The American Formula 1 photographer Joshua Paul lives and works in New York. This city is particularly hard hit by the Corona disaster. Joshua Paul reports from Brooklyn.
Joshua Paul is not a GP photographer like any other. The American takes pictures with a camera that is more than 100 years old. The result is recordings with modern subjects, but which look as if they were shot many years ago. The multi-award-winning artist worked for years as a travel and portrait photographer before registering for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in 2013. He actually wanted to travel to town to see a rock concert. To his great amazement, he received an accreditation for the Grand Prix.
His unusual work led to further visits to GP venues, in Monaco, Silverstone, Hockenheim. Incidentally, he missed the rock concert.
Since then, Paul has been following the Formula 1 circus permanently. He founded the webpage www.lollipop-gp.com and also leads the page joshuapaul.com.
In the USA, the number of Covid-19 sufferers has skyrocketed to more than 96,000 and has to be continuously adjusted upwards, only 2,400 people have recovered from the virus. 1500 fatalities are to be mourned. New York State is by far the cruelest hit, with nearly 5,700 new cases in the past 24 hours alone. More than 42,000 people are currently tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 519 people have died.
The images from the city are spooky and creepy: empty streets, emergency tents are being erected because the authorities fear that there will soon be no more space to store corpses.
Joshua Paul says: “This is day 5 of the official quarantine in New York. Only supermarkets, pharmacies and shops that have been classified as important are open. We are allowed to go outside to keep fit, but we have to keep a minimum distance of two meters from the next person. Do all people do this? No, I see a lot of families, people walking the dogs, groups of people. We have wonderful spring weather, New Yorkers are drawn outside. I’ve isolated myself for twelve days and only go out when I really have to. And even then I march in the middle of the street, there are hardly any cars around anyway. “
Josh says harshly, where the root cause lies that the corona numbers in the USA have skyrocketed: “As the whole world knows, our country is ruled by a businessman who does not want to know the facts. His only concern is the economy. Our country took action far too late, especially when we realize that we have 300 million inhabitants, many of whom live in metropolises. I gave up the winter tests in Barcelona and the trip to Australia because I feared this outbreak. “
«Our government reacted poorly to the crisis. It took a week before she even agreed on what budget should be used against Corona, a week! Two weeks ago New York asked for the military to send a hospital ship with 1,000 hospital beds. According to the latest information, it should be here in mid-May, can you imagine? “
“At the moment the healthcare system is holding up to the incredible pressure, but if this continues, I don’t know how much longer. It’s a real problem. “
“When we first heard about Corona, most people thought – this is a problem in China. When the virus spread so much in Italy, many people woke up. Fortunately, numerous US governors have rushed to take action, especially here and in California. You have recognized the gravity of the situation. Most citizens take what they say seriously as orders and advice. I can’t say that about the president. “
“I’ve been a professional photographer since 1997 – and I don’t have a job at the moment. But I can count myself lucky: I have an apartment, I have saved a little money, I have enough to eat, I have books, I have music. I try to keep myself busy. My apartment has probably never been this clean! We’re on the move with Formula 1 nine months a year, so a lot has been left behind. “
“I haven’t gotten sick so far, but my girlfriend tested positive for Covid-19. Her mother from Brazil visited her, she is also sick. She is now back in São Paulo and we can only hope for the best. My friend Giovanna is at home with her nine-year-old son, he is healthy. It’s not so easy for them: the son has a hard time understanding the whole situation and the dog keeps yapping because he’s frustrated inside. “
“You can currently only get doctor appointments virtually, there is a lack of Covid-19 tests in the USA. She is considered too young to be given priority testing. I try to cheer her up, but it’s not easy. “
“The hardest aspect of everything is the uncertainty, this surreal. I mean, we have a bright New York day and a potentially deadly virus lurks out there. “
Josh has no illusions at all: “The numbers will shoot up explosively and reach every corner. Here in New York City, a lot of people went to the country or to their beach houses – that didn’t please the communities there. With so many people around, it is easy for the virus to spread. What worries me: In rural areas we do not have the infrastructure to counter the Corona threat. “
“A lot of people ask me on Instagram when I think we can race again. To be honest, Formula 1 is about the last thing that worries me! It is important to me how Giovanna is doing, her mother and her son. So that we understand each other correctly: I love my work, but it also has to be clear how insignificant racing is in the end when we look at what is happening in the world right now. Given the situation in the US, I wonder if we’ll even have a season! But I have enough ambition and skills to stay afloat without a Grand Prix, hopefully with work behind the camera. “
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