Doors and Alleyways | The Ambitious Drifter

September 4, 2013
by Ambitious_Drifter 2 Comments

Two Deceptive Doors

Cardinal’s Wharf sits on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. Sir Christopher Wren lived here while he was building St Paul’s Cathedral. Every day he would have come out of this door and seen his creation rising. That’s the story anyway. Apparently the house was not built until the year St Paul’s was finished. Wren may have lived in a house close to here that is long gone. Nice doorway though!

Why is this doorway so important? It’s my front door! The local council insisted we keep the look of the place intact. Behind it is a not-so-interesting modern front door.

I’ve chosen to celebrate my first 1000 views with one of my passions, doors. Heaven knows, I might get another 5 views!

August 13, 2013
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More Doors

Doors are great to photograph…. they’re self framing. They are already a statement, a suggestion and a story.

This collection comprises ancient to modern. The most modern is from Enmore in NSW, Australia. I was led down a side street after I’d tracked down a (possible) Banksy, one he’d done on a trip to Sydney. I like the fact that the street artist here has recognised that the garden door is art in itself.

The ancient doorway is from Colchester,UK. The wall is of Roman construction, the portal may be as old. I’ve also added a French door with a lovely texture, ancient wood, modern graffiti and a modern number. Following that, an interesting door from Entraygues, France with bonus street cat.

July 23, 2013
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Doors, What A Flaneur Sees

As an ambitious drifter, I am very proud to call myself a flaneur. There is no real English equivalent of the word, although it’s also a very English pastime. I like to stroll without purpose, walk around a city without any real aim…. I’m simply there to absorb the atmosphere. You could add ‘people watcher’, although I tend not to photograph people. I dont like to invade their privacy. I do like odd buildings, strange alleys and especially doors.

Doors are mysterious because I’ll never get to know what’s behind them…. as a classic flaneur I observe, but dont engage. Here’s another collection of doors which fired my imagination.

A house with waterfront,Delft,The Netherlands.

Montparnasse Cemetery,Paris. Someone’s heart has been taken.

Colourful Door, Paris

Rural France…. I love the star studs. Strength and style.

There are flaneur blogs you might like to check out. I think there’s a little bit of flanerie in all of us.

The Flaneur

For door lovers I can recommend that you check out The Legion of Door Whores

June 20, 2013
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Derelict Doors

Doors that are no longer used, leading into buildings that are empty.

Disused door and the shadow of a grand doorknocker.

Brussels.

Doors that have been abandoned.

It seems I’m not the only connoisseur of ancient and mysterious doorways. Check out The Legion of Door Whores for many great photographs of interesting portals.

June 13, 2013
by Ambitious_Drifter 1 Comment

Mysterious Doorways

I’ve always been drawn to ancient doorways. Of course they’re only mysterious until you’ve seen or been through them. But there are many where I’ll never know what’s behind them.
Some of the photos here are fresh. I took myself into town to the shops, a small achievement in my recovery scheme. The light was great and I always take the camera with me. It’s an old town, with many ancient doorways. You never know what’s behind them, it could be a smartly furnished apartment, or a room that hasnt been used since the 19th century.

Some of them are not as ancient as they seem. I dont know when the rusty garage closed, but they’re no longer open from 3 to 7pm, Tuesdays to Fridays. The green door, with it’s seemingly medieval porch, is part of a relatively modern building in Gloucester, UK. I think it’s from th Arts & Crafts movement of the late 19th, early 20th century.