In the spring of 2020, New York City came to an extraordinary standstill. Deserted avenues, bridges and train stations became symbols of a city transformed almost overnight. Through photography, essays and interviews with New Yorkers who stayed, ON PAUSE documents a unique moment in the life of a city that rarely stops.

 

The project began with Charlie Bennet photographing the empty city and offering the images as limited-edition prints. As interest grew, so did the idea of creating a permanent record of that time. Working with journalist and author Helena Gustavsson and graphic designer Jon Palmqvist, the project evolved into a book combining photography, personal stories and observations from across New York.

Published by Winifred Publishing in 2021, the book was initially funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $40,000 toward printing and distribution. ON PAUSE was published in both English and Swedish.