During COVID, I was forced to quarantine like many others. As a result, I was cooped up in my apartment for weeks at a time and would hardly go out. However, on one autumn morning, my parents shook me awake, letting me know that we were going to drive to Long Island for a hike. As we drove up, I gazed out the windows at the empty roads, which only one year earlier would have been bustling with cars. Eventually, we pulled into the trail parking lot, disembarked from the car, and headed up the dirt path. I had expected to be bored: disinterested in shrubbery and tiny critters. Instead, I was shocked by the sounds of the many animals and their gurgling creeks. This hike warmed my heart and provided me with a glimpse of life untarnished and not limited by the pandemic. When I first picked up a camera, I did not know what I intended to capture. However, I did notice that I gravitated towards shooting animals, natural scenery, and cityscapes. As I edited these photos, I realized what drove me to shoot these particular images: I wanted to capture how vivid and lively the seemingly mundane actions of animals and landscapes can be. In addition, I wanted to demonstrate how even physical spaces that are filled with people can seem dystopic, antisocial, and lifeless. Through my photos, I hope to subvert people’s expectations and help them realize that passionate, vivid life can exist outside of humanity.