Thursday, February 03, 2011

White Door


How about a "conceptual" photo for today?! I took it in the 18th arrondissement on the way back from my gym. Don't ask  me why I felt the urge to take this photo, I just did. And believe me, people around me were really wondering what I was doing (was I working for the town hall cleaning services, in charge of chasing the bad people who get rid of their things on the pavement?!). No, I was just the crazy guy who thought there was "something" in this scene LOL! Sometimes the glamor lies in the most unexpected places... Something tells me you won't necessarily agree!

40 comments:

  1. There is something here! The symmetry alone is eye-catching. Good shot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like it! It's unusual... but it almost looks like there is meant to be a door there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It has the minimalist look with a surrealist touch!! Of course I like it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I meant to add, very Rene Magritte

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would have shot it too.

    I think it's funny when people stop to look at you because they can't figure out what it is that caught your eye and made you want to pull out the camera...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Too bad you don't have a manhole right in front, and you'd have a face.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great shot! If you hadn't taken it, later on you would have been kicking yourself for passing it up.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great composition! And a very interesting photo, exactly because it's not real doors. At the first moment I thought it's real doors - which leads into the house :)
    Yes, that's quite a problem for a shy photographer - the surrounding people who (supposedly) wonders "What the hell he has noticed in this, why do he takes a photo!?". But we just have to be more self-confident, and just remember that not everyone has a talent to notice something interesting in usual things. Everyone can make a photo of Eiffel tower or Big Ben - that doesn't makes them photographers. But to notice something in seemingly "nothing" - that's a talent.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like it! Reminds me of Happy Chair is Happy...which always makes me happy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This has a wonderful post-modernist feel to it...my daughter would cringe to hear me say that. Hope you don't cringe. I think it's a very fine find.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Why in the world did you think we wouldn't agree?? First of all, we love everything you do—and, besides, it truly IS an interesting composition and a really cool shot. I love the tiny spots of color in what otherwise looks like a b&w photo. (I'd like to think I would have taken it too!)

    ReplyDelete
  12. J'aime cette photo. Et PHX, oui, tres Magritte.

    When is a door not a door? When it's ajar. Or, when it's leaning against a wall between two windows.

    This also fits with my evening: spent online searching for apartments to rent for a week in Rome and looking on Google Map street view for each one. (Easter in Rome, anyone?)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the photo a lot. The bright white against the dull gray color of the building is striking, and I do tend to like symmetry too. You do have a good eye.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like it a lot, a bit of surrealism in it, too:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. superb found, nice composition as well.

    I'm always alert to find This spiritless pieces of wood.

    I'm creating on this ongoing self-initiated exploration, exposing my sentiments and ideas to the public arena, handwriting messages on found spiritless pieces of wood or carton, attributing new meanings to them.

    the idea is to put a smile on our faces with a daily dose of positivity and reality as you cross the road.

    feel free to check them out here http://www.behance.net/gallery/Typographic-Playground/496926

    Thanks a lot, and wishing you a great and playful week

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fascinating, Eric! It makes me wonder: if you tried to "open" the door, what might happen?!? A portal to another dimension or time or place?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Some questions need to be addressed:

    When did this become a piece of art?
    Did the person who left this old door position it (a)deliberately or (b)just leave it there without thinking?
    If (a), he or she is the author of this work and the photographer may be infringing copyright law.
    If (b), he or she cannot lay claim to this work, the photographer has created this work of art.

    Let us suppose that the door was left here temporarliy while the owner went for a coffee and that once the photographer had taken this shot, the owner returned and removed the door. Would this not emphasise the temporal nature of much conceptual art?

    Was the door left here after being removed from its doorway or is it going to be installed in a new doorway? are we looking at a door with a past, a future or a combination of both?

    What of those who have passed through this door?
    What of those who will pass through this door in the future?
    What of those who have not passed through but simply looked at this door, wondering, "what if"?

    What of the moral dilema? Perhaps this door was dumped by a selfish individual who could not be bothered to take it to be environmentally recycled.
    Is the photographer unwittingly complicit in this anti-social act, or - how sinister is this - Knowingly?
    Is this how he gets his kicks?
    Should we even be looking at this disgusting image?
    AARRGGHH!

    As usual with conceptual art there are more questions than answers.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nice! It's a true artwork likes Marcel Duchamp, of course, ;-D

    ReplyDelete
  19. @Drummond LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

    Wow I really did not think this photo would trigger so many comments. I suppose it's a nice change from the Eiffel Tower...

    Eric (in the waiting room of his health insurance company!)

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a surprise with this post and comments today!
    Sure, it sounds like a nice change from the Eiffel Tower. Though we do love the ET.
    Interesting post : this 'whitedoor' is removed from its initial position : that's first and second, it has been wery well maintained, all repainted in white. Plus, there is a double transparent part to see through which canot be useless.
    Love the contrast between the pure white and the grey wall behind it.

    OMG Drummond, you killed me!!!!

    Eric, be aware of health insurance company and think of challenging each one. You have to be well insured...

    Flore

    ReplyDelete
  21. @Eric - were they surprised to see a potential customer who already had a cold?

    ReplyDelete
  22. LOLOLOLOL, Michael! (and Drummond)

    I'm glad you took the picture, even though slightly mocked by those around you. I find it interesting and that is wonderful!

    Someone above commented on it being "post modern". I've always wondered what comes after modern. And why the labels are there. I can see the label "Impressionistic" or "Surrealistic", and possibly even "Modern", but the pre and posts of all these start to confuse me. Maybe I need to take an art appreciate class. (BTW, my husband's favorite music group describes themselves as "post rock". Yep, no idea what that means either.)

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is hilarious! I immediately started laughing the minute I say it! It's almost as if the person (s) who place it there saw the joke in it and at the same time found it a fitting place to get rid of their junk. It's also in a weird way,Art.. haha

    ReplyDelete
  24. This wonderful photo and the comments are the perfect essence of Paris Daily Photo and why I must check in every day.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love this photo. Don't second-guess yourself, Eric, you have very good instincts!

    Terry

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love the photo. when a door closes a window opens. Wish I could voyager a Paris.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is eye catching indeed, but I have this thing for doors ! I enjoy the contrast in color, depth and function ! As always, Merci for bringing us a little bit of Paris !!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love it!!! You have a very good eye! I love this door. I would love to have it in my house or my barn needs a new door for the feed room. I love doors anyway and I love the bright white against the gray concrete. I think the windows are quite happy to have the door visit for awhile. I am just now painting my kitchen cabinets a nice crisp white and this reminds me of the work I'm doing. Love it!!! Valorie

    ReplyDelete
  29. LOL Michael Drummond and Jeff (groan)!

    ReplyDelete
  30. But of course, we like it, too. Otherwise we wouldn't be tuning in day after day to see the world through your eyes. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I too love this photo.
    Do all images really need a meaning. And who is to say that this door needs to lead to anything. I have walked through many a door, that i wish there had been a wall behind to save me the trouble of taking that path. You fill my morning with delight Eric thanks

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yes. Like. "Hush now, don't explain..."

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for sharing. Refreshing to see that you see the unusual in the most usual. Loaning it on my Blog - LinesBetweenUs. Let me know if you don't think it's a good idea.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ih!;
    i use you photo for this video:
    http://youtu.be/6Jb4gFOEhcY

    I hope it like you

    (sorry bad english) =P

    ReplyDelete