D O O R S
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E L I Z A B E T H
C O N D E
Photo Collection of Doors
Have you ever wondered if doors have feelings? Have you ever thought that maybe a door has a story of its own? They are numerous factors that contribute to the appearance of neighborhoods, for example, doors. The characteristics and personality of every 2
door are highly significant because they are the face of every home, business, locker, etc. Doors fascinate me for many reasons. One, because most people ignore them, but to anyone who lives or works there, this is their daily portal into another slice of their life. For many of these doors, I wondered: who lives there? What are they like? What does this particular door say or not say about them?
For fun, I take photos of interesting doors so I can better appreciate the impressive architecture and design of each one. My collection is taking photographs of beautiful doors. One of the many reasons why doors are simply important is that we use them every day. Weather for access, privacy, safety or emergency they are essential to our daily routines. In reality, most people fail to notice the unique designs and workmanship when interacting with doors. For this reason, I like to take pictures of the ones I like so I can later examine and better appreciate their uniqueness.
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Until this day, I have not had the pleasure of finding a scenescape or a bifold patio door. The bifold patio door provides more flexibility and convenience so you can enjoy outdoor living at its finest. Panels can travel to one side or open in the middle. Tracks can be straight, meet at 90-degree corner, or curve, adding 4
design flexibility. Capturing a photo at different angles, close and open is something I’ve been waiting for a while. One of the biggest concerns for an unusual collector as myself is not being able to complete a series of photographs according to their particular design.
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Doors are like people to me; they have a personality or a unique charm that pushes me to reach quickly for my camera. For example, some enthusiasts handcraft their own or import them from different countries, to give their home a unique and vibrant edge. Not only does it bring attention to 6
their home but it makes the neighborhood stand out. Another way to create a unique collection is by reaching out to your friends, family, and co-workers for any old photographs that they might have taken by accident. You would not believe how many photos are taken by mistake, and include stunning doors.
Knowing details about the photographs adds value to my collection. Many designs are real works of art that enhance a facade. They may consist of wood, iron, or plastic and decorative elements such as glass, color, wrought-iron grilles, and hinge straps. Also, advanced features such as keypads, motorized pulleys, sensors, biometric scanners, and wireless security have become the new trend in today’s industry. Nevertheless, finding interesting doors is quite a journey because it requires patience and lots of walking. Without the uniqueness of doors, everything would look the same, and possibly cause confusion in case of emergencies.
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QUICK FACTS "A RED CHURCH DOOR REPRESENTS PASSOVER AND IS A SYMBOL OF SANCTUARY AND SAFETY. WHILE THEY CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THERE IS A PARTICULARLY LARGE CONCENTRATION OF RED CHURCH DOORS IN PHILADELPHIA."
"PHILADELPHIA INVENTOR THEOPHILUS VAN KANNEL RECEIVED THE FIRST U.S. PATENT FOR THE REVOLVING DOOR IN 1888."
"IT IS THOUGHT THAT THE FIRST EVER AUTOMATED DOOR WAS INVENTED IN THE FIRST CENTURY AD IN ALEXANDRIA BY HERO. THE TEMPLE DOORS WERE
OPENED
USING
COUNTERBALANCED,
STEAM-POWERED WEIGHTS."
"C.G JOHNSON INVENTED THE OVERHEAD DOOR IN 1921. JUST 5 YEARS LATER HE CREATED THE FIRST AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR."
"FENG SHUI DICTATES THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OPEN, CLEAR PATHWAY TO THE DOOR TO SUPPORT A HARMONIOUS FLOW OF ENERGY."
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Having a collection is perhaps challenging but looking at the result is very rewarding. Collecting photographs can be a voyage of discovery. Just like with books, you probably shouldn’t collect photos for financial gain. Collect because you love history, design, people, or in my case doors. As always, the thrill is in the chase.
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