The Pandemic Lens^®

A couple of months ago, the idea of going to the dentist was inconceivable. A talk with Dr. Chang, a prosthodontist and faculty member at Harvard University’s School of Dental Medicine, convinced me that a visit for a checkup and cleaning was safe. Beyond stringent check-in steps for patients and meticulous room sanitization before and…

As we inch towards some vague semblance of normality, a number of art galleries in the Boston area are cautiously opening by appointment and with the standard safety measures in place. Here, a viewer at Cambridge Art Association’s Kathryn Schultz Gallery studies a piece in the Association’s National Prize Show, juried by Sharon Butler. Visit…

No, she’s not a mannequin. I saw her strolling down Mass Ave a few blocks from my house in North Cambridge. I was intrigued by the mystery and anonymity afforded by the broad-brimmed hat and expansive mask. It was almost is if she was a modern day knight in armor protecting herself from the invisible…

As I venture out to explore what Boston looks like under the coronavirus pandemic, the city was locked-down pretty tight with a few exceptions. Most of the people I pass use face masks but I was and still am surprised at how a fair number of people flaunt the recommendations of health care professionals. Mental…

During a recent Mass Ave walk, I noticed that the highly-rated @chalawanboston was opened for outside dining. It’s good to see proprietors doing whatever they can to make people feel comfortable in these oh-so uncomfortable times. Copyright © 2020 Steven Bennett     Steve BennettSteve Bennett is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based visual artist. He began taking photographs…

This image is the genesis of The Pandemic Lens. After two months of not leaving my house, I ventured into Davis Square in Somerville, Massachusetts, one of my favorite places. There were a good number of people walking around, even though the only open businesses were restaurants and cafes doing take out. Most were observing…

As we close on 2020 amidst an incredible surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths, I find this image particularly germane. I took the photo a year ago while exploring the Ubehebee Crater in Death Valley. To me, it symbolizes our choices in a post COVID-19 world. All expert opinions point to a rough stretch in…