Glimpse at the ghost town

Local photographer captures images of Coeur d’Alene for National Geographic

Through the lens of Adam Schluter's camera, an eerily quiet Coeur d'Alene shows reality, love and resilience.

The 33-year-old photographer recently went out into the Lake City to capture iconic moments of COVID-19 as part of a HelloFromAStranger.com "Quarantine Diaries" project for National Geographic. Taking every necessary precaution, including social distancing of about 10 feet and wearing protective gear, Schluter found the stories that are being told while no one is looking.

"During these moments, instead of people getting scared and curling up into a corner, I found everyone starting to connect more," Schluter said during a phone interview Wednesday. "I wanted to capture that — the spirit and essence of Coeur d’Alene. That's why I moved here in the first place."

One image for the project shows a mysterious someone hunched over on the bench outside the Moose Lounge on Sherman Avenue, wrapped in something plaid.

"I was looking around the corner and I saw that gentleman on the bench," Schluter said. "I took the picture, and from a safe distance I wanted to be sure he was OK ... He came out of three layers of blankets. He was 18 years old at the oldest. He said, 'I’m OK,' and then he just put his head back down."

An image of Vault Coffee, empty, with a sign that reads "We will be back! Stronger than ever, stronger together" invokes a sad yet hopeful feeling.

"The picture of Vault is very symbolic on feeling limited on what I can do to help this community I love so much, other than capture these moments," Schluter said. "The feeling of optimism still feels like it exists, even in such depraved moments right now."

He captured something else quite telling of a society unable to congregate — palm fronds and scripture booklets, attached to a wall outside a downtown Coeur d'Alene church for parishioners to participate in Holy Week "to go."

"It’s the tiniest little things that all these churches, community members and businesses are doing to keep saying, 'We're here,' and, 'This is just a moment in time, but for now, take this to feel like you're still a part of this family,' and for them, 'You’re still a part of this church,'" Schluter said.

In the midtown Safeway, by Schluter's home, he photographed one of his favorite clerks wearing a fabric face mask while standing at her register behind a plexiglass shield. Her friendly smile is covered, but her smiling eyes reveal the kindness beneath the mask.

"She's the sweetest. She has the best smile, with a colorful mask and everything,” he said.

As an observer of emotion and moments, Schluter said he’s noticed a behavior change in people since the mask-wearing has increased.

"It almost makes you feel invisible," he said. "It makes you feel like a ghost.”

Schluter, a University of Missouri business grad, said he never practiced photography in college, but he fell in love with it once he started taking photos during his travels. He’s at home self-quarantining after traveling to Seattle for part of this project. He emphasized that the only stops made were a gas station (when gloves were used, then thrown away immediately after pumping) and Pike Place Market, where everything was open air, nothing was touched and protective gear was used.

After spending much of his time behind the camera showing how connections were still happening in a world disconnected by technology, he’s now able to show that connections are stronger than ever even though people are farther apart.

"I’m incredibly inspired and optimistic by all of this happening," he said. "To me, I know this is scary and I know it’s uncertain, but I hope people are able to take a breath, take this time to learn a new skill, learn a new language, be closer to their children. Enjoy this one moment we have in stillness."

Last fall, Schluter released his book, "The World I See," of more than 1,000 portraits in 19 countries. He’s donating 50 percent of all sales on his website to local businesses including Lakeshore Decor, Mix-It-Up, Camera Corral and Created Coffee.

Info: www.hellofromastranger.com/orderthebook and www.hellofromastranger.com/the-quarantine-diaries