Danielle Amy

Entering Lockdown Diary

“Israel entered its first day of partial lockdown on March 15th, 2020. The streets of Tel Aviv were busy as usual and most businesses were open.

Anxious chatter of the Coronavirus was constant despite the seemingly “business as usual” atmosphere. I spent the day taking portraits of people in a makeshift studio on the corner of a main avenue.

No handshakes or hugs were involved in the process and distance was observed.

This did not, however, deter smiles and love.”

Day one

“Day two of partial lockdown in Tel Aviv was even busier than yesterday. With temperatures rising to 23C/73F the entire beachfront and boardwalk was packed with people. No constant anxious chatter of the Coronavirus hovered in the air nor any attempt to even bring it up. Today was about enjoying a beautiful day filled with sunshine and warm energy.”

“Day three and four brought harsher restrictions to the partial lockdown in Israel, contributing to a substantially lower amount of the people out on the street. For my last day in Tel Aviv, I set up my makeshift studio in the main square caution and hesitancy were the main driving energies today.”

“Full restrictions of a national lockdown were enforced in Israel. The Israeli prime minister Bibi Netanyahu appeared almost every evening on the major news networks announcing new guidelines and using words filled with fear of the unknown. Instead of focusing on our outer world, I spent the afternoon photographing some members of my family as we learned to live in quarantine together.”