One of my favorite photography projects in Guanajuato is exploring the callejons (narrow alleys) in search of interesting doors and windows. Many of the home owners in this town take great pride in their houses. Bright colors are popular and particular attention is paid to doors and windows. While some doors are kept carefully, other doors are neglected and have an authentic patina of time.
With a rumored two thousand callejons in the city, all lined with buildings, there is no lack of doors and windows. Every door is different. Some are pristine, with carved and crafted hardwood and hand forged metal parts. Others are weathered and full of character. Some are precariously set in crumbling stone and brick and covered with graffiti. Each one tells its own story.
As a photographer, I love the way light is reflected at different times of day in Guanajuato. The alleys are narrow enough that they transmit light in a way similar to a desert slot canyon. Direct sun striking the upper reaches of a deep alley can bounce back and forth off of the buildings, projecting a soft, radiant light deep into the shadows. A fully lit alley wall can also reflect a very strong glow onto the adjacent wall or around corners.
The light is constantly changing, so part of my challenge is to find doors and windows that have special character and then return to photograph them when they are illuminated by particularly intriguing lighting conditions.
These are just a few of the door and window photos I have taken on this visit so far. I also took a bunch last time I was here and I’ll probably photograph some more before I leave. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all the door photos. Photographing them is mostly a compulsion. I suppose I’ll publish some of the best ones on greeting cards. I have also had requests for a “Doors of Guanajuato” poster, which I think is a pretty good idea.
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