Trish, Dana, and Atlas

Doors, like walls, form a barrier between two places, and in so doing help define the spaces on either side. They can be unmarked or decorated in some way. Any addition can be merely functional, such as a bathroom sign urging handwashing, or can be eye-catching embellishment, such as a colorful painting. Decorated or not, both walls and doors say something about the people who use them.

Unlike walls, doors are definitionally moveable objects that function to allow movement from one space to another. A door communicates independent of decoration. A closed door may indicate a need for privacy, while an open one an invitation to enter.

Front doors are particularly interesting because they demarcate the transition from "public" to "private" space. They are wholly the possession of the people who live in the house beyond, but anyone can view (and judge) them. Thus the adornment of one's front door is about more than simply pleasing oneself. It is a statement to the world about who lives in the space beyond. Viewing a front door, in turn, invites speculation about those who live on the other side.

This series of portraits combines the front door with the people who live beyond it, allowing the viewer to see the reality beyond the hypothetical.

Find related photos under the Front Doors tag. Find more portraits under the Portraits tag. Find more cute critters under the Pets tag.