Photographing Urban Life in Emergence, and Why

Since March, photographs have played a major role in illustrating the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: life in quarantine. Particularly in public places, emptiness inspired documentation, and physical distancing-or a rebellious lack thereof-became regular topics for online publication and social media. Simultaneously, technology allowed online meetings as a richly occupied substitute for physical space, with photographs of tiled Zoom windows as the common ground, replacing streets and squares with variably-sized screens.

Amid lockdown, Instagram and Facebook have accelerated their virtual street corner role. For some, travel photos have become family photos or views out the window. For others, self-promotion has moved from professional accomplishments to bread making. But as we move to the second phase of emergence from quarantine- life in emergence -I believe the photographic challenges really begin.

The challenges parallel my interest in local variations-the blends of culture and character that occur in physical places, even in ordinary times. When we venture out again, we will be far more aware of the compromises to our internal solitude, and how they appear. We…