The Burning House: What Would You Save from Your Burning House?

If your house was burning and you only had a few minutes to gather up a few things to save from the fire, which of your possessions would you choose? The Burning House is a neat photo project by Foster Huntington that asks this question, with photographs submitted by various people showing their most valuable possessions neatly arranged.

It’s true that what makes the project interesting isn’t necessarily the objects themselves, though some of the arrangements pictured are beautiful in their own right. What makes the photos so fascinating is the guessing game that we play in trying to piece together the personalities behind the choices. An artist might choose a favorite painting while a designer might be sure to pick a certain dress. Chris Adamiak, a maintenance worker in Ontario, Canada, selects a utility knife and work boots.