I hadn’t given any serious consideration to a new photography project for some time, but the sudden change – triggered by the pandemic – giving rise to a new and unusual way of life filled with surreal situations impelled me to take photographs documenting this period. Since Covid-19 restrictions meant I could only leave my apartment in case of emergency or absolute necessity, I initially photographed people in the immediate vicinity, plants and flowers in the garden or lights and shadows in the deserted streets of my hometown of Meran, Italy. The pictures in the photo project De zona rubra illustrate my impressions during this period of restricted freedom of movement. They aim to highlight my emotions during this unusual time: deserted streets, people in their surroundings and the interaction of light and shadow as well as a self-portrait in the dark times of restricted movement and difficult human relations.