Pandemic: Life on L.A.'s Skid Row
A man outside the Midnight Mission on Skid Row in Los Angeles.
During this time of COVID-19, photographer Michael Christopher Brown from National Geographic has captured haunting black-and-white images of some of the most vulnerable citizens of L.A.
Los Angeles
A scene from East 6th and Wall Streets.
Self-portrait
Born in rural Washington State, Michael Christopher Brown learned about photography from his father, and studied photojournalism at Western Washington University. He later earned a master of arts in documentary photography from the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University.
Brown has covered stories both international and domestic, traveling to China, Afghanistan, Congo, Libya, Israel and Cuba, and documenting the effects of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan. His work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, Time, Vogue, The New Republic, Newsweek, The Atlantic, PBS' "NewsHour," and National Geographic, among others.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
A food line outside the Los Angeles Mission.
Los Angeles
Outside the Midnight Mission during lunch hour.
Los Angeles
Ron, a veteran, has been on Skid Row for 12 years.
Los Angeles
Sorting medication on San Pedro Street.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
A man sways back and forth while seated, high on an unknown substance. At 3rd and Main Streets.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Joy Harris has been homeless for about eight years. She participates in a counseling program, dealing with mental illness issues.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
A tent set up around an ATM on Main Street.
Los Angeles
People wait outside the ReFresh Spot, which offers 24-hour services such as a bathroom, shower and laundry for community use in a courtyard off one side street.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Fatima, 37, has lived on Skid Row for five years. She has not heard much about coronavirus, and has not heard of anyone coming to Skid Row to inform the homeless about it. But she, a Muslim, has been praying. "Prayer works. If you pray, God answers your prayers." Fatima began going blind two years ago though is unsure exactly why; she attributes it to numerous misfortunes in her life. She is currently waiting on Section 8 housing.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
Images from Skid Row and surroundings.
Los Angeles
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Edited by CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
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