Sunday, November 1, 2009

Theme Day: Doorways

Pasadena is a foothill town, pressed up against the San Gabriel Mountains. We face nature every day, whether nature likes it or not. In places like this, sometimes you can see entryways to the underworld of faerie. There's at least one on the Sam Merrill Trail, not far from the first mile marker. It doesn't photograph well, probably because the faeries have put spells on it. A couple of tree trunks at Hahamongna Watershed Park that I've tried over and over again to photograph refuse to be captured, which tells me they are indeed what I guess them to be.

This, then, must be an ordinary doorway. To the sky, perhaps, or to Brigadoon. I've shown it to you in black & white because the color seemed too extraordinary.
To see what other City Daily Photo Bloggers have done with today's theme, Click here to view thumbnails for all the participants.

21 comments:

Dina said...

Thank you for reminding me of magical ways of looking, Petrea the Seer.

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

very nice images both in black and white and in color. your narrative sets the mood!

Jilly said...

A very different way of looking at the word 'doorways' Petrea and a beautiful image to illustrate it.

cieldequimper said...

What a wonderful take on the theme.I love it.

Virginia said...

How perfect! Good for you my friend.
V

Mitch said...

Great take on doorways, this reminds me of when I go hiking in a new area, little openings like this are so inviting. "Come see where I will take you", they cry, "leave that beaten path and see."
thanks,
- Mitch

Brenda's Arizona said...

I will never see a trailhead without thinking of it as a doorway. Thank you for your/the concept! Great take on the theme.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, everyone. And remember, Mitch, if you enter Faerie, don't eat their food or you'll be lost.

HearkenCreative said...

Oooo, I have Brigadoon on my DVD shelf! Now I gotta go watch it...

I'm so concerned about Hahamongna. I want it to stay as open and unimproved as possible...it's just such an open-space treasure, and so nearby. The Star News has a new article detailing the effects of the Station Fire on the planning for the future in Hahamongna. I can only hope that they decide that "less is more" -- and leave all that open space to properly take care of itself with the rains and burn runoff and such.

Oh, to have a path and doorway like that to walk through every day! What would our world be like if one approached each day with that much anticipation?

Thanks for the beautiful doorway...

Laurie Allee said...

Brigadoon indeed! This is lovely, P. I have no doubt those fairies have a lot to do with things around these parts.

-K- said...

I know what you mean about some scenes that just refuse to be photographed. So you're probably right that spirits are looking after their doorway to another world.

It's always surprising, too, how the same photo can feel so completely different in color as opposed to b+w.

Anonymous said...

I'm quite fond of that B&W!

Petrea Burchard said...

I saw that article, Loren. There are ways for us to be involved, and I think we're going to have to be. I'll try to find out and keep you posted.

Yeah, Laurie, and I want to keep them around, so I trust them when they won't let me photograph their doors!

K, hearing that from you (that some scenes refuse to be photographed) makes me feel better.

Glad you like it, Karin. I like them both. I usually like both and can't choose.

marley said...

I'll have what you're on!!

Great photo and take on theme day, you are always inspired :)

Bellis said...

I'm so glad you can see doorways like that into Faerie - I've been looking in the wrong place, under tree roots.

I never knew the story of Brigadoon. We once put my elderly mother-in-law into a care home called Brigadoon and never found her again. No, just kidding, she walked out after a few days. You've got to wonder what the owners were thinking when they gave it that name.

John Sandel said...

Have a care at doors of Færie!
Never was a traveller more at risk;
Nor ever answer faint entreaties!
Darkling meals bode within …

Ms M said...

Like your perspective on doorways -- and the magic :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Marley, thanks, that's sweet.

Bellis, that's hilarious! Really? A care home called Brigadoon, that's awful. Next time we're out at Hahamongna I'll show you some tree roots that I think are Faerie entrances. I can't get pictures of them, I've tried.

Hmm, J is perhaps complaining about tonight's fish.

Thank you, Ms. M., it's always nice to see you.

Keith said...

Faeries or not, nature is a magical place.

John Sandel said...

The problem comes when we recall that "entrance" has two meanings.

Greg said...

Lovely doorways - plural, really. The color photo is a rich invitation, but the black & white evokes a moonlit night. Both 'entrancing.' Can ya say, 'Brigadoon, lassie?'

Thank you!