Fresh Photos

Two chefs prepare plates under the scrutiny of blue kitchen lights. They're using tweezers, delicately arranging the mix of greens on each. They are caught in an intimate moment, attentive in their work like any other artist.

It's one of the works by photographer Penny De Los Santos on display at the Cleveland Public Library's Food Travels exhibit. The collection makes the point that food is not just what we eat, it is life itself.

"It focuses on food in all stages, as well as the social aspect of dining." says Pam Eyerdam, fine arts and special collections manager for the Cleveland Public Library.

De Los Santos, whose photography is often featured in Saveur Magazine and National Geographic, offers candid glimpses into each step food takes as it flows through the cycle of consumption, from depictions of livestock on the farm to people at a restaurant. The exhibit, which runs through June, makes powerful statements about our social attitudes toward dining, something we do daily and yet overlook.