York - MARCH 16, 2020 © Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News
Photography is unique because although it is considered a creative field, it also functions as a vital source of news. It replaced the paintings and drawings that were used to document important people and events; recording history is now as quick as the speed of someone’s shutter. Many photographers are risking their lives for a greater purpose by recording this peculiar time in history. New York based photographer Luiz C. Ribeiro, who has worked with both The New York Times and Associated Press, has been taking pictures of the pandemic’s effects on New York City. As a freelance photographer for New York’s Daily News, his photographs include briefs from Bill de Blasio and police commissioners, to action shots of the NYPD and NYFD on the frontlines, to desolate squares that used to be overflowing with street vendors. Ribeiro explains, “I felt the responsibility to inform the people who are locked inside their houses what's really happening and how important it is to follow the CDC guidelines... photos of empty streets can convey that,”
Ship: New York - MARCH 30, 2020 © Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News
Since photography is a social career, like many others, people like Ribeiro have been struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy and consistency with their jobs; many have already lost positions. Since Ribeiro couldn’t continue working with others, he started photographing the streets, relaying important images to people in quarantine on a daily basis. As he mentioned, Ribeiro believes that the unoccupied streets can help convey to people how serious the COVID-19 outbreak is, and how imperative it is to stay indoors. Photography can create awareness by providing visuals, making it a necessary tool when trying to communicate urgent information to the public.
“I have to take care of myself while working; my clothes are changed daily, my boots are soaked in Clorox before I walk in my garage and in small places I wear a mask and latex gloves for touching anything. ”
The Oculus: New York - March 17, 2020 © Luiz C. Riberio for New York Daily News
Of course, it also becomes important to keep morale high during this time. Giving breaks to news viewers ensures that the pressing information will not tire people out before they are fully informed. Ribeiro says he’s eager to document the inspirational stories, and spread appreciation for all of the heroes cleaning, feeding, and saving lives in the city. Photographers from every single news agency, such as Alex Majoli’s series for Vanity Fair on Italy, or Manu Fernandez from Associated Press, are documenting COVID-19 in Spain. It is easy to forget the risk photographers are taking from behind the camera, sharing other people’s remarkable stories through their work. Ribeiro tells me, “I think that two hundred years from now people will be at my photos about this moment.”
Healthcare worker: New York - April 6, 2020 © Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News
Musée Magazine would like to thank every single essential worker and healthcare provider that is fighting each day to keep our country afloat, and the ones behind the scenes, making sure we can all witness the moments of positivity and ingenuity that keep us waking up a little more hopeful.
You can find Luiz C. Riberio’s work here.
