Duane Pandorf Photography

Up until the last part of June I had not been at work since the middle of March. I just completed my second 7 day work rotation and it’s a bit eerie walking through a major international airport where there are hardly any people nor businesses open.

As the Covid 19 virus hit and became a national/world issue I was finishing a work rotation in the middle of March. As I left Las Vegas, the morning of March 16, it was obvious that this was not going to be normal times. It seemed like I was the last one leaving town.

Fortunately, I had some vacation scheduled during the onslaught of the virus. I used some sick days to avoid flying in April and the company did not schedule me to fly in May. At the end of June I flew one 7 day rotation and the damage done to the economy and people’s psyche was obvious.

From the middle March to this time frame, I’d mostly been at home. I did spend time driving my motorcycle as the roads in the countryside were mostly empty of any traffic. Was probably not the best idea as who would be out there to find me if I’d run off the road?

During my June rotation I took a few snaps with my iPhone as I traveled through the Detroit Airport connecting to my next flight. Prior to this current trip, I decided to get back to my photography hobby as I hadn’t brought my Leica with me in June but I have it with me now.

The past few months I’ve also had some personal challenges. After my mother passed away two years ago, we had some family issues in the care of my father. The court approved my request to become my father’s guardian and all that goes with that responsibility. In late April my father had to be admitted to the hospital for a few days and then on to a rehab facility. Due to his age and health issues it was apparent he did not have much time left on this earth. Of course, no one was allowed in to see him at either facility due to the virus. Fortunately we were able to bring him “home” prior to his passing in early June and family members were able to say their goodbyes.

And now here we are with several states shutting down again due to the virus. As you can see by these photographs the travel industry has been decimated. Hotels are virtually empty. It’s almost impossible to find a hotel that still has a kitchen open for food. If they do have an open kitchen, most only allow takeout to your room to eat. That includes even the fast food places located near a couple of the hotels I’ve recently stayed in.

Flying from Southern California to Missouri and on to the New York area the radio communications in the air have been almost silent. A very strange feeling and sometimes you wondered if the controller was still there. A reminder back to shortly after 911 when airline traffic resumed but this is different, very different.

And now here we are with several states shutting down again due to the virus. As you can see by these photographs travel has been decimated. Hotels are virtually empty. And its almost impossible to find a hotel who still has a kitchen open for food. If they do have an open kitchen, most do not have a seating area open to eat in. That includes even the fast food places located near a couple of the hotels I’ve recently stayed.

Flying from Southern California to Missouri and on to the New York area where I am now the radio communications in the air have been almost silent. A very eery feeling. A reminder back to shortly after 911 when airline traffic resumed but this is different, very different.