When I travel with my camera to cities, towns or villages, I am inevitably on the hunt for windows and doors. Often used in art to symbolize hope, change, and daring to explore.
In our own lives windows and doors also play a role in how we live our lives. They can be both a bridge and/or a barrier to entering, leaving or to crossing sides. It is clear, windows and doors provide an occasion for countless opportunities: to open and explore by entering or leaving; when needed, as a barrier to keep ourselves contained and safe.
While windows and doors may display exclusive fundamentals of architecture, history, craftmanship, functionality (necessity), I am also looking for more dynamic details that I like to call the patina of time found on exposed and worn wood, stone and metal; cracking, peeling and bubbling paint, weather-beaten surfaces that reveal once veiled textures and patterns. Together with the right light and shadow, come together to complete the composition.
Window on Via Luca Pacioli- Sansepolcro, Tuscana, Italy. Shot: August 18, 2012 (1006h): Canon Rebel T1i, ISO 100, f 7.1, 1/80 s, 44mm.
Window in Monchique in the Serra de Monchique (northern Algarve, Portugal). Taken, May 6, 2009, 14:06 h) Canon Rebel DSLR, ISO 100, 1/160s, f/7.1, 28mm.
"Una Finestra e Fiori" (A Window and Flower box). Very simple yet deep contrasts of colours and textures in a wall, window shutters and a mounted flower box on the "Via San Sabastiano", Castiglion Florintino, AR Tuscany. Photo Taken: Taken: August 15, 2013 (1421 h): Canon Rebel T1i, ISO 100, f 5, 1/1250s, 24mm.
"Flower Pots" in Vila do Bispo, Algarve Portugal May 2009. Canon EOS Rebel T1i, 25mm, f/9, 1/400s, ISO 400.
"Stretta Finestra di Scatto Grigio" (Narrow Gray Window Shutter). On an un-named little "senza uscita" (dead end) street just off the Piazza Luca Signorelli in Cortona (AR, Tuscana, Italy) was this beautiful textured mustard yellow wall surrounding a simple gray window shutter. The mid-afternoon (1523h) light accentuated the wall's uneven surface. August 20, 2015 (1523h) Canon EOS 70D, 42mm, f/5, 1/320s, ISO 100.
"Shadows on Chilago Road". Early morning shadows fall across the red barn on a late August morning on Chillago Road located in the far east of Waterloo Region nestled between Kitchener (east), Cambridge (north) and Guelph (west). The shadows of a near by tree cast almost childlike black crayon scribbles across the weathered red-wood. Taken: August 30, 2010 (10:02h): Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 90mm, ISO 100, f/25, 1/15).
"The Arrival" on Via dei Vitelli, just behind the Piazza del Marchese Paolo, in Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy. Taken: August 23, 2012 (1536h): Canon Rebel T1i, ISO 400, f 8, 1/25 s, 44mm.
Il Muro del Cortile (The Courtyard Wall) .A section of the stone courtyard wall at my place of residence on the Via del S. Colombano near Lucca (LU., Toscana, Italia). July 31, 2014: Canon 70D, f/4.5, 1/400s, ISO 100, 34mm.
"Locked Fishing Stage Door" in Dildo, Trinity Bay South Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Labrador. A 'large nail on a string' is the purely functional "security" lock for the fishing stage door. This is more than symbolic of the close knit community that is characteristic of so many small fishing communities along the coast. (Shot: July 21, 2011, 1234h., Canon EOS Rebel T1i, ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/1000s, 53mm).
"Primo sole mattutino a Lippiano" (First morning sun in Lippiano, Umbria, Italy. July 31, 2014: Canon 70D, f/4.5, 1/400s, ISO 100, 34mm.
"Landing in Perugia" taken at the portico of a government office in the city of Perugia (PG, Italy) September 3, 2012, 1435h., Canon EOS Rebel T1i, ISO 400, f/8, 1/100s, 90mm).
"Weathered Red Paint" The small red painted building is weather beaten by the winds and salty air of the north Atlantic in Duntara (between Keels and Kings Cove) on the Bonavista Peninsula (Newfoundland Labrador, Canada). Taken June 6, 2023 (1123 h), Canon EOS 90D, 24mm, f8, 1/80s, ISO 100.
"Dildo Green Shed Door" Taken: