Nothing attracts me like a closed door
Margaret Bourke-White, photographer
What is it about doors that so often compels us to photograph them? Is it their ability to spark curiosity, suggesting something hidden just beyond? Or is it more simply their visual appeal, as they are often the most ornate or interesting element of a building?
Either way, I have plenty of door images in my archives. So for Sofia’s Lens Artists challenge, inviting us to look back at doors, I’ve pulled together a selection of my favourites to share. Some you will inevitably have seen before (hence ‘looking back’). But others I hope will be new, or at least edited differently.
My feature photo was taken in Kathmandu, Nepal. All the others are captioned; just click on one to open the slideshow of each gallery to see the captions if interested.
When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Alexander Graham Bell
Doors
In addition to the doors themselves, I have a fascination with their details, especially door furniture. I could have (and indeed did) filled a whole post with the door knockers of a single place, Cartagena in Colombia, but I’ve resisted that temptation and tried to mix things up a bit.
Door knockers
Handles
Yes, that is a real deer’s hoof serving as a handle to the door in the Secret Camp of Kim il Sung in North Korea!
Hinges
Locks and bolts
63 Comments
wetanddustyroads
I think I only really became aware of doors (and door knockers) during our visit to Malta. It’s amazing how many different examples you have here. The rabbit is my favourite.
Sarah Wilkie
I love that rabbit too 🙂 And yes, Malta is great for doors, I saw some wonderful ones there!
Image Earth Travel
The Gecko door knocker is my favourite and would love to have one, which would match the timber palings at the entrance of our house.
The deer’s hoof is disconcerting!
I’m yet to publish a door knocker post as I’ve collected hundreds of photos, especially in Italy. It’s going to be tough selecting just a few.
Sarah Wilkie
I love that gecko too, and could also be tempted by a rabbit door handle 🙂 I’d love to see your Italian selection some time!
Image Earth Travel
Yes, the rabbit door handle is also cute.
I’ll let you know but doubt it will be for some time yet. It seems that as soon as I clear all my drafts, we set off again and the writing starts all over again. 😉
equinoxio21
Just fab’, Sarah. (I’ve been catching quite a few doors this summer in Europe. Knockers too, of course. Not hinges, I’ll bear that in mind…)
All well?
Sarah Wilkie
Very well thank you 🙂 Just back from an amazing trip to Svalbard which is why I haven’t been posting so much lately.
equinoxio21
Norway now? Compliments.
equinoxio21
PS. I just looked Svalbard up on the map. Way up North. Must be a fantastic experience. Look forward to your photos…
Sarah Wilkie
Way up north indeed, and we went even further in search of the sea ice and polar bears – past 82 degrees north to be more precise!
equinoxio21
Fantastic. 82º is veeery up north. Did you eventually see bears? At a distance. I understand they’re very dangerous.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, and one very close but from the safety of the ship. Check out my postcard from Svalbard post 😀
equinoxio21
Better safe than sorry, right? I’ll see your postcard on Monday when I get your posts. Bon week-end, chère amie.
grandmisadventures
Love all your door pictures- especially the handles, knockers, and hinges!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg, I’m glad you enjoyed my selection 🙂
Sofia Alves
I’m so sad I could spot the ones from Portugal! I love the door knockers, something I always find attractive, the details are to die for. And the colours, superb, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Sofia 😊 I’m glad you found this as I wasn’t sure about the post I left my comment on – the url said ‘trashed’!
kzmcb
Fabulous work, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much 😊
I. J. Khanewala
Absolutely wonderful set, but that’s not saying anything new about your galleries
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for that lovely feedback 😊
Graham Stephen
wonderful!
⬻𓂀✧ 🔺 ✬ღ☆ 🔺 ∞ ♡ ∞ 🔺 ☆ღ✬ 🔺 ✧𓂀⤖
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Graham 🙂
Graham Stephen
🙏🙇♂️
photobyjohnbo
You do have a great collection of doors, but not only doors complete, but all of the door components. What a unique collection. I was especially drawn to those interesting door pulls.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 🙂 It seems there are many different ways to open a door!
Annie Berger
Believe me, none of us will be bored with your upcoming posts on Svalbard, Sarah! I was thinking about the same possibility with our posts from Greenland containing lots of pics of icebergs.
Good to learn a new word or phrase every day!
Sarah Wilkie
I’m looking forward to your Greenland posts immensely! Having loved the Svalbard cruise so much, Greenland is now high on my/our wishlist 😀
Leanne Cole
With all your travels I knew you would have some impressive doors Sarah and I wasn’t disappointed.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Leanne 😊
Tanja
Wonderful collection
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Tanja 😀
Monkey's Tale
I love the knockers, and also the variety of hinges. I’m not able to see the titles when I expand the images, I’m on my mobile. But I knew where the Salento door must be from and confirmed it with other comments. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie 🙂 I think on some mobiles (maybe all?) you have to click on the ‘i’ for information (bottom right of the image) to see the caption. Glad you recognised Salento anyway!
bitaboutbritain
Wonderful! You’re right, there is ‘something’ about doors – or doorways. Maybe it’s because we think that going through is an adventure, or perhaps our future.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 Yes, I think there’s a lot in what you say.
JohnRH
Great selections Sarah. Love the variety. Knockers, handles, and hinges. 👏
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much John 🙂
Teresa
Door knockers are always a favourite of mine. And yours are so eye catching!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa, I’m so glad you liked them 😀
bushboy
The door at Salento looks like it was painted on the wall. The hardware is more interesting than the doors Sarah
Sarah Wilkie
I see what you mean about the Salento door Brian, although I promise you it’s a real one! The town is full of these bright colours 🙂
bushboy
I did have to have a good look to see that it was an actual door but on first glance………
Suzanne@PictureRetirement
Sarah, some of these are incredible, and the hardware is so unique. The deer hoof is a bit much, and like your other reader, the Salento door gives me a headache, but I love the soft color of the Oman door. Your collections are extensive and always on target with the challenge. Well done.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Suzanne 😊 I agree about the deer hoof but it’s so unique I thought it would be interesting to include it! I love the Oman door colour too btw 🙂
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
The Salento door gives me a headache but everything else is beautiful!
Sarah Wilkie
Don’t go to Colombia then, as some towns are just full of houses painted in those gaudy colours! Glad you enjoyed the rest (did you find even the deer hoof beautiful though?!!)
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
I think I skedaddled past that one!
restlessjo
I love door furniture, as it’s fondly called, Sarah. Spotted the Tavira one straight away. I spent yesterday with Phil and Michaela, wandering the streets. The Mdina one is fabulous and I wouldn’t mind having the Marais one myself- we have a white door. Are you home from the cruise now? xx
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jo 😊 I just saw Michaela’s post on Facebook about your day out with a lovely photo of you all on the boat! Made me wish again that we could have met up as planned a few years back. Yes, we got home on Saturday and I have a mountain of photos to sort through, but I got distracted by this challenge because of the theme! And we’re off to Yorkshire on Friday for a few days so that will interrupt proceedings further … 😘
restlessjo
I’ve not seen Facebook today. Not enough hours… xx
Jane Lurie
Love your door images, Sarah, and your arrangement of the details is a treat to view! Wonderful variety and well shot. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Jane 😊 I do like spotting and photographing this sort of detail so I had more than enough to choose from!
Sue
What a marvellous gallery, Sarah! A collection of varied, interesting looking doors, and then we go into all the door furniture, so to speak…. fantastic!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Sue, I’m so pleased you like this 😀
Sue
Definitely, and you’re going to be a hard act to follow!
Sarah Wilkie
😊😊
Tina Schell
Fabulous collection Sarah!! They’re all wonderful but I think my favorites are the various sets showing the individual elements that follow the actual doors. Like Sofia, you’ve made an amazing study not only of the doors but of their many parts as well. Superb!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Tina 😊 I do enjoy picking out that sort of detail. As I said to Anne below, I put this together in a bit of a rush (just got back from our Arctic trip yesterday!) so I’m very pleased you enjoyed it!
Anne Sandler
What a collection Sarah! I especially like the door knockers and handles. They are so unique!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 😊 I put this together in a bit of a rush (just got back from our Arctic trip yesterday!) so I’m especially pleased you like it!
Annie Berger
Welcome home from your Svalbard cruise. I hope it was great fun. Enjoyed your collection of doors and very unusual door knobs. I can’t quite bring myself to say ‘door furniture, ‘ although I noticed others also used that phrase!
Sarah Wilkie
The cruise was totally amazing Annie! I’ll be boring everyone with it for ages to come 😀 In the UK ‘door furniture’ is the general term for any door adornments and practical details like these but I gather it’s not used in the US?