5.Photograph 25
The owners really shouldn’t want to give up this modest shelf. This picture probably shows a moment of obstinate attachment in the middle of a makeover, showing a little shelf that has withstood what looks to be a significant remodel of its surrounds. The picture most likely shows a scene whereby everything else in the room or on the wall has been removed, replaced, or changed, however this one small shelf stays firmly in place. Maybe it’s a lone shelf on a freshly painted wall or a little wooden ledge mismatched to a just placed modern lamp. The photographer has deftly caught this contrast of old and modern, stressing the occasionally emotional aspect of house renovations. The shelf that the homeowners treasure for some particular meaning—a family heirloom, a beloved gift, or perhaps the first thing they ever put themselves—may have created this scenario. On the other hand, it may be a funny portrayal of remodelling tiredness whereby the homeowners felt that eliminating one last shelf would only be a bridge too far. The picture reminds us that our houses are archives of memories and personal history, not only places to live. It asks viewers to consider their own emotional ties to apparently little items in their homes.
6.Photograph 26
An ideal door for people who like peering at others. This picture most certainly shows a laughably poor-conceived door design that gives visibility above privacy first priority. The picture most likely shows a door with a very big window or maybe several windows, providing minimal to no hiding for anyone on either side. It may be a bathroom door with a full-length clear glass panel or a bedroom door with so many ornamental cutouts that it more resembles Swiss cheese than a privacy barrier. The photographer has shown the basic conflict between the intended use of the door and its real functionality, therefore capturing the ridiculousness of this architectural decision. This picture could be the outcome of a misguided attempt at producing a “open concept” atmosphere in unsuitable areas, or maybe a renovation error whereby the incorrect kind of door was used. Alternatively, it may be a funny observation on the growing lack of privacy in contemporary life, expressed physically. The picture reminds us of the need of harmonising aesthetics with utility in house construction. It makes viewers laugh at the concept of utilising such a door and also helps them to value the sometimes disregarded importance of well-made, useful doors in their own houses.
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