During the years 2015 through 2019, George Nobechi spent almost 1,000 days traveling around the world and photographing through various portals to create a series titled Here.Still. (Unmoored). As he says: "Long before all of us came to experience a collective sense of isolation—together alone and alone together—I made photographs about the experience of being confined to an interior space while looking out with longing at a world that was beyond the frame, seemingly within reach and yet inaccessible in many ways."

These photographs, which have been displayed throughout the United States, became especially meaningful during the pandemic, and we are honored that Nobechi chose to gift the series to our hospital. Despite the sense of absence in the photos, Nobechi sees these images as a beacon of hope. As he says: “ 'Alone' can be beautiful, and it does not need to be all sad. There is a warmth in the stillness, and it deserves our attention. It is proof that we are still here."

This photograph was taken at Lake Shikotsu, Hokkaido, Japan and was a finalist in the Siena International Photo Awards.