Fascinated by people and the way their personal spaces reveal aspects of themselves, photographer Lois Bielefeld captures universal human qualities while displaying a spectrum of individualistic details. In Weeknight Dinners as well as in her previous The Bedroom series, the camera closes in, entering private living spaces. Beautifully composed, Bielefeld’s captivating photographs look like complex paintings where every object has a story to tell. The settings become pieces of a larger puzzle that provide clues to each individual’s personality. But the focus always remains on the faces of the main character(s); that’s what ultimately makes the images so powerful.
Apart from showing another view of private spaces – moving away from the small universe of the bedroom – Weeknight Dinners also explores a special and universal ritual in uniquely decorated interiors. The typical evening meal becomes the backdrop for a study in human individuality. The images display everything from personal connections, intriguing family dynamics, openness, and joy to vulnerability, tiredness, and loneliness. Parents and children. Lovers. Siblings. Singles. All so different yet all so fiercely human and alike.
Lois Bielefeld is represented by Portrait Society Gallery. You can check out her other incredible photo series on her website and Instagram page. Chances are you’ll always discover something new while admiring her work. Images courtesy of Lois Bielefeld.