#213 Doors and Windows

#213 Doors and Windows

Where do I get my ideas for a blog? Some are original with me, but I must admit that I’m guilty of stealing topics. Whenever I do I like to give credit to the real source—it assuages my guilt to an extent. Thus the topic for this photo retrospective. In a blog by Taos photographer/author/photo-tour guide Geraint Smith (www.geraintsmith.com) I was attracted to several of his photos of local Southwest doors. After viewing some of Geraint’s shots I looked at my files and decided I had enough photos of doors and windows to make an interesting post.

Doors and windows bring up the subjects of entrances, exits, and view into all manner of life experiences. I selected the photos I want to share and let them organize themselves into common themes. I’ll keep my commentary simple and let the doors open and close and the views be as narrow or far reaching as they will be.

Closed Doors. It’s often said that when one door closes another one opens. That may be true, but some closed doors do open up many questions.

Glencoe Village, Scotland: Is the face on this bricked up door inviting or off-putting?

Scotland: Where did this door lead and why was it closed off?

In the Window. From the outside we see what’s in the window or what’s on the other side. Either or both views can be interesting.

Spittel of Glenshee, Scotland: The Old Manse

Muthill, Scotland: Pooh in the Window

The Shambles, York, England: I ponder the watches in the window.

Acorn Bank Gardens, England: Is the story of the photo us looking in at the gentlemen in the tearoom or of him looking out?

Edinburgh, Scotland: Where the girls are.

Sellwood district, Portland: A Window of Windows

Through the Door. “Close some doors today. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they lead nowhere.” [Paulo Coelho, Brazilian novelist] Let’s see where these doors lead.

St Andrews Cathedral, Scotland: From the front to the back.

An Oxford door leading to bikes.

Fort Stevens, Oregon: Multiple doors or just one?

Sweetheart Abbey, southern Scotland: One door leading to many others.

Duunottar Castle, Scotland: Enter a tunnel and emerge seven centuries earlier.

Tintagel castle, Cornwall, England: Step out of the doorway into the view King Arthur saw. Supposedly.

 Anne was so excited about being in the castle that she phoned her sister in Oregon--at 2:30 AM.

Bonito Pueblo, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico: Historic 10th C Doorways

Out the Window. “Two men look out a window. One sees mud, the other sees the stars.” [Oscar Wilde, playwright] Looking through these windows what would we see?

Lake District, England: The view of her garden that Beatrix Potter enjoyed as she wrote.

Falkland Palace, Scotland: The guide said we couldn't take photos inside the castle, but she did let me take a picture of the outside from inside.

Stonehaven, Scotland: A view of the harbour from inside our B&B bedroom.

Sunlight transformed by stained glass windows of a church. I'd tell you the name of the Scottish church but my notes are already packed for the move to our new home in Canby. The move is coming soon.

Decorated Doors. In Ireland, locals were required to paint the doors to their houses black in remembrance upon the death of Queen Victoria. In diference, the Irish painted their doors every color of the rainbow—black is not a color of the rainbow. Anne and I liked the look of the Irish doors we saw on our first trip to Ireland. We came home and painted our front door red and back door blue.

Cathedral in Cork, Ireland: Doorway decor over the top. Literally.

Papermill, Oregon City: The decoration on the door tells the status of the mill.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: A very understated decorated door in Santa Fe.

Falkland, Scotland: The door lintel notes the marriage of RMK to MM in 1743.

I'm not certain of the meaning of decorations above this Arizona church door, but it is defintely grim.

Look carefully at the detailed small images decorating the wall above this doorway in a small Scottish church. Much to imagine.

Smoke Shop Wall and Door, Sant Fe

Decorated Windows. Most of the decorations for windows will be holiday decor or what’s just on the inside, We did find an example of note of window decoration in Santa Fe.

Reflections. “There’s a world out there. Open a window and it’s there.” [Robin Williams, actor and comedian] The same could be said for looking at the reflection in a window—look, a world in the image.

The world of a small Scottish country road reflected in cottage window.

What did you see first in the York store window--sewing machines or the reflected building across the street?

The sign on this Santa Fe door invites you into the reflection.

Just for Fun. It’s knot a door and knot a window. 

NEXT: I'll see if I can find another interesting world to visit.

#198 Taos Photo Tour

You know we're in the SW, just look at the driver's hat.

During our trip to Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, we had planned to spend half a day on a guided photo tour with a local professional photographer. I had toured with Geraint Smith three years before and knew he was a good guide and instructor. Geraint was born in Wales and lived in the UK before coming to the US in 1978 as a young man. Moving to Taos in 1988 Geraint grew as a photographer and sculptural artist. With a huge and varied list of clients, 

Geraint's recent solo show at the Bareiss Gallery in Taos.

Geraint now shows his works at local galleries, produces photo prints of the beautiful Southwest, has a book on the market (Rio Grande del Norte: an Intimate Portrait), and guides photo tours and workshops year round. 

Our afternoon tour on Sunday, October 19, was to center around fall colors and composition skills. The tour started out by adapting to the only rain in several days; where we had planned to go wouldn’t be good for landscape photography. Geraint instead said, “How about we go to Colorado where the forecast is drier.” My response was, “You’re the guide.”

From Taos we headed north in Geraint’s 4-sheel drive small SUV. Our first stop was in Arroyo Hondo, a small village Anne and I had driven through a couple of days before. I hadn’t seen anything to make me stop and photograph, but he stopped on Hwy 522 and pointed out a spectacular cottonwood in full autumn color—a photographer’s dream. 

Using his iPhone camera Geraint showed me a possible composition and checked my shot with approval. The next stop was a little further up the road for a classic horse in the field photo. 

He reminded me to get the horse in focus while keeping the surrounding bushes softly out of focus. 

After a couple more stops along the highway, Geraint suggested we go to the Wild Rivers Recreation Area in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, 

Neither Anne nor I had ever been in this area and we were thrilled with the view of the river and canyon.

The weather was still drippy, but the further north we went the better it was for photography—dry with clouds and sun. Our photo subjects now included abandoned buildings, 

quaint churches in small villages, 

Church in Garcia, Colorado.

local wildlife (especially birds},

Magpie

Red Tail Hawk

general landscapes, all with a background of either the Sangre de Cristos mountains or the closer 10,000 foot Ute mountain. 

Geraint Smith checking a composition.

I shot dozens and dozens of images trying to follow Geraint’s composition hints as well as throw in a few ideas of my own. 

Anne was all this time a participating member of the tour—watching both Geraint and myself, taking a few pictures, as well as actively taking part in the discussions.

It was a long drive home to Taos from southern Colorado with only a couple of stops. Our last photo opportunity was back in Arroyo Hondo at the grand cottonwood along the highway. 

The light was different—sun and clouds rather than gray overcast. The tree and surroundings were even more dramatic than when we started the tour. It provided a fitting ending to a wonderful day’s adventure. Thanks, Geraint Smith.

For more information about Geraint Smith, his photos and tours, see his website: www.geraintsmith.com. 

NEXT: More of our trip to the Southwest.