"House Hunting"

I think I should have listened to the broadcast first before I looked at Hido’s photos for the first time. So, after viewing the photos, listening to the broadcast, I went and viewed the photos again. The interview helped me view the photos in a different way because hearing Hido’s words put me into a different frame of mind as I viewed them the second time. Hido’s soft-spoken manner calmed me down and took away the weird feeling I had. The photos were not scary any longer, but were now filled with a magical mystery. From the misty fog filled air to the glow of the TV in the windows, I was able to see the nightlife in his suburb. It is possible that some may see these images as being cold and not friendly, but I like a little mystery so they are appealing to me. I feel that Hido is portraying the idea of a home as one that changes in the night. The families go inside and interact with each other in a different way. Their lives are now private, not being seen by their neighbors. The home is now closed to the outside world. These photos were different from what I was expecting to see, but they are beautiful in their own special way.

The first difference I find between Hido’s and Owens’ photos is that Hido’s are taken in the night and are colored, while Owens’ are taken in the day and are black and white. Hido’s photos show only images of the houses in the night while Owens’ show the faces and the lives of those who live in the houses. They seem to have different views of what a home is. Hido’s statement about what he sees a home as is that of being peaceful and calm after dark, the family is together in the outside walls of the house. Owens’ statement about what he sees a home as is that of being full of life taking place outside but also on the inside of the walls of the house. Owens’ photos go along with Lahrmer’s thoughts; the people who live inside the walls make the house a home. The every day activities a family, the vacations the parties and even the smiles help create and hold the house together.