Us, a photographic series by Israeli duo Rona Bar and Ofek Avshalom (working under the name Fotómetro), began in May 2020 in Israel during the early days of the Covid-19 lockdown. Prompted by their own new relationship and the global shutdown of commercial work, the artists turned their attention to documenting couples in their homes, creating an extended portrait of intimacy across Israel, the UK, and Europe.
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, which confined individuals to domestic spaces, Us offered a timely counterpoint to isolation by spotlighting human connection. As the world reeled from the upheaval of lockdowns, Bar and Avshalom used this moment of pause to ask broader questions about love, representation, and belonging. Their aim was to challenge the dominant visual narratives that reduce relationships to a narrow norm: heterosexual, same race, similar size and age. In contrast, Us foregrounds a multiplicity of bodies, genders, cultures, and abilities, inviting viewers to consider the diversity and complexity of real-life partnerships.
Visually, the series is warm and immersive. The photographs were taken in familiar, often unstyled domestic spaces—sofas, kitchens, gardens—that allowed each couple's identity to emerge organically. Bar and Avshalom worked primarily with natural light, occasionally supplementing with ambient sources, and used a subdued palette that emphasized skin tones and the tactile qualities of shared life. Some images were gently directed, but much was left to the couples, who were encouraged to interact as they normally would. The emphasis on physical closeness—hands held, bodies resting on one another—heightens the sense of trust and presence.
Us has received critical acclaim, winning a Portrait of Humanity award and being exhibited at venues including the National Portrait Gallery (London), the Jewish Museum (Vienna), and InCadaqués Photo Festival. Widely regarded as significant in advancing more inclusive representations of intimacy and partnership in photography, the series was published as a photobook in 2022.
