In the spring of 2020 during the earliest days of the Covid-19 lockdown of Washington, DC, authorities told us to only leave our homes to go to the pharmacy and grocery store. Later, exercise was added as a reason to venture out.

I felt compelled early on to take my chances and went running and biking on the Washington Mall and adjacent areas. I frequently returned to the Washington Monument as a symbol of stability and history for reassurance in this unsettling time. It was all so strange, beautiful and remarkable. Hardly anyone was out, leaving public spaces empty and quiet. 

It seemed important to document this phenomenon and I hoped my camera would give me cover for flaunting the rules. Police officers took note of me on occasion but never intervened. Below are photos from the first weeks of the quarantine.

Please scroll down to view photos in full.