Portland Observed

This series by Kelly Rae Daugherty represents her most recent black-and-white street work documenting the daily landscape of Portland. Shot entirely on location across the Old Port, Munjoy Hill, Bayside, and the West End, the photographs focus strictly on unposed interactions and the quiet intervals of city life.

A woman with short, light-colored hair, wearing a white tank top and plaid pants, standing outdoors in a natural setting with trees in the background.
Black and white photo of a city street with pedestrians walking on the sidewalk and a vehicle crossing a pedestrian crosswalk. Several cars are parked along the street. There are multi-story brick buildings lining the street, some with storefronts an
Black and white street scene with people walking and shopping outside storefronts, including a jewelry store, flower shop, and cafe with outdoor seating. Portland, Maine
A young man with dark hair and shorts sitting in a vintage barber chair, getting a haircut from a barber. The barber is a young man with short hair, wearing a white shirt and gloves. There is a large ring light hanging above them. In the background,
Interior of a modern cafe with customers and staff, a woman standing at the counter drinking from a glass, and two women sitting and talking at a table in the background.
A woman standing on the front porch of a house, holding a jar with a drink and a mug on the railing, wearing a beanie, scarf, oversized sweater, long skirt, and boots.
A woman with tattoos sitting outside at a table, talking on phone, with a small dog sitting on the table. There are two wooden chairs, one empty. The setting is next to a building with a large window reflecting the street scene. Munjoy Hill, Portland
Black and white photo of a snow-covered landscape with a group of bare trees, including a bent tree in the foreground, under a cloudy sky.
A woman with glasses leaning on a windowsill, looking outside through a window in a brick building. Portland, Maine
Black and white photo of a house with vinyl siding, a front porch with steps, and a white picket fence, surrounded by tall flowering plants in front and trees in the background.
A woman sitting on a staircase near a window, resting her head and eyes closed, with a face mask hanging below her chin.
A person with voluminous blonde hair styled in a messy, high-volume look standing in front of a window. They are wearing a revealing, striped bodysuit with a deep neckline, a wide belt, and patterned tights. They have tattoos on their arms and chest,
People dining inside a food court with various restaurant signs in the background, including Panda Express and Shake Shack.
Four people seated on a curved bench with a man standing in front of them inside a shopping mall. There is a large decorative tree with round leaves hanging above the bench, and a glass ceiling overhead. In the background, store signs and shop fronts
Black and white photo of a stone church with a large stained glass window and a cross at the top. There are two tall narrow windows and a sign near the bushes in front.
A man wearing a white hat, white shirt, and dark pants, standing outdoors in front of a house with bushes and plants, holding a book and looking at the camera.
View through a shop window displaying a sign for coffee and cannabis, with a bearded man with glasses sitting inside at a table. The window also shows a white cross pharmacy symbol and various signs including prices for medical cannabis cards and pro
Black and white photo of vintage train cars on a track with a cloudy sky overhead.
Nighttime scene of a cobblestone street in an urban area with old brick buildings, lit street lamps, and a few people sitting at picnic tables outside a store, with flags hanging overhead and a few vacant outdoor seating areas.
Nighttime scene outside the Empire Comedy Club, with a line of people waiting to enter. The club's illuminated vertical sign reads 'EMPIRE,' and there is a smaller sign above the entrance that says 'EMPIRE COMEDY CLUB.' Some people are chatting, othe
A person walking on a bridge surrounded by trees and lampposts in black and white.