Imagine you are a photographer that enjoys photographing historic architecture in grand old cities like Zürich, with its cobblestone streets, decorative fountains, and majestic churches that have stood for centuries.
Now imagine that city at night, with no traffic, virtually no pedestrians, and all the major sights floodlit. In a way, the stay-at-home Corona Situation is a boon to street photographers who want an unobstructed view of plazas and architecture… places that would normally have been bustling with people on this warm spring evening.
I took this opportunity to wander the old town, from the ETH Polyterrasse overlook, down to the river Limmat, up to the Lindenhof park, and past the Fraumunster and Grosmunster cathedrals. Sure, I passed some couples and small groups of drunken teens who don’t seem to understand the “distance” part of “social distancing”, but it was otherwise a startlingly quiet Friday evening, with the shops shuttered and the cafés closed. That may change on Monday, when shops reopen. Meanwhile, enjoy the gallery!
David Kotz 