Doors, windows, and arches are my favorite things to photograph. These utilitarian elements of architecture are often rendered with careful artistic expression. A beautiful gate, an elegant door, windows adorned with whimsical trim offer the hint of beauty and the mystique of what one might find on the other side, a tension between the inside and outside.
The Amber Fort Jaipur India
One of my best pictures I took as a budding student of photography is from The Castle Green’s violin shop. The Castle Green is a historical landmark in Pasadena, built during the Victorian Era-several stories tall, painted green, as the name suggests. Its current life is as a mixed use building with luxury condominiums, affordable senior housing, retail stores and cafes, as well as an event venue. Residents on the market value side of the building enjoy access to the elegantly restored public spaces surrounded by the lush gardens with their renowned banana trees.
The photo of the violin shop window was taken from the sidewalk. A couple of violins hung at a rakish angle with a neon sign. The layers of grime on the windows suggested that the shop had been there forever. For me, it was a new find from one of my discovery walks. Armed with my camera and a class assignment, I looked at familiar sights with fresh eyes. The crisp outline against the sky of the brick apartments on the corner of El Molino and Del Mar, shadows cast by the Canary Island Palms on the sidewalk, and the mesmerizing repetition of white pickets in the front yard of a neighbor, all became part of my photographic language.
The majority of my travel photos are of doors, windows, and arches. The allure of wondering what lies beyond remains. The young woman who took photos with a 35mm camera shares similarities with the iPhone photographer of today. There are differences too, of course. My early fascination with unknown interiors was paired with a desire to be in a different place, at times a desire to be a different person. Today’s photographer takes as many pictures as she likes. Present day technology allows for immediate evaluation. Does the photo capture the intended image?
Despite the facility of taking and reviewing photos, I find myself content pausing to take an image here or there. I am easily satiated. Staying mindful to not miss the entirety of the moment by being too singular in my pursuit of visual representation.
No longer, I am not looking for the ‘perfect’ shot to impress my teacher or classmates. I am not worried about being graded. The more profound shift has taken place in the heart of the photographer. Doors, windows, arches represent a glimpse into the lives of others. My curiosity is in their stories, to learn from others’ sense of place. I have no desire to be anywhere else. I have no desire to be anyone else. I am already home.
