Thank you so much, Søren! It's been said (most notably by Oliver Wendell Holmes) that photography is a "mirror with a memory" and these mirrors hold a lot of the past...
When I lived in France, I'd walk past this one particular building where the door was always open, but only a little - like a teaser. All you could see was a dreary looking kind of lobby.
One afternoon, I decided to see what was on the other side of that barely open door. As I entered, I was stunned to see a beautiful black and gold spiral staircase that lead up three floors to...what?
When I went up, I saw - to my happy surprise - a gallery of pure white sculptures lit by natural window light only and they looked almost like mimes, waiting to entertain someone.
I loved my secret gallery find and returned every week. My camera and I never stopped looking behind doors or in windows after that.
Kathleen - what a great story! It's sort of a tangential version of one of my photographic maxims - "what's behind me?" Often, I find that the thing that attracted my attention in the first place is only a part of the allure of a place. I love your story because it reminds us of the way curiosity factors in to being in the world. The curious are more likely to find something magical.
Thank you Jeff for sending the fabulous photos, and quite honestly the words that came with this submission are truly the equal of the great photos. I especially liked the second photo from the top, it really caught my eye with all the beautiful colours ,subtle blue over the door and the reflection in the window were supurb, There is a lot to look at in that photo and I enjoy the time spent with it and continuing to find more new things ,,,,most excellent !
The soft tones and values transport me to Sicily, shopworn and rough around the edges as I envision it. It's so true that the camera and the photographer stand 'outside almost everything.' Our presence is fleeting. Yes, the mystery is what else is there, behind the door and around the corner.
I remember one time when I was very young, I held small photograph and turned it to see if I could see what was behind something in the picture. The impulse is strong.
Thank you for taking us to new worlds. 💚
Thanks, Kate!
Great post and beautifully illustrated. I find the mirrors particularly great, but they are all very good and considered! Super good post! Thank you!!
Thank you so much, Søren! It's been said (most notably by Oliver Wendell Holmes) that photography is a "mirror with a memory" and these mirrors hold a lot of the past...
When I lived in France, I'd walk past this one particular building where the door was always open, but only a little - like a teaser. All you could see was a dreary looking kind of lobby.
One afternoon, I decided to see what was on the other side of that barely open door. As I entered, I was stunned to see a beautiful black and gold spiral staircase that lead up three floors to...what?
When I went up, I saw - to my happy surprise - a gallery of pure white sculptures lit by natural window light only and they looked almost like mimes, waiting to entertain someone.
I loved my secret gallery find and returned every week. My camera and I never stopped looking behind doors or in windows after that.
Kathleen - what a great story! It's sort of a tangential version of one of my photographic maxims - "what's behind me?" Often, I find that the thing that attracted my attention in the first place is only a part of the allure of a place. I love your story because it reminds us of the way curiosity factors in to being in the world. The curious are more likely to find something magical.
Exactly.
Thank you Jeff for sending the fabulous photos, and quite honestly the words that came with this submission are truly the equal of the great photos. I especially liked the second photo from the top, it really caught my eye with all the beautiful colours ,subtle blue over the door and the reflection in the window were supurb, There is a lot to look at in that photo and I enjoy the time spent with it and continuing to find more new things ,,,,most excellent !
Thank you, Andrew!
The soft tones and values transport me to Sicily, shopworn and rough around the edges as I envision it. It's so true that the camera and the photographer stand 'outside almost everything.' Our presence is fleeting. Yes, the mystery is what else is there, behind the door and around the corner.
I remember one time when I was very young, I held small photograph and turned it to see if I could see what was behind something in the picture. The impulse is strong.
What we don't see is as important as what we do.
I agree that we need to know what's back there.