As San Francisco shelters in place, photographers have a unique opportunity to capture unusual scenes during one of the most unsettling and strange events in recent memory. As the photographer for the Paper Tiger, I have been going for walks around the city with my camera in hand, trying to capture moments that tell a story about what life is like right now.
These explorations serve a dual purpose for me, allowing me to document and share images of city life during a pandemic while also providing an opportunity for me to get out of the house and off a screen. Of course, I’m always careful to keep my distance from people around me, and I wear a mask while I work.
This page is regularly updated with new images; photos appear in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top.
May 31: Demonstrators gathered to peacefully protest the death of George Floyd and police brutality against black and brown people. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 31: People protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers held a peaceful march in San Francisco as violence erupted in cities around the country. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 29: San Francisco City Hall lit up purple to honor hospitality workers. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 23: Social distancing circles in Dolores Park were somewhat effective at keeping people spread out on this warm Saturday afternoon. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 15: The Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco’s largest concert venue. Members of the Warriors organization have committed to paying the full salaries of stadium employees furloughed because of the coronavirus. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 10: A raccoon in Golden Gate Park. With fewer people moving around the city, sightings of raccoons and coyotes have increased. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 9: Large numbers of shoppers made social distancing impossible to maintain at the Ferry Building Farmers Market. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 9: A homeless man asked for food outside the Ferry Building Farmers Market. San Francisco officials stopped cracking down on tent encampments in March, and have since been offering temporary shelter in hotel rooms to some of the city’s more than eight thousand unhoused residents. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 9: The statue of Mahatma Gandhi wears a mask outside the Ferry Building. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 6: City College of San Francisco, which has been closed since March 12. Signs posted on the front doors explain the school’s online learning plans. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 3: A quiet Sunday morning on the Bay Bridge. Traffic on the bridge in April decreased by 50% from 2019 levels. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
May 3: The first light of day over downtown San Francisco, seen from Treasure Island. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 24: Signs advising social distancing have been posted in public places around San Francisco. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 24: The Golden Gate Bridge was completely free of cars as most people stayed home. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 22: A quiet afternoon on Folsom Street, where most businesses are shuttered. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 20: A mannequin donned a protective mask on the balcony of a house in Noe Valley. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 17: Many businesses, including Radio Habana, pictured here, have posted signs in their windows asking for contributions to GoFundMe pages. With storefronts shuttered, online crowdfunding has become a common way for business owners to try to pay their employees. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 17: People walked past Puerto Alegre taqueria on Valencia Street, which is closed temporarily. Murals and graffiti offering reassurance and positive messages have become common around the city. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 15: Individuals and small, spaced out groups enjoyed a warm evening at Dolores Park. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 11: The occasional pedestrian passed by the Salesforce Tower, San Francisco’s tallest building. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 11: With most people working from home, streets that are typically busy with commuters and shoppers have been mostly empty. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 11: The Salesforce Transit Center, the largest public transportation hub in San Francisco, was empty. Muni has dramatically reduced its operations, running only the bus lines it considers part of its “core service.” Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 11: The Embarcadero was still crowded, and people exercising appeared to make minimal attempts at social distancing. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 8: Coit Tower joined monuments across the United States in lighting up blue to honor healthcare workers and first responders. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 8: A sign in the window of Hamano Sushi in Noe Valley offered a discount on to-go food. Most restaurants now only serve takeout; others have closed completely. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 8: Howard Street, near the Salesforce Transit Center, was nearly deserted. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 7: Downtown San Francisco on a quiet Tuesday evening. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 7: The Supermoon—when the moon is at the closest point of its orbit to earth—rose over the Oakland Hills and an unusually quiet San Francisco Bay. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 1: The Castro Theater marquee offered reassurance to movie-goers that it would return before too long. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
April 1: A pedestrian walked past shuttered businesses on Castro Street. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
March 30: Crissy Field and the beaches near the Golden Gate Bridge were largely deserted. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
March 29: People went for a walk at Alamo Square Park. The row of seven houses behind them, known as the Painted Ladies, are a major tourist destination. They were free of visitors that day, and have since closed temporarily. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
March 29: Graffiti on Masonic Avenue in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood offers words of encouragement to passersby. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
March 26: A road leading up Twin Peaks was free of moving cars. In their absence, some pedestrians have begun walking in the street. Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
Gabe Castro-Root is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Paper Tiger. He is a senior at LWHS and was Photo Editor as a junior, his first year on the staff. You can often find him running or photographing the night sky.
Gabe Castro-Root is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Paper Tiger. He is a senior at LWHS and was Photo Editor as a junior, his first year on the staff. You can often find him running or photographing the night sky.
Gabe Castro-Root is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Paper Tiger. He is a senior at LWHS and was Photo Editor as a junior, his first year on the staff. You can often find him running or photographing the night sky.
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