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Free-to-use mobile app Agora launched the #StayHome photo competition as a way to inspire photographers to keep being creative from home and document the unprecedented situation in their home countries. As a result, 15,697 photos have been participating from all corners of the planet. The 50 finalist photos will be submitted to the vote of Agora's global community in order to pick the winning image which will be awarded $1,000.

For the first time in history, the whole world is united against a common enemy: fighting COVID-19 from home. Over the past couple of months, more than 95 countries have imposed quarantine measures to protect their population from the global pandemic. Although the stay-at-home restrictions may have changed our routine by isolating us from our loved ones, the unprecedented global efforts to fight the coronavirus from home have proved themselves successful in slowing the spread.

Agora launched the #StayHome photo competition through its free-to-use mobile app on March 19th, inviting photographers from all over the world to share their unique points of view on the situation and maintain their photography habits during isolation, in order to inspire and encourage others to stay positive and move forward.

In total, 15,697 photos have been submitted to the #StayHome contest. This press release will list the 50 finalist photos as well as their inspiring stories. Now that the finalists have been revealed, the power is now in the global community's hands to cast their votes and decide which photo struck them the most and therefore should win the #StayHome competition.

The #StayHome winning photo will be revealed on Wednesday 27th May and will win the top prize of $1,000. The results will be revealed through the app but also via Agora's Instagram page.

Octavi Royo, Agora's CEO and Co-Founder said: "I’d like to thank the thousands of photographers who have participated in #StayHome to give their point of view on the confinement and to share a message of hope to Humanity through their photographs. While we are all enduring similar circumstances, these photos demonstrate that each home is different and each point of view is unique. Together we are stronger."

More info: go.onelink.me

#1

Wash Clothes

Wash Clothes

Location: Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya
"During this quarantine period, the family bond should grow, the emotions should flow within to strengthen the relationships at home."
@spartanphotography254 (Kenya)

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#2

Quédate En Tu Casa

Quédate En Tu Casa

Location: Uruguay
"I photographed this picture while documenting our quarantine at home. My daughter was playing her guitar peacefully, and I really loved the moment."
@moniru (Uruguay)

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April McPeak
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can feel the peaceful vibe in this photo, the lazy sunlight, the calm expression on the girls face, love it!

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#3

Spacemen

Spacemen

Location: Yoshkar-Olá, Russia
"Stay home and stay creative! This quarantine has been a great opportunity to have fun with the kids at home."
@katerinazefirova (Russia)

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Vonny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best one yet! Love the innocence on all their faces. Pandemic? What pandemic?

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#4

Survive Through The Epidemic In Poverty

Survive Through The Epidemic In Poverty

Location: Akoka, Lagos
"A lot of people in our society are living in abject poverty. This lockdown made the situation even worse. The repercussions of COVID-19 could yet be more deadly than the virus itself."
@smazzi (Nigeria)

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Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is such a moving picture. Those of us who live in a better place should be thankful.

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#5

Singing On The Roof

Singing On The Roof

Location: Barcelona, Spain
"Every day we climb to our roof to sing songs of hope and happiness to our neighbors, but also to pay tribute to all the doctors, nurses, and volunteers fighting this global pandemic. We love to share the good vibes from our home! It makes the confinement more bearable. Stay home, stay safe."
@lepetitmutant (Spain)

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#6

Quarantine Haircut

Quarantine Haircut

Location: Edmond, Oklahoma, USA
"My son was long past due for a haircut and he was so very excited to have it cut by his dad. He begged me to photograph the experience as it felt to him to be rare and he wanted to capture it forever."
@kytawillets (USA)

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#7

The Best Place Is Home

The Best Place Is Home

Location: Cape Coast, Ghana
"My friend is a top security staff who volunteered his free time to enforce law and order during the pandemic. He's widely respected among our community. I'm glad I caught this expression in his eyes which communicated exactly what I wanted. He was prepared to send a message out there."
@thedallasexperience (Ghana)

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nad mugabe
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG he works in my University and he loves his job. Alot of students love and respect him. We call him Medaase which means thank you in Akan language. I am definitely showing him this when i see him.

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#8

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy

Location: Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia
"I took this photo when my wife was teaching my daughter how to wash her hands. This photo tells how important it is to maintain cleanliness in order to preserve good health. Washing your hands is a very simple gesture, yet it can save lives."
@el_one (Indonesia)

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#9

Sewing Masks

Sewing Masks

Location: Mataram, Indonesia
"Tailors around the country are answering the need for more masks to fight the COVID-19 global pandemic."
@omchandra (Indonesia)

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Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely photo. I love the look of concentration on her face.

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#10

Enjoy The Safari At Home

Enjoy The Safari At Home

Location: Modena, Italy
"The photo is obviously a joke, although it took me a whole Sunday afternoon to get it right. I wanted to represent what I really miss the most in this quarantine period: the travels. I love to travel, especially to explore nature and to meet local people. To admire. To learn. To take photos."
@superiaia (Italy)

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#11

Never Enough Of My Favorite Toys

Never Enough Of My Favorite Toys

Location: Köln, Germany
"Toilet paper is an everyday item and is a very popular toy for my two cats. When the corona pandemic broke out, a lot of people rushed to buy toilet paper. Soon enough you couldn't get any more in the shops. I found the whole thing so absurd that it inspired me to take this photo. So far I can not understand why people think of toilet paper first in such a difficult time. This behavior is just anti-social. The photo may seem very funny to some, but it is meant ironically to stimulate thought. The photoshoot was of course very funny for my cat. He didn't want to stop playing."
@a.rosenthal (Germany)

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#12

Stay Home

Stay Home

Location: Barcelona, Spain
"Here's what confinement looks like in my house: a lot of books to keep your mind busy, and some coffee to warm your soul."
@oscar_penelo (Spain)

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Harold Summer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not even coffee could keep Lucia awake while reading War & Peace.

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#13

Let's Build A House And Watch Movies

Let's Build A House And Watch Movies

Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
"My three kids were eager to do something different on that day, as we'd been a month into the quarantine already. We started to play with the furniture in the living room, and my kids had the idea to build a small house from where they would watch movies the whole afternoon. I picked up my camera and started shooting while my kids took turns playing in the house they had built. My daughter felt safe, relaxed, and protected to be at home with her family. Many people are going through a very bad time because of the COVID-19 virus, I just hope and wish that every child, in Honduras and in the world, could feel safe, relax, and protected just like my daughter felt and looked at that moment."
@joalze23 (Honduras)

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Sharon Hyatt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely idea . . . . perhaps others could suggest this to their children who may really enjoy it.

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#14

Los Más Vulnerables De Esta Enfermedad A La Vez Son Los Más Pobres De La Población

Los Más Vulnerables De Esta Enfermedad A La Vez Son Los Más Pobres De La Población

Location: Valparaíso, Chile
"Despite the fact that the Chilean government ordered its population to stay home, many elderly people take the risk to go to work in order to survive in a system that has abandoned them. I want to transmit helplessness, loneliness, fragility in this photo."
@rizada.fer (Chile)

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#15

Supreme Bond

Supreme Bond

Location: Gujrat, Pakistan
"I took this picture at home, after my morning prayer. I was thinking about what's happening right now in the world; I live in a country where medical facilities aren't strong enough. What if we get caught into this situation and can't get out of it? It's the right time to find hope in your prayers."
@asimijaz (Pakistan)

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#16

Reto De Un Foto Al Día

Reto De Un Foto Al Día

Location: Barcelona, Spain
"I challenged myself to take a picture every day during the lockdown, and I realized my neighbors are an important part of my life now. I’m doing this quarantine alone and I celebrated my birthday with them, so I wanted to make them part of my challenge."
@claror (Spain)

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#17

Se Puede Viajar Desde Casa

Se Puede Viajar Desde Casa

Location: Madrid, Spain
"My goal was to convey the possibility of traveling with your mind through literature, despite being confined at home."
@cristianbustosriera (Spain)

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#18

My Father

My Father

Location: Albrecht, Germany
"My father is 79 years old. He's usually a very active person. Being at higher risk left him no choice, just like other people from his generation: staying home is the way forward right now."
@wunderbilder (Germany)

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Harold Houfek
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am 79 and live alone in Gulf Breeze, Florida ( wife passed 02/11/19 ) and I share his feelings

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#19

Little Chef

Little Chef

Location: Odintsovo, Russia
"What better way to kill time during self-quarantine than cooking with your family?"
@kateomely (Russia)

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#20

Making Face Masks At Home

Making Face Masks At Home

Location: New York City, USA
"I took this photo while making face masks for my family and friends to stay safe in this crisis."
@nodar (Georgia)

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Vonny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It warmed my heart to see your busy hands creating masks which will benefit many. TY

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#21

San Diego

San Diego

Location: San Diego, USA
"A nice gesture from downtown hotels to show healthcare workers support during this crisis."
@jpramzyfotos (USA)

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Mildred Thompson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

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#22

Spanish Way Of Celebrating Medical Staff

Spanish Way Of Celebrating Medical Staff

Location: Aranda de Duero, Spain
"These people are my amazing neighbors, who transformed this COVID-19 quarantine into some incredible moments of happiness and sharing. They have been playing instruments every day at 8 pm, sharing their passion for music with everyone who lives nearby. These simple pleasures give people a break from the bad news. It gives them hope. Now that I know all of them, I’ve already been invited to their wine cave to have a drink altogether once the lockdown lifts off."
@nicoprg (France)

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#23

Stay Home

Stay Home

Location: Romania
"Even during the lockdown, you still have many small moments to cherish with your loved ones. It's the little things in life that matter."
@rotundperfect (Romania)

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#24

Stay Home And Study Together

Stay Home And Study Together

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
"Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, my daughter has had to stay home and do home learning. It broke my heart to see her locked at home without being able to meet and play with her friends. She's had a lot of homework to do, her teachers have been quite demanding. It was stressful for her to keep up with all the work she's had to do."
@jjnmatt (Indonesia)

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#25

A Girl Studying At Home During COVID-19

A Girl Studying At Home During COVID-19

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
"My children are at home due to the COVID-19 crisis, like everyone else's. On that morning, she was studying by the dining room window and I was working from the table. When I looked up, I saw her reflection in the mirror. I thought it was a beautiful, candid moment, and I had my camera next to me so I took the picture. I felt black and white really captured the loneliness of the situation while being safe at home. My daughter turned 8 the day before, by looking at her I could see how independent she is and how she is growing into a strong young woman. I know this current crisis will have a lasting impact on her, and I hope she will look back on this photo with pride."
@crsbqb523 (USA)

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#26

Outdoor Sports Photographer In Quarantine

Outdoor Sports Photographer In Quarantine

Location: Stockholm, Sweden
"Boredom and the desire to go out have made us all develop our most creative side. As a climber and photographer, I was able to enjoy a pleasant afternoon thinking about and developing a climbing route in my own kitchen. Fortunately, it was not necessary to carry heavy backpacks to light and photograph the scene."
@dmartphoto (Spain)

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Susan Mercurio
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like me (5'3") trying to get something out of the top cupboard.

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#27

Yoga At Home

Yoga At Home

Location: Madrid, Spain
"I've been practicing yoga daily since the quarantine has started. On that day, I set up a tripod and my dog decided that it was time for him to stretch by my side, and of course, kiss me all over my face. He is so adorable. I don't have kids, my dog is like my child. I wanted to transmit that together, we are stronger and better. The best thing in life is to enjoy little moments like this."
@evablanco (Spain)

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#28

Trucos De Magia

Trucos De Magia

Location: Barcelona, Spain
"My kids are crazy about the Harry Potter universe and love to dress up as their favorite characters. At one point, I saw that my daughter, aka Hermione Granger, was staring at her wand. I asked her what he was thinking about, and she replied: 'I wish I could do magic and eliminate the virus'."
@xavi_carrion (Spain)

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Sarah Brinsfield
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell your daughter to grow up to be an immunologist/ research scientist and she could do just that for future generations! Also, tell her that she has a beautiful heart!

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#29

8 Pm

8 Pm

Location: Asturias, Spain
"Every night at 8 pm, the world has given medical heroes the standing ovation they deserve."
@mariafcabaleiro (Spain)

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#30

El Deseo De Volverte A Ver

El Deseo De Volverte A Ver

Location: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
"In this self-portrait, I wanted to demonstrate my feeling of hope about seeing my daughter again when all this will be over. I'm holding one of her drawings in my hand, thinking about her."
@wmr.valdez (Spain)

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#31

COVID-19 Daily Life

COVID-19 Daily Life

Location: Norway
@heiland (Norway)

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Bastette Cat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure they’re all the same guy. Maybe he’s sheltering alone, and making digital clones of himself helped him to feel less lonely.

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#32

Juegos

Juegos

Location: Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España
"Here's my son Victor. Just like many other kids, he's been enduring the lockdown at home without being able to go outside. Children experience the whole situation in a different way than adults: they can play and have fun with almost anything. In this case, my son's main entertainment was to watch the clothes in the washing machine."
@photollarena (Spain)

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Sheila Bassett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AND HE'S PUTTING HIS HEAD INTO THE WASHING MACHINE!!! I THINK I LIKE YOUR SON VICTOR AS MUCH AS YOU DO.

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#33

Shelter In Place-Isolation

Shelter In Place-Isolation

Location: Indiana, USA
"This is a photo of my son. He was standing by the baby gate to the stairs. I thought it was a good representation of the shelter in place because it looks like he's in jail. I wanted the feeling of cabin fever or being stuck to encompass the photo."
@whittington (USA)

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Sheila Bassett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES WHEN MY THREE CHILDREN WERE YOUR SON'S AGE. I'M VERY WISTFUL NOW.

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#34

We Are Fumigating, Stay Home

We Are Fumigating, Stay Home

Location: Jos, Nigeria
"I photographed the health workers fumigating the city to prevent further COVID-19 contamination among the community. We have to deal with an uncharted territorial problem here, and the only solution is to work all together to fight the virus."
@terryjerryawase (Nigeria)

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m rathjen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i thought it was a santa claus convention at first, lol. but, such great, brave people

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#35

Laundry

Laundry

Location: Kojori, Georgia / Equipment: Canon 70D
"Although it seems that the world has stopped, life goes on. The most simple things, such as hanging your clothes to dry, have been transformed into the least boring moments of the day."
@damiane (Georgia)

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Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this for so may reasons: her face is beautiful, the colours, the composition and ighting, the simplicity.

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#36

Reading The Newspapers

Reading The Newspapers

Location: Münster, Germany
"I wanted to portray inefficient movements. In my society, everything is designed to be efficient. And it’s what is expected from us, the people, and how we are brought up. Right now efficiency is on low heat because of the coronavirus, and that’s what I wanted to exaggerate. Doing things inefficiently, because especially when it comes to art, culture, and mere being, efficiency is not the key. Sometimes society and we as people need to take detours in order to achieve something. And sometimes it’s okay not to achieve anything but just exist in the world."
@leakaehler (Germany)

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#37

The Dining Table Has Become The New Home Office

The Dining Table Has Become The New Home Office

Location: Portland, Oregon
"Life in quarantine has changed the way we work and learn. Here are my husband and son, working and doing schoolwork at home. I wanted to capture the messy, chaotic nature of the “new normal” created by the quarantine for COVID 19."
@erinmichelleriddle (USA)

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#38

Stay Home With Books

Stay Home With Books

Location: Toronto, Canada
"When you’re stuck at home during quarantine you might as well pick up a good book!"
@careless_wandering (Canada)

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#39

Kids Inside Home During The Worldwide Quarantine

Kids Inside Home During The Worldwide Quarantine

Location: Illinois, USA
"These children have not left their home since the lockdown 2 weeks prior to this photo. Inspired by the uncertainties and totally life change, the kids were still finding joy in everyday life. Even taking a picture through a window you can see how resilient children really are, and how they adapt to major change and disruption to their schedules. I wanted to image to convey that even though things are hard, there is still good all around. These children are safe, they are loved, and they are being well cared for by social distancing and staying home. Still finding joy, still smiling even though their lives and the world has been flipped upside down. Just simply a raw, real moment in what will be going down in history for the year 2020."
@hwilson8 (USA)

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#40

Making The Most Of This Time At Home To Relax

Making The Most Of This Time At Home To Relax

Location: Keswick, The Lake District, Cumbria, UK
"I wanted to portray lockdown as an opportunity to rest and escape busy day-to-day life, as a chance to reflect and give nature a break from exhausting human activity. The warmth of the golden hour light entering through the window represents the safety and protection that this obligatory time at home provides. In this shot, my partner is captured enjoying and making the most of this time at home to relax, enjoy the beauty of nature, and practice a neglected hobby of his. The Lake District National Park is one of the UK’s most touristic areas, however, due to the crisis it is now emptier than ever. As the European country now with the most coronavirus related deaths, the range of experiences currently being had in is vast and we count ourselves incredibly lucky to have had the possibility to spend lockdown in the comfort of our home. We send our internal thanks to all those of the front line carrying out vital work and saving lives."
@adeleandjuan (UK)

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#41

My Son And My Wife

My Son And My Wife

Location: Turin, Italy
"In the last 2 months, these two humans have been the only people I have been spending time with in the real world, and not just on WhatsApp, Zoom, or any other virtual option. They are my family, they love me unconditionally as I love them unconditionally. We will go through this together, I’m sure."
@alesigis (Italy)

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Marsha Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unconditional love -- the best, and should be the only kind within a family. Beautiful pic beautifully reflecting the concept.

#42

Sisters

Sisters

Location: Bogor West, Java, Indonesia
"Quarantine isn't so bad when you get to spend it with your sisters! It's a great moment to strengthen family bonds and try new routines together."
@krisbianto.andy (Indonesia)

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#43

Positive Message

Positive Message

Location: Colorado, United States
"While forced by the Coronavirus pandemic to temporarily close, a concert venue in Colorado sends a positive message to the neighborhood."
@josephrrouse (USA)

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#44

Stay Home And Do Your Hobby

Stay Home And Do Your Hobby

Location: Porto, Portugal
"I tried to transmit the idea that everyone should have a hobby because it can be a great way to handle stress. It’s like the first line in your defense against anxiety. It helps you run away from bad feelings."
@mktography (Ukraine)

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#45

Descanso Frente A La Ventana

Descanso Frente A La Ventana

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
"I have 4 children, they've been my favorite models during the lockdown. I wanted to transmit the peace and tranquility in this time for introspection that life has given us, a time to rediscover oneself."
@paulaaranoa (Argentina)

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#46

Isolation

Isolation

Location: Barcelona, Spain
"I wanted to portrait the feeling of isolation in these times of quarantine. I took this photo of my girlfriend as soon as I woke up... I hadn't even brushed my teeth before the photo!"
@leowillgo (Venezuela)

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#47

Héroe

Héroe

Location: Bilbao, Spain
"Here's my son. In this quarantine situation, the real superheroes are our children. The flexibility and capacity for adaptation they have demonstrated over the past couple of months have been really impressive."
@ajuriaguerra (Spain)

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#48

Múltiple

Múltiple

Location: Bucaramanga, Colombia
"The national police forces had prepared a show for the quarantined population on the occasion of the Children's Day celebrations the last 25th of April. Families came out to their balconies to celebrate this great moment altogether. "
@inlogin (Colombia)

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Mer☕️🧭☕️
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That building looks so, so, SO tall - seemed like I'd never stop scrolling!

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#49

Stay Home And Play

Stay Home And Play

Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
"Here are so many things you can't do during the pandemic lockdown. You can't ski at any resort, you can't cycle to your local park and you can't play tennis with your friends. But you can set up a fun scene inside and learn how to use Photoshop better, in order to create an interesting composition. This can be equally fun! Take care, it will be over soon."
@andreasbatsilas (Greece)

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#50

Stay Home And Shoot

Stay Home And Shoot

Location: Bergamo, Lombardia, Italy
"Let your creativity guide you to make this quarantine more bearable and, find unique and creative ideas to keep you busy at home while social distancing."
@alexdeangelis_ (Italy)

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