Focusing his Lens on Eichler Doors

“The variation of tastes shown by Highlanders is indeed fascinating,” says Jonathan Feinberg, an amateur photographer and retired physician who ought to know. He’s lived in San Mateo Highlands 42 years. And he pays attention to front doors.

For the past several months Feinberg has been bicycling about his neighborhood, a notoriously hilly place and one without strict architectural controls, taking photographs of front doors and entryways.

“I’ve been sort of dabbling in photography for 10 years or so,” says Feinberg. "I thought I would do something in my own neighborhood, see how people live here. ‘Life in the Highlands.’ ”

“I thought, why don’t I take pictures of people’s front doors and see what variations there are in the houses themselves, that otherwise are all pretty much the same. But with the doors, people have done something to give them some uniqueness.”

Feinberg, a familiar presence in the neighborhood, often seen on his bike, says he took many of the photos without even dismounting.

He did warn people ahead of time about what he would be doing, using the neighborhood online bulletin board.

“Hello Neighbors. I am finally going to proceed with my project to photograph creative elements around the Highlands. At this point I am mainly interested in doors, entrances and mailboxes with background front gardens and will eventually make some sort of folio.”

“So if you happen to notice a grizzled old geyser with a gray beard and a camera showing interest in your house, please don't call the sheriff. It's only me. I don't intend to be intrusive and will try not to include specific identifying marks where possible. I am not casing out the joint. Strenuous objections will be listened to.”

Feinberg focused only on Eichler homes, ignoring homes built by another developer in the neighborhood.

Doors are far from Feinberg’s only photographic interest. He’s taken many photography classes and workshops and gone on photography trips. He’s even gone to Kansas City for a class in macro-photography with a leader in the field.

“It’s like flowers, wood grain or insects. The pictures don’t look representational, they’re more abstract,” he says. “It’s more for the artistic and creative part of it.”

“I’m retired and I have time to do that,” he says. For many years Feinberg had a family practice in San Mateo. He also practiced addiction medicine, medical legal work, which he still does, and medical education. He and his wife Adella raised two children in the neighborhood.

The door project may be shutting down soon – but not before Feinberg determines whether there’s enough local interest to display some of his works.

“There is a limited scope to this whole project, obviously. Or you start to do the same thing over and over again,” he says.

Showing a few photos on the Eichler Network website could help him “see if people are interested.” Then perhaps he could exhibit them at a school or community center. But otherwise he has no plans to publish the photos.

“I’m not that good,” he says, “and I’m not that ambitious.”

One door you won’t see in any future exhibit is Feinberg’s own.

“It’s such an ordinary looking door, plain black in a green framework. Our door is not interesting at all.”

• ‹ previous
• 256 of 677
• next ›