Thursday doors – Page 3 – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Open and closed doors

I have taken these some years back in France finding these photos brought back a flood of memories. I found them on my phone yesterday, as I was looking for a certain photo, that I did not end up finding. It’s intriguing how a moment of searching for one thing can lead to the discovery of something entirely different yet equally appropriate for the moment. But these open and closed doors did. Given that it’s Dan’s Thursday Doors, it seems like the universe conspired to present you with a fitting tribute to the day.

In a way, this experience echoes the mysterious allure of doors, both literal and metaphorical. They invite curiosity, incite wonder, and beckon us to cross the threshold into the unknown.

The first really warm spring days are finally here, the joy of it is enormous – and for the life of me, I have not been able stay inside the house. After a very long winter the joy of sunshine, the nature slowly coming to life, watching the birds, seeing the first bumble bee this year.

Cut to the chase, I have not spent much time on my computer. I am so well behind in all comments, sorry!

I checked what does goulet means. French: nickname for a glutton or a topographic name for someone who lived by a narrow pass or defile, from Old French goulet ‘gullet’, a diminutive of goule ‘throat’ (from Latin gula). habitational name from (Le) Goulet, the name of several places in various parts of France.

OPen Doors

Captures from Finland, Interiors

I’ve had a very busy week, with hosting Lens-Artists challenge. I have received so many responses and going thru with thought and time , well takes time. Hosting has opened a new door to discover new blogs and opened doors for new views and ideas. This week I’ve had some health issues or should I say pain issues with my hands, that kept me a bit immobilized for few days that has delayed the responses a bit.

I also had a job interview for a new position, it went well… That leads me today’s topic. An opening door to new opportunities 🙂

All the above have nothing to do with Dan’s Thursday Doors. This door post has no connection to the situation mentioned, but a wish to open the door to spring and summer.

Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors

Rustic Charm of Barn Doors

Captures from Finland

This old , rustic wooden door has timeless beauty. Each weathered plank, each sturdy iron hinge and bolt, bears witness to the passage of years gone by, weaving together a narrative of resilience and enduring charm. This barn door stands surrounded by lush greenery, where green foliage delicately caresses its time-worn frame.

The earth in front of the door reveals its well-trodden path, marked by patches of grass and traces of constant use. I took this shot late afternoon as the sun casts enchanting shadows upon and around the door, adding an extra layer of depth to its rustic allure, an enduring appeal of ageless craftsmanship.

Posted for Thursday doors

In the other photo you can see the whole building and area around these doors.

Door at Suomenlinna fortress

Captures from Finland, Photography

This week I found this door from my archives. I decided to add some other photos from above and around the door as well.

Suomenlinna is unique in that although it is a bastion fortress, it is irregular in shape as a result of being built on a cluster of rocky islands with highly variable terrain, requiring a very free adaptation of the theory of fortifications developed in Central Europe.

Suomenlinna is to large extent historically authentic, i.e. consisting of original structures. Several significant layers of historical development in fortifications and shipyards may be seen on Suomenlinna. The dry dock at the heart of the fortress was the state of the art in 18th century technology.

For Dan’s Thursday Doors

Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Riga

Cities

This image portrays my sister standing in the shadow, framed by an open doorway shot of her on the way out of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, that reveals a sunlit street beyond. In my opinion the interplay of light and shadow creates a dramatic and artistic effect.

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Our Lady of Sorrows Church is a Roman Catholic church in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The church was built in 1785.

appreciate the uniqueness of doors

Cities, Traveling US

Lately on Thursdays I have been posting photos of doors, since I started doing this I have discovered that I loads of them in my archives. Dan’s Thursday doors has given me a great reason to post them.

What is the fascination to take photos of doors, and I know I am not the only one. So I gave myself a t moment to think about it.

Door from Savannah and beautiful wrought iron stairs

Taking photos of doors has become a delightful pastime for many , myself included, and it’s fascinating how something as seemingly mundane as a door can capture our attention. I took so many door photos when we visited Savannah.

Is it the architectural beauty, as doors come in an array of styles, from grand wooden entrances to charming little garden gates, each door tells a unique story. Or is it capturing these details allows us to appreciate the beauty in everyday structures.

Is it because doors symbolize transitions, opportunities, and boundaries. Do they evoke feelings of curiosity, wonder, and anticipation. We wonder what lies beyond that closed door, and our imaginations take flight.

I have noticed as I focus on framing the shot, adjusting angles, and noticing small details, I become fully present in the moment. It’s a form of meditation—a way to escape the noise of daily life and immerse ourselves in the visual world. The act of observing and capturing doors and it’s surroundings becomes a calming moment.

A house with a row of door behind the wrought iron work fence

The surroundings around the doors change with the seasons. Flowers bloom around them in spring, leaves fall in autumn, and snow blankets their thresholds in winter. Always something new to discover. Additionally, the play of light and shadow on doors varies throughout the day. A door that looks ordinary in the morning might appear enchanting during golden hour.

So, the next time you encounter a captivating door, take a moment to appreciate its uniqueness. Capture it with your camera, and perhaps you’ll discover a hidden world waiting to be explored—one door at a time!

Echoes of Time: The Forgotten Ruins

Captures from Finland

This is an old barn that at one point burned but the ruins are still standing. You are not supposed to enter the building, but as you can see, I am not the only one who has been there.

Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors

Click one the images to get a better view.

Echoes of Time: The Forgotten Ruins

The whispers of history cling to the air like cobwebs, stands a relic of the past—a crumbling brick building. Its walls, once proud and sturdy, now bear the weight of time and neglect.

The focal point of the scene is the remnants of an arched brick structure. Each brick tells a story—a laborer’s sweat, a mason’s precision, and the dreams of generations. The arch, though weathered, still holds a hint of elegance, as if it once welcomed visitors with open arms. But now, it stands as a silent witness to the passage of time.

A door, stubbornly clinging to its frame, beckons me closer. Its dark brown hue suggests years of exposure to the elements. Now, it hangs askew, its wood softened by rain and sun.

Around the ruins, nature reclaims its dominion. Fallen leaves carpet the ground, their fiery hues contrasting with the gray of decay.

Above, an overcast sky weeps silently. It mirrors the melancholy of the scene below. Raindrops, like tears shed for lost memories, have etched patterns on the bricks. The clouds seem to mourn the passage of time, obscuring the sun that once bathed this place in warmth.

For even in decay, there is beauty—a quiet resilience that defies oblivion. And so, I leave the ruins behind, carrying their echoes within me, a witness to their silent tale.

The Forgotten Entrance

Photography, Travel

An old, weathered building caught my eye, its facade worn and crumbling. The central focus for me was the wooden door, partially broken and barricaded, as if guarding secrets from the past. The door is framed by a stone archway, its edges chipped and revealing the bricks beneath made me stop to look more closely as it gave the entrance so much depth.

On either side of the door, partially closed white shutters cover windows, hinting at a time when life once thrived within. Nature has begun to reclaim the space: grass grows defiantly, and tree branches reach out, casting shadows. I felt the overall mood was somber yet serene, evoking feelings of nostalgia and the inexorable passage of time.

For Thursday Doors

The image below suggests it’s the same building by the first glance, or very similar one, by the looks of it also looks like it’s been abandoned. I have no recollection if this is the case. In this shot the main focus is an old, curved wooden door it is set within a worn-out stone archway, where the stones have eroded to reveal the bricks underneath, but not so obviously as in the previous entrance.

There are several white-framed windows along the walls, each with a small ledge below. One of the windows on the upper left side holds potted plants on its ledge, bringing some life to the otherwise deserted scene. Some of the windows suggest that this is not totally abandoned, just a wild guess on my part. I took these photo several year back in Estonia.