Daily Life in Fontainebleau in the Shadow of the Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic affected the entire world and Fontainebleau, an attractive and dynamic tourist destination, was no exception. Fontainebleau, one of the first places to impose mask-wearing, quickly adopted this new standard by the local community. However, this measure did not manage to alleviate the pallor of the once vibrant and colorful urban life. The cancellation of major events such as the Django Reinhardt Festival and Série Series dealt a heavy blow to the city's usually vibrant energy.
Pharmacie Principale, Rue des Sablons, Fontainebleau
In this general context, I also want to highlight how local businesses in Fontainebleau found innovative solutions in these challenging times.
The Pandemic Test for Shopkeepers: Adaptation and Challenges
During this period, I also observed how the local economy adapted to the crisis. Many traders found creative solutions to survive and meet customers' needs.
Daily life in Fontainebleau during the pandemic
The increase in home delivery services is one of the most striking examples of this adaptation. With the support of the municipality, some streets were closed to traffic, allowing restaurants and breweries to set up their tables in the street (as part of the Covid-19 rules in force at the time).
The pandemic had an impact not only on businesses but also on local politics.
Elections Despite the Crisis: Municipal Elections During the Pandemic
The pandemic also affected the world of politics. During the coronavirus period, municipal elections took place throughout France, and Fontainebleau was no exception.
Municipal Elections During The Pandemic
This situation tested the crisis management capabilities of leaders and candidates.
Working Remotely: My Movement Space Changes During the Pandemic
In the sector I work in, credit insurance, we initially continued to work in person a few days a week, then we switched entirely to remote work. With this change, my home quickly transformed into an office atmosphere.
Working remotely
Public transport bus during the Covid-19 pandemic
My personal movement space was significantly restricted, and my social life also underwent a rapid change. Each time I went out to meet my essential needs, I took my camera with me to document the empty streets, masked faces, and long queues. Each photo told a unique story of this period.
These experiences had a general impact on the objectives and goals of my project.
The Faces of the Pandemic in Fontainebleau: A Photographic Narrative
The aim of my project is to document how life changed in Fontainebleau during the pandemic, while visually conveying these changes at both an individual and societal level. Furthermore, this project underscores how Fontainebleau residents adapted during the pandemic and showed solidarity.
Au Rythme des Saisons, Rue Des Sablons, Fontainebleau
Franprix, Rue de France, Fontainebleau
Les Glaces, Rue Grande, Fontainebleau
In conclusion, we have experienced both the challenges and opportunities of living in Fontainebleau during the pandemic. During this period, we had to find innovative solutions to survive and use our adaptive capacities. The process of the pandemic has provided us with valuable experiences not only at that time but also subsequently.
Finally, all these experiences showed how our priorities and values changed during the pandemic.
Transformation of Values and Priorities During the Pandemic
During this period, the significance of solidarity, mutual aid, and adaptability rose to the forefront. In addition to health measures, it was understood that it was important to focus on optimism, hope, and will. Values such as mutual aid, sharing, and empathy became vital elements during this period and helped us get through difficult times more healthily; they also allowed for the creation of new frameworks of meaning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected what individuals value and focus on, resulting in a transformation of existing meaning systems or the creation of new meanings. This process has led individuals and societies to reconsider their values and priorities. Some values, beliefs, or goals have lost their importance, while others have gained. For example, the value of achievement at work or participation in social activities, once considered important, sharply decreased during the pandemic. On the other hand, the importance of values such as family, health, or community increased. This process has led to significant changes both at the individual level (i.e., in each of our lives) and at the societal level (i.e., in society in general).
These are my personal observations on the unfolding of the 'Chronicles of the Pandemic in Fontainebleau', which I have photographed.
Key Dates:
March 17, 2020: A first total lockdown was announced throughout France. During this period, people were allowed to leave their home only for specific reasons (shopping, health-related services, work, or exercise).
May 11, 2020: The first lockdown period ended and restrictions were somewhat eased.
October 30, 2020: A second total lockdown was announced in France. This time, restrictions were a bit more lenient as more businesses were allowed to stay open.
December 15, 2020: The second total lockdown period ended and a curfew began to be implemented.
Spring 2021: France entered a third lockdown period in response to a resurgence in virus spread. The third national lockdown took place from April 3 to May 3, 2021, non-inclusive, lasting a duration of 28 days.
You can access all my photos taken in Fontainebleau during the pandemic here.