Show Me Your Drawers

This photographer had to travel as far as Tel Aviv in their quest to find drawers to photograph. The recycled use of a wooden office filing cabinet to display freshly potted herbs is a well captured find. Personally I would have cropped a fifth off the right of the photo to make the drawers a tighter fit but then who am I to tell you how to wear, sorry I mean, how to photograph your drawers.

What drew me to this photo was not the haphazard mess or the contents of the drawer but that the photographer took the time and effort to straighten the sides before cropping the picture. I love the higgledy-piggledy angles of all the assorted DIY tools and the owners claim that regardless of the state of the drawer they know exactly where to find everything. This worthy top ten choice would work equally well in an abstract photo competition.

In complete contrast to many entries this photographer has chosen to portray a partially open drawer hinting at, rather than completely exposing, the inside contents. Including the neutral grey drawers at the top of the frame instinctively draws the eye to the bright splash of colour below. The portrait format works particularly well with textured lines running down the height of the furniture ending at the multicoloured sock drawer.

What a tidy gentleman this must be to neatly fold and display his neckties in such a perfectly regimented order. I imagine it must have hurt to disturb the pedantic equilibrium by pulling out ties and draping them over the sides of the drawers. It was well worth the momentary pain as the eccentricity of this man’s colourful tie collection contrasts nicely against the grey textured wooden furniture rewarding him with a deserved top ten position.

This photograph of mostly camera related paraphernalia is a joy to be able to visually rummage through and compare to my own camera drawer. The nicely square-edged photo has been given plenty of room to breath by the surrounding uncluttered area. I’ve managed to identify most the items in the drawer but God only know what that white thing in the middle wrapped in black cable is for.

When I set this challenge I hadn’t realised how difficult it would be for people to expose themselves through the contents of their drawers - possibly the reason for such a low turnout. This photographer had no such qualms. By entering a photo of files from a personal filling cabinet they’ve freely opened their life to public scrutiny. This is a well taken close up shot of a stationary drawer which nobody else thought of or dared to photograph so I commend the photographer for having no inhibitions in baring their soul to the world.

These multicoloured rolls of cotton wool balls look like a nest full of tightly packed fledglings with their mouths wide open waiting to be fed. It’s unusual to see a drawer full of items so neatly packed amongst the cacophony of untidy drawer entries. A still life of repetitive objects always packs a visual punch and the choice of this subject matter shows there’s nothing woolly about this photographer’s creative way of thinking.

What is it with cats sleeping in drawers? Do they discover these makeshift beds for themselves or do owners put them in there? This is one of a number of entries showing cats smugly snuggled up in a drawer. I like the close-up portrait of this particularly cute feline. The wide-eyed cat looks so comfortable and content I can hear its loud purring from here.