Tanned skin, heroic lifeguards, espresso bars, bikini photoshoots, F45, Peronis; Bondi is everything an over-eager English backpacker could hope to find in Australia.
But it's more than the stereotypes, however, with a photo by lensman Sammy Blanchard showing Bondi beachgoers don't always display the entitled attitude the suburb is crudely known for (something not helped by provocative Tweets like this one).
RELATED: Psychologist Explains The Mindset Of Living In Bondi
Though Eastern Suburbs residents have been chided for their laissez faire approach to the world's woes this year, it seems we have turned a corner, with the following photo demonstrating an almost hypnotic kind of social distancing that wouldn't look out of place in a bee hive.
"Looks like a print on carpeting," one Instagram user wrote.
View this post on Instagram
Too many people? Yes. Too close? Judging by NSW's 'a towel's length' guidelines (and Mr. Blanchard's exclusive comments to DMARGE), in most cases, no.
"Big crowds at Bondi over the weekend," Mr. Blanchard captioned the photo. "You'd think corona didn't exist anymore!"
Comments beneath the post remarked (some ironically, some not) on the proximity of the sun seekers.
"Super cool shot! Love that everyone is practicing distancing!"
"Great shot!! Social distancing at it’s best."
Speaking to DMARGE, Mr. Blanchard said he believes various media outlets have been using photographic tricks to exaggerate how close people are at the beach.
However, he also believes "it's needed."
"We do need to be reminded that there still is a global pandemic and just because it's a public holiday and 30 degrees doesn't make you immune."
Mr. Blanchard told DMARGE, "From what I saw, I think people were well behaved. There were a lot of people on the beach but the beach is 1 km wide! With lots of space comes lots of people."
Mr. Blanchard said most people were following the towel length rule, too.
In any case, things got heated on the weekend with Waverly council on Monday warning people to stay away from Bondi beach as the sand neared capacity.
Access to Bondi Beach is set to be restricted from 2:00pm if crowds don't stop flocking to the sand.
The beach is nearing capacity as people turn out for the public holiday. pic.twitter.com/9JyjWVN7o1
— 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) October 5, 2020
Underneath a 10 News First Tweet a similar story played out, with users remarking, "Looks well spaced out" and "Looks pretty spaced out but good idea to close it so as to not [sic] I over crowd. Plenty of other beaches nearby."
View this post on Instagram
This forms part of a broader debate around the benefits of shaming those that don't social distance (which, the logic goes, will get people distancing more seriously) at this precipitous time, as well as the disadvantages (if it is reported on with optic tricks and hysterical language, people may disregard the crucial messages underneath).
It also exposes why it makes little sense to refer to ‘the media’ as one singular beast.
Danish news site reminds people of being skeptical of how news photographers take pictures. Here is the same place, one picture taken with a zoom lense, and the other with a wide-angle lense: https://t.co/lPMJDHXOfD pic.twitter.com/mOSpiFEsDx
— Thomas Baekdal (@baekdal) April 26, 2020
Though this 'pushing together of punters' is a phenomenon seen in broadsheets all around the world (media analyst Thomas Baekdal pointed the same thing out in Copenhagen in April), it is particularly pronounced in Australia – particularly Sydney – where various publications play off the so-called ‘latte line.’
Mr. Blancahrd told DMARGE this "absolutely" happens to Bondi.
"In true tall poppy style Aussies love to bring Bondi (and the East) down a few pegs. But then they flock down here when there's good swell or good tanning conditions."
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With summer fast approaching, Sydney councils are continuing to discuss and refine measures to keep beaches safe, including limiting parking and a host of other potential rules.
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The post ‘Perfect’ Bondi Beach Photo Shows Fine Art Of Social Distancing In Australia appeared first on DMARGE.
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