I pay attention to front doors. When you arrive at a house for the first time it’s most often via the front door. It’s one of the first impressions of the house, the home and to some extent the owners. I enjoy practicing “reading” the story they seem to tell.
Some express welcome and informality, an invitation in warm weather to rest a while upon a protective porch before coming in for cool refreshments. Others say this place is a refuge from all that may occur on the outside, you may enter and be safe. Still others may say this place is about family above all else. Those who live here are greater together then they could ever be alone.
Now we all know that doors don’t talk and there’s seldom “writing upon the walls” to explain things. What I “read” is purely my own interpretation, through my own filters, of the visual impressions, building stories and emotions I perceive from them.
What is “read” is not as important as the act of “reading” itself. The better we are at “reading” images, discovering stories within, the better we become at “writing” or creating our own.
I like the special comment and thought about front doors. A good subject and fine picture to support the narrative.
Thanks, Don.
It would make for a great photo essay… to photograph people’s front doors, and then the people behind them to see if you could find correlations.
Mark, thanks! I like the idea of the photo essay. People are so suspicious and react so strangely sometimes about having their photos made I wonder how many of them would agree to it? I don’t think I’d want to just jump our of the bushes at them camera firing as they come home. ;-)
That’s two good photo project suggestions I’ve gotten via comments to this weeks posts — a rewarding week indeed.
Have a good weekend!
Great post, Earl. I like your thoughts about doors and reading them. I agree with Mark, it would make a great photo essay, or perhaps something for SoFoBoMo. ;)
Paul, your right, it would make for an interesting SoFoBoMo book. Thanks!
I’m on the bandwagon for this project and would be a cheerleader, if you take it on. But, I’m not going to stand behind you if you decide on the jump out of the bushes technique.
What a great project. These photos are lovely and your comments do a marvelous job of firing my imagination.
It’s on my list of possibilities…don’t know if I’ll ever do it but it would make a wonder series. Thanks, Anita!
Earl,
I love the “American” look of this photo. Colors, details, and photographic skill. Well done.
Alan
Alan, thanks. In this series I was thinking how “American” they all looked…and not just from all the flags flying. I appreciate it.
Fantastic post – I like your essay about front doors and can really relate to your thoughts. The composition and lighting in your photographs are absolutely wonderful. The way you captured the warm sun rays make every door welcoming ;) Brilliant work!
Martina, I’m a bit of a romantic and so sometimes my linkage of image to idea can get stretched a bit far…I’m glad you could relate. Thank you for you very kind comments.
I have a series of images on doors, all sorts of doors. I find them interesting and some quite unique. You have a good idea going here, asking an interesting question, “How do our doors represent us?” I suggest you run with and agree with Anita, stay out of the bushes. I like the top image, if you were to ask. :-)