Temporarily Closed
A photo zine documenting the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.
Timeline
2020 — 2021
Role
Photography, Design & Curation
Context
Independent Photo Zine
Format
48-Page Softcover Digest
Saddle-stitched print editionThe Story
When New York declared a state of emergency on March 14, 2020, my world, like everyone else's, turned upside down. My study abroad semester in Japan... cancelled. My trip to Joshua Tree for Coachella... gone. College became a series of screens, and home felt more like confinement than comfort. But in this chaos, I found my escape through my camera lens.
Every other week, I would step out into a New York I had never known before. The same streets I'd walked countless times now felt like a different world entirely. With my camera in hand, I was not just taking photos, I was documenting history as it unfolded before me. From March through June 2020, I captured moments that still feel surreal: the iconic lion statues wearing masks outside the New York Public Library in Bryant Park, empty subway platforms that should have been packed with commuters, and sidewalks so quiet you could hear your own footsteps.
What started as my personal therapeutical outlet, a way to escape the crushing weight of uncertainty, grew into something much more meaningful. Through my lens, I witnessed how my city, usually defined by its constant motion and endless energy, found a different kind of strength in stillness.
“Through this project, I learned that New York's soul is not in its crowded streets or tall buildings. It's in its people's unwavering spirit, in our ability to find light in the darkest times, and in our power to stand together even when we had to stay apart.”
Core Themes & Series
Deserted Landmarks
Empty subways, silent crosswalks in Midtown, and barren avenues that normally host millions of people.
Masked Civic Icons
The monumental stone lions outside the New York Public Library at Bryant Park fitted with protective masks.
Handwritten Window Notices
Taped butcher-paper notices and marker messages on bodega doors, expressing grief, solidarity, and promises to return.
Solidarity & Resilience
Spontaneous 7 PM cheers for essential workers, sidewalk chalk memorials, and quiet acts of kindness shared between isolated neighbors.
Subterranean Solitude
Capturing train platforms echoing with solitary announcements in an underground network engineered for perpetual rush-hour volume.
Publication & Print Specifications
| Specification | Editorial & Print Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Format | Saddle-stitched softcover digest photo zine |
| Trim Dimensions | 5.5 in × 8.5 in (Classic Digest standard) |
| Page Count | 48 pages, full-bleed color and monochrome plates |
| Paper Stock | 100lb coated silk interior with 120lb satin-laminated cover |
| Documentation Period | March 14, 2020 - June 30, 2020 |
| Primary Locations | Midtown Manhattan, Bryant Park, Grand Central, Queens, Brooklyn |
| Production Process | Hybrid Amazon KDP proofs and specialized offset short-run printing |
| Distribution | Zines are available for purchase at temporarilyclosed.nyc |
Finding the Right Printer
Self-publishing a photo zine requires balancing affordability, color fidelity, and structural integrity. Across three separate print iterations, I tested multiple printing services to ensure the final zine felt worthy of the moments it held.
First Draft
Initial ProofingRapid physical test proof using Amazon print services to evaluate page flow, aspect ratios, and visual pacing. I did not know what I was doing so seeing it in person for the first time was a surreal moment.
Second Draft
Color CalibrationRefining typography, adjusting gutter bleed margins, and tuning black point contrast across shadowy subway compositions.
Final Edition
Official ReleaseBalanced color rendition and tight registration, establishing the final physical archival edition.
Gear & Tools
Own a Piece of New York History
Order your copy of the limited-run 48-page print zine or browse part of my photography catalog.