Documenting Survival: Life, Loss, and Resilience During the Pandemic
"We all wear masks, and we all wear them for different reasons. But the one thing we all have in common is that we wear them to survive." – Anonymous
I don’t remember the exact moment I first heard the term 'coronavirus,' but I vividly recall the fear when experts predicted over 200,000 deaths. Claudia and I stayed home for months—possibly even the entire first year. With many of my freelance gigs vanishing, I took up birding to pass the time. We played pickleball in our garage and later ventured cautiously to an outdoor court, always leaving the moment another couple showed up.
One unexpected silver lining was Bodhi, our dog, who got to enjoy having us home 24/7.
It was also an extremely difficult time in our country because of the murder of George Floyd. Protests popped up frequently, and being around so many people—even while wearing masks—was intimidating, especially since I believe this was before vaccines were available. I was particularly worried for my wife, who was immunocompromised. While I wanted to cover every protest I could, I had to be conservative, carefully choosing which ones to attend for the sake of our family.
These shots were taken over three years 2020-2023 in North Carolina. I vividly remember my first day out during the mask mandate in Raleigh—seeing a man unloading a truck while wearing a mask felt surreal. I instinctively started shooting, capturing the strange new reality that surrounded me.
May 6, 2020. Durham, NC—During the COVID lockdown, Major the Bull, a gigantic bronze bull was ready to greet you in the center of downtown Durham wearing a Durham Bulls mask. In 2003, Central Carolina Bank (now Truist) commissioned the 10-foot, one-ton statue.
"A mask tells us more than a face." – Oscar Wilde
The first time I ever saw a closed Waffle House, I had to stop and take it in. It was eerie—almost unsettling. I also captured the iconic Durham Bulls mascot sporting a face mask, a surreal but fitting symbol of the times. And perhaps most memorable of all, I photographed a high school graduating class, every student masked—except for one—marking a bittersweet milestone in a world that felt completely upended.
During those two years, I also worked for a school in Durham, photographing sports, plays, and the first day of school. The kids were incredible—no complaints, no problems adapting to the many changes.
After the virus largely ran its course across the globe, my wife and I were left grieving the loss of friends and family to this devastating disease—many of them young men and women whose passing shattered their loved ones. In the end, the United States reported approximately 1,219,487 COVID-19-related deaths, the highest toll of any country in the world.
June 26, 2020. Durham, NC—Historic Durham Athletic Park, originally named El Toro Park when it was first built in 1926, served as the home of the Durham Bulls for almost 70 years, and was a film location for the movie Bull Durham. I photographed a high school baseball game where spectators were not allowed in the park.
"The mask reveals the truth it hides." – Anonymous
How history will judge this period, with masks and vaccines becoming mandatory, remains unknown. This collection isn’t meant to spark debate but rather to document a time in my life I hope we never have to relive.
January 28, 2022—Durham, NC—Indoor high school sports still took place, with sometimes ill-fitting masks during the competition.
March 20, 2020. Raleigh, NC —The historic Rialto Theater, the oldest movie theater in Raleigh and among the few cinemas that have been in continuous operation since opening in 1942. Shut down during the pandemic
August 4, 2021—A 13-foot skeleton telling people to vaccinate or die along with mocking tombstones are on display at the home of JESSE JONES in Raleigh’s Oakwood neighborhood. The towering skeleton mirrors Jones’ opinion on COVID-19 skepticism. His mother-in-law followed health guidelines but died while hospitalized with COVID-19.
December, 19, 2020—Raleigh,NC—6-year-olf NOAH REASONER of Holly Springs, NC joined volunteers laying over 5000 wreaths during this years Wreaths Across America at Raleigh National Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, wreath laying was limited to groups of 50 personnel at a time. The cemetery, established in 1865 is one of five national cemeteries to provide burial grounds for the Union dead. It encompasses close to 6,000 interments over 7 acres. Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 locations across the United States, at sea and abroad.
October 31, 2020—Greensboro, NC—Dr. JILL BIDEN thanks the crowd after speaking during a ‘Get Out the Vote Drive-In Rally’ at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina, where she encouraged supporters to vote early following the event.
October 19, 2020—Durham, NC—A dance class held in person and online during the COVID crisis at Durham Academy.
February, 2, 2022—Apex,NC—Adele Durden, manager at Animal Edventures Sanctuary and Nature Park holds Sylvia the Apex Armadillo. Sylvia is a ten year old hairy armadillo that announced she saw her shadow during the annual Groundhog Day ceremony in Apex, NC. According to legend, this means six more weeks of winter. Mayor Jacques Gilbert wanted Apex to have its own groundhog last year, but none were available. He turned to Animal Edventures Sanctuary and Nature Park, based in Coats, NC for other options, they volunteered Sylvia.
March 2, 2022—Durham,NC—Rev. Dr. William Barber waiting for the arrival of Vice President KAMALA HARRIS who visited at Durham Technical Community College in Durham, North Carolina to discuss the Biden administration's investment in union jobs. A White House task force issued a set of recommendations last week that could make it easier for federal workers and contractors to unionize. Last year, Biden tapped Harris and Walsh to lead a task force on labor.
March 25, 2020—Cary,NC—Our neighborhood in Cary, NC did something for the neighborhood children called a ‘Bear Hunt.’ Neighbors were encouraged to put stuffed animals in their windows for children to count as they walk around the neighborhood with their families. We didn’t have a bear so we propped up a stuffed Fuleco, the mascot of the 2014 World Cup games in Brazil.
March 25, 2020—Durham, NC—Over 400 Waffle House restaurants have been closed throughout the Southeast as officials work to reduce the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The Atlanta-based chain said that it has temporarily closed 418 restaurants throughout United States, 1,574 remain open. This Waffle House on Rt 54 in Durham was closed for business.
March 30, 2020—Raleigh, NC—A woman walks across Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh the first work day after the Wake County ‘Stay at Home’ proclamation.
April 9, 2020—Cary, NC—The marquee at the Raleigh Improv in Cary.
May 8, 2020—ChapelHill,NC—Artwork by Bob Goldstein on a message board on Franklin Street on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, a poster encourages the use of face masks while another praises the scientific face of America’s COVID-19 response, Dr. Anthony Fauci
May 28, 2021—Durham,NC—)ne of the most sobering portraits Ive made in my entire career was the Forty-Seventh COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF DURHAM ACADEMY Class of 2021.
June 18, 2023—Goldsboro, NC—Bishop WILLIAM J. BARBER II gets a hug from his youngest son, ANDREW BARBER after giving him a book that belonged to his father. Barber gave his Pastoral Retirement Sermon at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, NC where he has served as Senior Pastor since 1993. Barber, President of Repairers of the Breach is also the chief architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement and the Poor People’s Campaign. Rev. Barber now serves as the founding director of the Yale Divinity School Center for Public Theology and Public Policy.
May 31, 2020—Raleigh, NC—The morning after nationwide protests, the cleanup began after nearly every shop along Fayetteville Street in Raleigh had shattered windows. The city’s residents and volunteers were left to pick up the pieces. In one of many protests after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis turned violent after police released tear gas and pepper spray into the peaceful demonstration of more than 1000 in front of the Wake County Courthouse
August 18, 2020—Chapel Hill, NC—MEGAN CARROLL of Timberlake, NC takes a virtual class in a pavilion at Polk Place Quad on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Starting Wednesday, the school will move all undergraduate classes online after 130 more students tested positive for the coronavirus. There have been reports of four COVID-19 clusters over three days in dorms, apartments and a fraternity house.
August 24, 2020— Durham, NC—First day of school, Durham Academy Lower School grades pre-K-4
September 2, 2020—Wilmington, NC—Joe Biden supporters STEPH FETZER, l, and RICH POOLE, both of Wilmington joined Black Lives Matter advocates protesting the visit of President Donald Trump to Wilmington, NC on Wednesday to declare the city an American World War II Heritage City, making it the first in the country. The president was expected to meet with veterans, tour the Battleship North Carolina and speak about Wilmington’s part in World War II. This was the President’s 12th visit to North Carolina.
Sept 7, 2021—Richmond, VA—Aubrey “Japharii” Jones, the president of Black Lives Matter 757 in front of the infamous statue of Robert E. Lee which was removed the following morning.
October 15, 2020—Cary, NC—Voters stand in line outside the Cary Senior Center in advance of polls opening on the first day of early voting in North Carolina.
August 4, 2021—Raleigh,NC—Healthcare workers rallied against mandatory vaccines in at the state legislature in downtown Raleigh, insisting they will be unjustly fired for following their consciences. The event drew roughly 200 people, many of them in medical scrubs. But many in the crowd also came in opposition to masks in schools, which Wake County mandated Tuesday night.
June 4, 2021—Durham, NC—Durham Academy, Class of 2033 Kindergarten Closing Exercises.
January 6, 2022—Raleigh, NC—A rally organized by Tuesdays with Tillis and the N.C. Poor Peoples Campaign at the Federal Building in Raleigh, NC where protesters demanding elected leaders pass voting legislation. The event in Raleigh is one of more than 200 taking place across the country marking one year after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
January 28, 2023—Hundreds marched through downtown Raleigh during a protest in solidarity against police brutality in memory of Raleigh’s own Darryl Williams and Tyre Nichols of Memphis. The protest comes in the aftermath of Memphis police releasing body camera videos showing the violent arrest that ended with Tyre Nichols’ death.
March 15, 2020—Apex, NC—Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon was cancelled but runners still came out to run the course as a sign encouraging runners during the cancelled event.
March 30, 2020—Raleigh, NC—Benny Capitale’s selling pizza, paper towels and toilet paper in Downtown Raleigh as businesses began to sell hard to find items like toilet paper. The first work day after the Wake County ‘Stay at Home’ proclamation.
June 3, 2022—Durham, NC—Durham Academy Class of 2034 Preschool Closing Exercises
July 20, 2020—Durham,NC—Activists in front of a Durham, NC McDonalds, joined tens of thousands around the country protesting systemic racism and economic inequality that has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. Dubbed the “Strike for Black Lives,” labor unions, along with social and racial justice organizations from New York City to Los Angeles, participated in a range of planned actions. Participants will either picket during a lunch break or observe moments of silence to honor Black lives lost to police violence.
June 3, 2022—Durham, NC—Grads were kept to elbow bumps from the principal during the Durham Academy Class of 2034 Preschool Closing Exercises
August 24, 2020—Durham, NC—First day of school, Durham Academy Lower School grades pre-K-4
November 3, 2020—Raleigh, NC—State Attorney General (now Governor) JOSH STEIN, pets a few dogs who attended the ‘Puppies to the Polls’ event on Election Day, to mobilize voters in Raleigh, NC. Volunteers and dogs came to Project Enlightenment Park polling place in Raleigh to discuss the stakes of this election.
July 21, 2022—Charlotte, NC—Vice President KAMALA HARRIS clutching a mask thanks attendees after she spoke at the Carole A. Hoefener Community Services Center in Charlotte to talk with state legislators about reproductive rights and to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s investment in affordable, high-speed internet. North Carolina is approaching elections that could change abortion rights in the state. While the procedure remains legal, Republicans could pass legislation curtailing or banning it if they gain a supermajority in the November general election.