Doors, Windows & Elevators

As I was browsing through the photos I have taken over the past few months, it struck me how much I like to photograph doors and windows. If eyes are the windows to a person’s soul, I suppose windows and doors can provide a sense of the soul of a place. Doors and windows here in Antofagasta are so different from those in San Pedro, which are different than those in Argentina, and those in the U.S. and Canada, and so on.

Doors are particularly photogenic objects because they are so subject to personalization. As a homeowner or tenant, business owner or historical preservationist, you know that the entry way sets the tone. Doors are also just more fun: while it might be a bit of a shock to guests if you paint your whole house red or neon green (although I have seen houses that are entirely painted in these colours here in Chile), painting your door such a bright colour is a bit less risky! I also find doors tend to be more well-maintained than other parts of the house and can hold a lot of history.

Windows fascinate me, particularly when they contain beautiful pots of flowers or plants. You also never know when a person or little critter might be peeking out from inside, watching the world go by outside.

Elevators have also became a new fascination, thanks to the array of really old elevators in Buenos Aires. The art deco building we stayed in in Buenos Aires had one with the metal grate doors you have to push aside and pull closed each time you get in and out (don’t forget to close the outside grate or someone could fall down the shaft) and it had these lovely old big buttons that clicked and instantly pulled you up and down the floors. Of course you could see each floor as you passed through the levels. If there was ever an elevator that could take you back in time, it would look like this. The prettiest elevator I’ve ever ridden in was also in Buenos Aires, an intricately carved beautiful old wood-paneled elevator (also with manual doors, though in fine, highly polished carved wood) at a library. Finally, included in the tour of the Casa Rosada was a peek into the elevator that the president uses to get to work (sadly, we couldn’t try that one out!), which came complete with a red velvet interior and plush bench for her to sit and sip her coffee, I suppose, before starting the day.

{ Windows }