The Many Faces of Europa

The Tall Ship Europa, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Every few years, several tall ships from around the world sail into Charleston Harbor for the Maritime Festival. This beauty is the barque Europa, which hails from the Netherlands, and will be 100 years old this summer.

Europa is also the woman in Greek mythology after whom Europe was named.

Europa is the name of a princess from Tyre, who later became a girlfriend of Zeus.

Europa is one of the moons of Jupiter (aka Zeus).

Europa is a large asteroid in the asteroid belt.

Europa is the web portal for the EU.

And perhaps most importantly, Europa is a classic rock song by Santana, and one of the sweetest instrumentals ever!

The Hidden Gem of Acadia

Thuya Garden, Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine  © Doug Hickok


Amid the dramatic coastal and mountain scenery of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is the small, off-the-beaten-path gem called Thuya Garden. In the early morning, when golden sunlight begins to peak through the trees, and there is no sound but the soft calling of birds, this secluded garden is transformed into a magical haven from the notorious summer crowds of the island.
Like an enchanted scene from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, this garden experience is one not to be forgotten. Look there! You can see Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed. And look there, it's Robin Goodfellow! Ah, and there's that donkey-headed Bottom. He's such a silly fellow.
 "You there, Bottom, remove thyself, you're ruining the view!!!"



Quick take: Though I'm actually a quiet, low key person, some people think I'm a little quirky. Some have even called me eccentric. But apparently there are reasons for the things we do. Here is a short article on why creative people tend to be eccentric.

Misty Monday - Balsam Nature Trail

Balsam Nature Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Looping around a ridge just below the peak of Mount Mitchell, the Balsam Nature Trail guides you through a dense, dark subalpine forest of spruce and fir. The mountain is the highest in the eastern US at a modest elevation of 6,684 feet, but its prominent location above the surrounding Appalachian topography causes it to attract heavy weather. Cool even in summer months, this trail is often enveloped by clouds and mists. On this occasion, the mists began to clear just as the sun came out.
There is something about the atmosphere of this primeval forest that always reminds us of elves and dwarves and Tolkien tales. As a matter of fact, we once found Gandolf's wallet and car keys laying beside the trail. He must have dropped them on his way to saving Middle Earth.


Quick take: If you like dramatic landscape photography, take a moment to view California photographer Mitch Dobrowner's work.

Duomo Sunday

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok


Many travelers are probably familiar with the famous Cathedral (Duomo) of Florence, either having seen photographs of Brunelleschi's red brick dome towering above the city, or having visited the church when in Florence. Needless to say, the church is an impressive work of art, either from a distance, or up close. This view of the decorative exterior shows the intricate design work of the marble masonry. Whereas the dome took only 16 years to build, the facade took about five centuries to finish, being started in the 14th century and being completed finally in 1887. Talk about a titanic project, the construction of the Duomo is indeed a model of patience and persistence (not unlike the church of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona). These concepts are often difficult to fathom in the immediate gratification society we live in today.

Cinderella Night

Main Market Square, Old Town of Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok


Like a scene in a fairy tale, these ornate carriages in the Main Market Square of Krakow seem poised to rescue Cinderella from a ball, and rush her away into the cover of night. But, as of yet, there is no hint of the glass slipper.
This plaza (Rynek Glowny) dates from the 13th century, and is Europe's largest medieval town square. Surrounding it are historic churches, palaces, and townhouses, which help create the charming atmosphere of an era long past. Shown above are the illuminated Gothic towers of Saint Mary's Basilica.

Lost Time

18th Century Mansion, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


My original post for today was going to be a Favorite Photographer Friday post. But since our Blogger network went down Thursday and most of today, we seemed to have lost time. My Thursday post was bumped back into Wednesday, but is missing most of its comments. Thursday is missing altogether (where did it go?). And today's substitute post is very late and getting short changed. I'll try getting back on schedule tomorrow.
Thank you very much for all your visits.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Twilight on East Bay Street

Ornate Lantern, East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


As the sun goes down and the twilight settles in, a glowing lantern lights the way along East Bay Street. In the background is the Old Exchange Building, the last structure built in Charleston by the British before the start of the Revolutionary War. Years later, President George Washington was lavishly entertained here by Charleston high society who regarded the war hero as a celebrity.

Today, Eye See Red

Poster Detail, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


There was a time, some years ago, when one could walk down King Street and see large colorful poster art plastered on the sides of buildings, especially dilapidated buildings. But in recent years, the King Street shopping district has been extended, and these neglected areas have become gentrified. Most of the old run down places have upscale designer shops and restaurants in them today. This is terrific for business and ambiance, but I miss the random creativity that used to be on display.


 

Fruit of the Day

Blooming Shadberry Trees, Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway,
 North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


A hillside blooms with shadberry trees in early Spring along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Also known as serviceberry, Indian pear, or sugar pear, its purplish fruit has been used by people for centuries in sauces and pies, or eaten raw for its sweet flavor. Wildlife love the berries as well... songbirds, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, bobwhites, skunks, foxes, raccoons, black bear, squirrels, and chipmunks feast on the abundant fruit. (Not to mention being highly prized by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore).

Monday Mime

Street Performer, Cameraman of Gold, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok


"Brother, can you spare a mime?"

"It's a gold mime!"

Photo note: 1/60 second mime exposure.

Remains of Sunday

Biggin Church Ruins, Moncks Corner, SC  © Doug Hickok


These ruins are all that survive of a colonial parish church built here at Biggin Hill in 1761. During the American Revolution, the British used it as an ammunition depot and burned the church when they fled. It was rebuilt, but damaged again during the Civil War after which it was abandoned. For many years it was used as a salvage yard for bricks. The cemetery is still used today, although it is difficult to tell from this angle. These headstones are quite old, and the inscriptions on them are heavily weathered.
The church was built in fairly sophisticated style for a outlying country church. It was constructed in English bond, with quoins, a Gibbs surround, a water table, and voussoirs (wedge-shaped bricks), which you can see over the arched windows.

Impression of a Sunrise V

Sunrise, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


If Monet had a Canon...





(Happy B-day to Chris... we wish you a Gold Star kind of day!)

Doorway to the Weekend - Unfinished?

Old Double Doors, Savannah, Georgia  © Doug Hickok


Like Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, these old doors have much to admire, and even though they are incomplete, they stand alone as a composition. Perhaps a little neglected behind the rhythm of the balustrade, they have survived the test of time, and conduct themselves like a true classic.  D.C. al fine.

Hope you have a classic weekend as well.


(Image shot on Fujichrome Velvia RVP 100 color slide film, using a Nikon F3HP camera, and a Nikkor 105 mm f/2.5 lens while wearing elf ears
and a kookaburra feather in my pork pie hat.)
Fine.

Request Day

Some of our fellow bloggers have asked me to show some alternative views of previous posts, and although I don't have exactly everything asked for, I will try to approximate their requests. So here goes...

Mulholland Point Lighthouse, Campobello Island,
New Brunswick, Canada  ©  Doug Hickok

Here is a near whole view of the Mulholland Point Lighthouse. It was undergoing renovation at the time of our visit, and you can see the missing clapboard at its base. It was from a window in this lighthouse we had a misty view of the Bay of Fundy. 

Common Eiders and View of Lubec, Maine  © Doug Hickok

A vista from near the lighthouse as the fog began to lift, looking back over toward the 
U. S. from Campobello island.

Ravenel Bridge, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

 A look at the Ravenel Bridge tower and cables without lamp posts.

Pineapple Fountain, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Yes, more pineapples, this time the Pineapple Fountain at night.

View of Krakow from the Divine Mercy Tower, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok

Another view from the tower at the Basilica of Divine Mercy, showing the outskirts of Krakow, Poland. Below, center, is the Pastoral Lodge and to the right is the Convent.

Theatre Courtyard at Twilight

Dock Street Theatre Courtyard, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This is the courtyard to the newly renovated Dock Street Theatre in the French Quarter of Charleston. It is a place patrons gather during the intermissions of plays, concerts and other performances, and is perfect for a bit of fresh air, a cool drink and light conversation.
Not far from the theatre is Magnolia's restaurant, where Becky and I went for our anniversary dinner last evening. A loud shout out to our friend Edward, our favorite waiter, who entertained us with a fabulous feast never to be forgotten.
Take a bow Edward. Bravo!!!

25 Years!

Wedding Reception, Forest Park, Ohio  1986


Lucky me! On this day, a quarter century ago, I married my one and only love. She is the soul who makes me whole, and brings out the best of my being. To me, we make a tuneful tandem, a strumming lute and melodious voice blending together as one.


We spent our honeymoon in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hiking, taking pictures, eating pancakes and pizza, taking pictures, etc.

Smoking Ridges, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee  © Doug Hickok


In our marriage we have journeyed together, through highs and lows,
balancing along ridges, venturing into valleys, and facing the fog of parenting.

Ridge Trail to Mt Craig, Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Marriage is a thrilling hike through a wonderful but unpredictable wilderness...

Trail Marker, Tanawha Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok

... on a path which we will continue to travel together
 for the next 25 years... or more.

Rocky

Rocky Outcropping, Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, Maine  ©  Doug Hickok


Like a boxer standing firm after repeated whompings, this rocky outcropping of granite weathers the impact of incessant winds and waves along the rigged coast of Maine. Fractures along the joints give this eroding rock the visage of an old pugilist, veteran of countless bouts with the elements.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Amphitheater Steps, Lagiewniki Sanctuary of Divine Mercy,
Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok


In the Roman Catholic Church, today, the Second Sunday of Easter, is designated as Divine Mercy Sunday. My family had the opportunity to visit the Basilica of Divine Mercy in 2007 when we chaperoned for the Cathedral Girls Chorus of which our daughter was a member. While the girls were rehearsing, I had the chance to climb to the top of the tower to see what my eyes could spy...
and what I spied were the amazing patterns of the amphitheater and the yellow hues of the flora and flooring!

Cruising into Charleston

Cruise Ship and Ducks, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


There are many ways to travel to Charleston.
You can drive a car over the Ravenel Bridge.
You can ride a cruise ship into harbor.
Or you can swim, like this duo of dainty ducks.
Which ever way you choose,
you'll have fun cruising'.

Blue Evening Promenade

South Battery Sidewalk, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Evening light illuminates a walkway on Charleston's South Battery. This images falls under the spell of this week's Favorite Photographer Friday selection, Pete Turner. Like Ernst Haas (last week's FPF pick), Pete Turner was an early master of color photography, and is esteemed as one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time. One critic described his work as having "a dramatist's sense of event, intense and saturated coloration, and a distinct if indescribable otherness."


Please take a few moments to enjoy the link to Pete Turner's work,
and have fun photographing this weekend.

Three

Italian Cypresses, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Three. Three Cypresses. Three Italian Cypresses. Three Italian Cypress leaning. Three Italian Cypresses leaning in a sky. Three Italian Cypresses leaning in a blue sky. Three Italian Cypresses leaning in a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Clouds. White clouds. Fluffy white clouds. Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky. Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky with leaning Cypresses. Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky with leaning Italian Cypresses. Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky with three leaning Italian Cypresses.

Sky. Blue sky. Blue sky with fluffy...

OK, ENOUGH!

End. The end. The end of this story. The end of this story about...

 Three. Three Cypresses. Three Italian Cypresses...

AHHHH, I CAN'T STOP!!!

Modern Building Materials

Concert Amphitheater Canopy, Riverfront Park, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This 21st century metal canopy shades the outdoor amphitheater at North Charleston's Riverfront Park, showing us man-made materials and textures quite dissimilar to the building materials of yesterday. Metal alloys and synthetics replace stone and wood. Though ever-changing, the sky will forever be the constant background to the evolving elements of construction.

This amphitheater is a feature of the The Navy Yard at Noisette, a long term attempt to build a new American city from the industrial remains of an old navy base.

Mountain Farm Building

Layers of Building Materials, Old Farm Building, Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Dating from the end of the 19th century, an old farm building at the Mountain Farm Museum in the Great Smoky Mountains displays a variety of building materials and their textures. Mountain folk used whatever natural resources they could to construct their farmsteads... stone, river mud, timber and bark, mixed in with a generous dose of blood, sweat and tears. For a hundred years pioneers used their skills and perseverance to eke out a rough living amid the harsh mountain wilderness of the Appalachians until the modern world gradually crept in and changed their lives forever.

Misty Monday - View From A Lighthouse Window

Mulholland Point Lighthouse, Campobello Island, New Brunswick
  © Doug Hickok


From a atop Mulholland Point Lighthouse, on Campobello Island, a view of the mist shrouded Bay of Fundy is framed by a window. On a clear day, you can see forever, and ever, and ever, and ever more... well at least all the way to Small's Cove, and Deep Cove, and Broad Cove, and maybe even to Chocolate Cove (there are countless coves in this part of the world). Oh, and did I mention Carrying Place Cove, and Lord's Cove, and Otter Cove, and...

Finding Little Treasures - Easter Edition

Easter Candy  © Doug Hickok

Sometimes one of the thrills of life is finding little treasures, like this assortment of multicolored malt eggs and jelly beans on Easter morning. For a person who relishes sweets and their tastiness, like me, this is striking it rich! 

YUMMY ! ! !

Wishing you a Happy Easter weekend full of delicious treasures.

Finding Little Treasures - The Original

Harbor Water Abstract - I

Sunrise on Charleston Harbor Waves, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved 
(Click on image for larger view)


Eye-catching early morning light on these harbor waves creates an abstract pattern of texture and hues.

Homage to Ernst

Sports Car Driver, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

It's Favorite Photographer Friday (FPF), a feature I began on my blog last week where I link you to a photographer who has influenced my work in some way over the years. Today, I thought I'd dedicate my post to one of my all time favorite photographers, and one of the most influential photographers you may never have heard of, Ernst Haas. Born in Austria in 1921, he later became one of the first photographers invited to join Magnum Photo, where he began a long illustrious career. Haas is admired today for his pioneering work and innovation in color photography, especially with abstracts, reflections, motion blur, and highly saturated images. Many contemporary photographers make images in a style that Ernst Haas set the standard for decades earlier. Take a few moments to browse around his estate website and look through his amazing array of images. You may find yourself marveling at his ingenious vision. Perhaps he'll inspired you as much as he inspired me. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sign of the Times - Man Crossing High Above Street

Crosswalk Sign, Cincinnati, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


For some reason, I see this walking man just about everywhere I look. In big cities. In small towns. In the mountains. In the desert. He seems to be a ubiquitous man. He favors walking on this diamond shaped yellow sign whenever he appears, and is always frozen in mid stride, like a mime unable to move. In this instance he is crossing high above a street in downtown Cincinnati. Perhaps you have seen him too, in some form or another, wherever you live.


(This image was made a few years ago on Velvia 100 RVP 35mm color slide film,
pushed one stop for increased color saturation,
with a Nikon F3HP camera body,
and a Nikkor 105mm f2.5 lens,
while wearing a pair of old white sneakers,
 laced with red shoe strings,
tied in big floppy bows.)

Bridge Wednesday - Lines and Cables and Hues, Oh My

Tower, Cables and Light Posts, Ravenel Bridge, Mt Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sorry, no pineapples or dinosaurs today. But I do have a modern bridge to get you over the mid week hump and on your way toward the weekend. This is the Ravenel Bridge which is often referred to as the Cooper River Bridge... hmmm... probably because it spans the Cooper River, not the Mississippi, the Nile, or the Amazon.
In this photograph, an arrangement of lines and shapes caught my eye as well as the blue hue of the view.


For another blue hue view of the Ravenel Bridge, see this post.

Pineapple Tuesday

Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Here is another stylized version of the Southern hospitality pineapple. This one takes the form of a fountain featured in Waterfront Park, a pleasant greenspace overlooking Charleston Harbor. Although it appears to have the spiny horns of a triceratops from the Cretaceous Period, this is misleading. It is, in fact, a man made fountain of the Quaternary Period.

Misty Monday - Ancient Mountains

Budding Tree, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Right about now, Spring is inching its way up into the high ridges of the Appalachian mountains, some of the oldest on the planet, dating back to the Ordovician Period. On a misty mountain day, early leaf buds waken on this mossy limbed tree. 
Some things never change. This scene of vernal transformation could have appeared millions of years ago. The cycles of the seasons continue, like the flow of time. Gladly, Spring is easing into the colder reaches of the Earth. And gladly, pterodactyls no longer terrorize the skies.

Pineapple Sunday

Pineapple Gate, Saint Philip's Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This elaborate ironwork motif over the entrance gate to Saint Philip's church is actually a stylized representation of a pineapple. For Charleston, the pineapple is significant because it symbolizes hospitality. Stories from 150 years ago tell of sailors returning to port with tropical fruits from the West Indies. They would often hang pineapples above their doors as a sign of welcome. These days Charleston is often voted best mannered city in the USA, and pineapple symbols can be seen throughout the town.

The Creatures Among Us, Part Two

Rebar Tangle, Old Navy Base, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Kraken


(Please see The Creatures Among Us, Part One)

Finding Little Treasures - The Original

Assorted Rocks, Hunter's Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes one of the thrills of life is finding little treasures, like this assortment of multicolored rocks on a beach in Maine. For a person who relishes rocks and their rockiness, like me, this is striking it rich!

Wishing you a weekend full of little treasures.


Thought I'd start something new also. Calling it Favorite Photographers Friday, I'll post a link to photographers whom I admire or who have influenced my work to a certain degree over time. Today's favorite is Eliot Porter, one of the first to photograph landscapes in color.

Salt and Pepper

Table Shadow, Savannah, Georgia  © Doug Hickok


At a sidewalk cafe in Savannah, Georgia, late day sunlight casts a shadow of a translucent table onto the wall.

Across the Ocean...

Angel with the Sudarium, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok


From yesterday's natural angel we cross the ocean to a man made angel (young in comparison, a mere 342 years old). Designed by the great Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and sculpted by Cosimo Fancelli in 1669, this stone angel is one of ten on the ancient Roman bridge that spans the Tiber River between Castel Sant'Angelo and the city's historic center. Each angel holds an instrument from the Passion. This one displays the Veil of Veronica, often called the Sudarium, which is said to have the likeness of the face of Jesus imprinted on it from when Veronica wiped the sweat off Christ's face during his struggle toward Calvary. The genius of Bernini can be seen in the complex textures and curving shapes of an angel transformed from stone to art.

Around the Bend...

Angle Oak, John's Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


The Angel Oak is estimated to be as much as 1500 years old, making it the oldest living thing east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a 25 foot diameter live oak tree, one of the largest in the country, that shades an astounding area of over 17,000 square feet. Its longest limb is 105 feet long! Many of these limbs are so heavy that they rest on the ground.  The name "Angel Oak" comes from the couple, Justus Angel and Martha Waight Tucker Angel, who received it as part of their marriage settlement from the Waight family (the owners for four generations).  Now owned by the City of Charleston, it is even more spectacular because there is no admission fee!

For another image of this amazing behemoth, see this post.

Misty Monday - Curving Country Road

Country Road, John's Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


A country road curves towards the dreamy mists of early morning on John's Island, a rural sea island near Charleston. This road leads to the ancient Angel Oak, estimated to be the oldest living thing east of the Rockies. I'll show you an image of that Methuselah-like tree on tomorrow's post.

Trinity Church Sunday

Trinity United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This antebellum church was designed in the style of a Roman temple, with a lofty portico, ornate Corinthian columns, and an elegant medallion in the center of the ceiling.

The image was made with a technique I like to use when I don't have a tripod handy for a long exposure, or want an unusual perspective on a subject that is commonly photographed in a straight forward way. I lay the camera on the ground pointed upward and release the shutter using the timer. In this instance, a wide angle lens emphasizes the receding lines of the columns and the tall wooden door. Turning the camera on the diagonal creates a more dynamic image.

Impression of a Sunrise IV

Great Blue Heron, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A Great Blue Heron glides across harbor waters just as the sun peeks over Sullivan's Island on the horizon.

Twisted Trees

Twisted Coastal Live Oaks, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


At the edge of the ocean, this glowing cluster of coastal live oaks twist and turn from the constant force of winds sweeping off the sea. Like durable trees on mountaintops, they are survivors.
Hope you survive your weekend!

Clip Clop, Clip Clop...

Shadows of a Horse and Carriage, Meeting Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Clip clop, clip clop... neighhhhh, snort, nicker, whinny, pbbbbb...  "and over here to your left you'll see the Nathaniel Russell House. Built in 1809, it is one of America's most important neo-classical dwellings..."
Carriage tours through the historic district are a part of Charleston's charm, as they offer visitors a slow paced, leisurely view of the city's beautiful and historic setting. This 19th century mode of transportation is so authentic that you might imagine you glimpsed Rhett Butler strolling along a promenade, arm in arm with a lovely southern belle.

This is one of the images from inside this year's Festival of Houses and Gardens brochure (see the post for April 5th).

Bridge Wednesday - Purple and Blue and Clouds Too

Purple People Bridge, Newport, Kentucky  © Doug Hickok


Here's a bridge to get you to the end of the week. This is the Purple People Bridge of Newport, Kentucky, otherwise known as the Devou Suspension Bridge. It spans the Ohio River, connecting Kentucky with Ohio, and dates from 1872. This colorful bridge has been used by railroads, street cars, and automobiles, but today it is used as a pedestrian bridge, providing beautiful vistas of the Cincinnati waterfront and river valley. It's interesting to note that you can rent the bridge for private events, such as weddings and dinners. You can also participate in bridge climbs, as they do in Australia and New Zealand. But you had better know how to climb a bridge. If you fall off, you'll never get to Friday.