A Brooklyn man using his art to spread joy during this difficult time, as well as highlight the resilience of New Yorkers.
Photographer Johnny Cirillo is usually taking photos of his son Cassius, but while stuck at home during the pandemic, he decided to try something new with his drone.
"I think everyone needs distractions now, I think it's like important. It's easy to fall into a deep dark place,” says Cirillo.
Cirillo decided to create a quarantine portrait series, taking photos of people staying home.
"I would have them just like sit near the window or sit in the window; some of them sat in the window fire escapes and balconies. I think it made people proud to be staying home,” says Cirillo.
He says since posting the series on Instagram, he's had tons of people contact him about wanting to be involved.
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"A lot of the people that left the neighborhood for safety reached out being like, ‘this made me wish that I was still there,’” says Cirillo.
He says even stranger have asked him to take their quarantine photo.
"I would hope that people would take anything positive from it whatever that may be, whether it's you know, I'm not alone in this, we are all sitting in our windows, we are doing this together,” says Cirillo. “Whatever anyone positive can draw from it I hope that that's what comes of it."
Cirillo tells News 12 he unfortunately crashed his drone into a tree while taking a photo, but that his birthday is coming up so he's hoping he'll get a new one soon so can continue taking photos of people staying home.