As I See It - Thoughts on Getting Through This Difficult Time, Week 11
Let’s talk masks. They are on my mind a lot lately. They are certainly an issue that creates some discord in the U.S.
Photo by John Carnahan. Used with permission.
Masks are hot and generally annoying to wear.
In the U.S. we have gotten mixed messaging about whether we need to wear masks or not and what they might do if we do choose to wear them.
It seems that there is some agreement that masks limit Corona viral particles from getting into the air, so if you wear a mask, you are protecting others. This has particular importance because you can have Corona and be asymptomatic.
Given the fact above, when someone asks me to respect their decision to not wear a mask, the answer is, “Well, no.”
Photo by John Carnahan. Used with permission.
No one seems to know that if you wear a mask you are in any way protecting yourself.
Wearing a mask in the U.S., in some quarters, is thought of as a signal of how you plan to vote in the presidential election in November.
It was pitiful watching the Governor of North Dakota crying as he asked with his constituents to not regard wearing a mask or not wearing a mask as a symbol of how someone planned to vote. The crying started when he gave an example that a person could be the parent of a five year old getting cancer treatments. I am guessing that a parent of a five year old getting cancer treatments was harassed for wearing a mask. Just a guess, though.
I have a friend, older than I am, who was pursued by a man around the grocery store telling her he wanted to take a picture of her to send to her grandchildren. I have two things to say about that. Go ahead, take the picture. But if you pursue me around the supermarket, it is probably not going to go well for either of us.
Photo by John Carnahan. Used with permission.
We have the absolute perfect test case for the efficacy of masks right now in the U.S. On May 16, it was discovered that 2 hairstylists worked for 8 days in a hair salon in Missouri with Covid symptoms. They subsequently tested positive for Covid. As many as 140 customers may have been exposed. Both customers and stylists were required to wear masks. I think this is a significant event to follow because it will surely tell us a lot about mask wearing. So far there is no news about the outcome.
Is wearing a mask going to be a forever thing?
If it is, will humans have to relearn how to read body and facial language?
Photo by John Carnahan. Used with permission.
The long term wearing of masks is not good news for street photographers. However, my friend, John Carnahan is making the best of the situation with his Mask Series of photos taken in NYC. Like most of us, John was “out of commission” for awhile. Clearly he did not forget how to take beautiful street portraits during that time. You can see John’s Instagram gallery at @jacahan.