As I continue my stay in Pennsylvania during the Coronavirus pandemic, I ventured into the nearby town of Orwigsburg this past Friday. It was a bright, sunny afternoon with American flags waving bravely in the light breeze. I passed just a few people on my walk, most notably a young couple leaving the local pharmacy in a hurry. Cars drove by stores and small businesses that stood deserted and lifeless, save for a few restaurants with curbside takeout and Boyer’s, the local grocery store.
Through my images of downtown Orwigsburg, I tried portraying everyday life with only subtle cues of the pandemic. Scenes are void of life (except for two people hurriedly walking back to their cars at Boyer’s) and signage in almost every photograph hints at the gravity of the situation.
Although the downtown sidewalks were empty, yards were full of life. A brother and sister were bouncing and laughing on a trampoline while their mother watched from the porch. An old man was doing woodwork on a picnic table by his shed. A father was helping his son with his baseball swing.
It’s rather incredible how panic and crisis can bring family together.