Doortraits – Much photographer love for the doors of this world

"Doortraits" are extremely popular on Instagram. All over the world, people are enjoying taking photos of appealing doors and sharing them with their community on social media.

The popularity of "Doortraits" on the net developed on a leapturn, as the New York Times (see sources) reported. A climbing community divides their love for beautiful doors on Instagram about the hashtag #doortrait .

Although the Instagram trend is not yet that old, the history of photography of doors, portals and entrances has a long tradition.

As early as the 17th century, Dutch artists (e.g. in genre painting) painted doors and windows to present life at home and on the street. The Dutch painters portrayed doors and windows as a connection between different worlds: living and street life, secularity and spirituality.

In the 18th century, the first photographers took up these topics, including the British inventor William Henry Fox Talbot , whose work "The Open Door" was a conscious reference to the Dutch champions.

In the 1970s, the British artist Roy Colmer as part of his art project Doors NYC , which are now exhibited as a collection in the New York public library.

According to Elizabeth Cronin, the deputy curator of photography in the library, was the source of inspiration for Colmer Aldous Huxley's book "The gates of perception" . Accordingly, Colmer had a pronounced interest in street life and taking pictures of doors offered him that certain extra.

These doors were not observed by anyone else at the time and gave the photographer a feeling of freedom.

Doortraits-phenomenon Door-Photography on Instagram

In the photographic works of Doortrait enthusiasts such as Tamara Yurovsky (alias @oliver_thewirefox on Instagram), the focus is not on the ordinary motifs, but in addition to their beloved fox terrier, above all the doors, windows and facades of the quarter, in which they are walking every day.

These seemingly simple objects tell their own story and give interesting insights into the variety and complexity of a place. Yurovsky emphasized in an interview with the NYT:

Doors are not only physical barriers, but also portals for different realities and living environments. ”

The works of art that arise from this perspective form their own genre and enjoy increasing popularity in the online world, especially on platforms such as Instagram, where they are known as "doortraits".

While the Internet is strongly shaped by conflicts, hate speech and divisions, the door -loving users create a harmonious community on Instagram - a welcome counterpoint.

They are passionate about the fascinating variety of doors from different countries such as Iran, Italy, Nicaragua, Stockholm or even Stockton in California. In a world in which there are so many limits - be it political, social or cultural nature - the love of architecture and aesthetics of doors from all over the world combines and creates a unique community of like -minded people.

In this spirit, Martha Reyes from Florida and Katie Smith from London also started the Instagram account @ihavenathingforwalls , where they share photos of doors and windows from all over the world. Although the two women have never met personally, they have decided to work together because of their shared passion.

According to the NYT, communication is mainly via WhatsApp, while she takes care of her account every week, which has an impressive number of 51,000 followers. Your collaboration shows how a creative connection across national borders can achieve inspiring results.

As a neutral observer, one may almost get through the following statement: These passionate Instagram users use their platform to celebrate the beauty and meaning of doors as a symbolic elements of cultural diversity and individual design.

Nowadays there are Instagram accounts that devote themselves to doors, if not exclusively, with strong focus. Cold Knees , Doors of Italy , Doortraits , TV_Doorsandwindows , Arina in London Land, Thebest_windowsdoors and Doors Everywhere are just a few examples.

The following hashtags have established themselves in the community: #doorsondoors #doorsofinstagram #doorsoflondon #doorsandwindows #doorldwide #doorlove #doorlovers #olddoors #windowview #doorporn

Where does this fascination for doors come from?

In art there are countless opportunities to express feelings and thoughts. So why doors?

When the windows are the windows to the soul, doors are definitely the first look into the heart of a house. ”

This quote could explain why this photo trend conquered the Internet in the storm.

Doors practice their own fascination through their individual - partly over time - beauty and curiosity that they arouse in us. We would love to open closed doors or at least catch a glimpse through the keyhole. If your own door is unintentionally closed to you, the reliable locksmith Ingolstadt .

There is a certain kind of voyeurism behind it when you wonder what is hidden behind a door or a window ”,

Erin Barnett remarked to Times.

The possibility of catching insights into hidden worlds awakens our spirit of discovery and stimulates our imagination. Doors are therefore not only practical elements in our area, but also a symbol of secrets and undiscovered treasures .

Their versatility as a motif in art reflects the multifaceted nature of human life and invites us on a journey full of surprises and new insights.

Julie Gebhardt , a talented hairdresser has also made a name for herself as a photographer of doors in the pulsating city of San Francisco. With her creative recordings, she has won a loyal fan base of over 54,000 Instagram followers for her unique door-Centric account (@julieb).

Inspired by her own district, she started to take her new Instagram friends through the neighborhood on fascinating door tours. They discover hidden treasures and unexplored corners that are normally overlooked.

We consciously go to neighborhoods that are often not considered. Because there is often the true beauty of everyday hidden. Maybe it's not the most picturesque streets, but in these moments you can discover the beauty of decay and impermanence. ” 

Julie explained with enthusiasm towards the NYT.

Through her door tours, she creates a connection between art , culture and everyday life and encourages her followers to look at the world around her with an open look and open heart.

Abdullah Alriyami , an author of the Oman who currently lives in Rabat, Morocco , also discovered his passion for photography unique doors in Morocco and Oman ( @Alriyamiabdullah ) a few years ago. In view of the advancing globalization, he made concern that the local culture and the characteristic doors and windows that make these regions so unique could be forgotten.

In Morocco, the hand -carved wooden doors and the colorful painted or artistically forged metal doors fascinate him in particular.

Abdullah Alriyami emphasizes as a passionate doortrait photographer:

Doors and windows are like the eyes of a building in architecture. They not only provide insights, but also promote intercultural exchange and communication. A door is not just a security mechanism, but a cultural symbol of great importance. ”

Mark D. Whitney provides us with a last explanation for the so -called power of doors . For him it is up to the symbolism.

The ancient Roman god Janus is the god of doors, the beginnings, ends and transitions. He has two faces - one with a view of the past and one with a view of the future. A door can be an input or output. It can lock or lock them up. So many opportunities for meaning in a simple structure. Whitney is certain that this is part of the fascination.

Unlike in Roman mythology, you don't have to despair today if you accidentally locked out. The Landshut locksmith provides professional remedies if necessary.

Perhaps another part in the triumphal march of doortraits is simply that doors are fairly easy to take pictures. They don't move. They can be easily photographed from the sidewalk. The lighting is not too difficult. The motif is delivered with an integrated frame. They can be very elaborate and gain enormous character after many years of use.

Our doortraits collection on Pinterest

You can also find inspiration for doortraits and Door Photography in our Pinterest collection on the subject.

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