When San Francisco went into lockdown on March 17, 2020, I recognized the historical significance of the moment and knew that life as we knew it would be profoundly changed for a long time.

As the correspondent for the international photo news agency LAIF, I drove through the city, capturing this extraordinary day. The empty streets evoked memories of my assignments as a war photographer, except this time, the enemy was invisible, impartial, and unpredictable. There were no warnings, no negotiations, and no cease-fires.

What made this story unique is that it unfolded simultaneously across the entire world. The scenes I captured in San Francisco were mirrored in countless other cities, just with different faces and places.

My goal was to tell this global story through images with lasting archival value. The licensing of my images through my agency and its affiliates worldwide sustains my work, and I believe these photos will continue to resonate. Some of the images I took 35 years ago are still being published today.