Lanterns of Venice

Row of Lanterns, Piazzetta di San Marco, Venice, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



In and around St Mark's Square there are many sights that grab one's attention. In this instance, I found delight in a row of decorative lanterns that complement the Gothic facade of the Doge's Palace, where the rulers of Venice once lived.

Roper Mansion

Antebellum Mansion, East Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



The Roper mansion occupies a prominent spot on The Battery overlooking Charleston harbor. The wealthy cotton planter, Robert William Roper, 
built his edifice in 1838 with the intension of it being the first house seen by ships sailing into Charleston from the sea. It is difficult to miss, even today.

Powered by the Flower

Old Mercedes Flower Bed, Miracle Garden, Dubai, UAE
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Flower power seems to drive this retired Mercedes Benz
 on display at Dubai's Miracle Garden.

A Little Slice For You

Ornate Door, Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest, Hungary
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Given the nature of the holiday, you might be a little hungry while waiting for your turkey. So I posted a little slice of Hungary for you, from the Fisherman's Bastion.
Ouch, that was bad.


Happy Thanksgiving!

Wader

Waves and Wader, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A man wades into the early morning surf at Folly Beach.
The scale of this view only hints at the enormity of the Atlantic Ocean.

Looking Glass Rock

Looking Glass Rock, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film)



A view from the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway affords this portrait of Looking Glass Rock, located in Transylvania county, North Carolina. The monolith is named for the way it glistens like a mirror, especially when the evening sun shines following an afternoon rain. Sorry, no Draculas here, but rock climbers love it no matter what the weather is like.

Golden Scrolls

Gate Scrolls, The Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Evening light paints gate scrolls with golden hues
 on a South Battery mansion entry.

Bear Lake Forest

Lake Side Forest, Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Offering cool shade in the high mountains, a grove of conifers
 shelters the edge of Bear Lake in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Political Symbolism

Hercules and Cacus, Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



This prominent statue of Hercules and Cacus is in the Piazza della Signoria, the main square in Florence. According to Roman mythology, the Greek hero Hercules killed the fire-breathing giant Cacus for terrorizing the people of the Palatine Hill in Rome.

This politically charged sculpture was commissioned by the Medici family after their return from exile. Hercules was used as the perfect symbol of their power and subjugation of the Republic of Florence.

Blue Windows

Detail of Portico and Windows, The Ascent, Covington, Kentucky
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A triangular roof over the entry to The Ascent, a high rise luxury condominium, points to a maze of blue tinted windows.

Throwback Thursday - Moon and Palmetto

Moon and Palmetto, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Kodachrome film)



A Kodachrome shot of the moon rising above a lamp-lit palmetto slightly resembles South Carolina's state flag emblem. I made this image years ago when we first moved to the Palmetto state from Ohio.

Lingering Mists of Acadia

Misty Coastline, Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The curious nature of coastal fog is that it sometimes lingers along the immediate coastline, while a mere several steps inland, the air is perfectly clear.
Shifting winds soon completely dissipated the morning mists in this scene,
revealing a rocky headland and the blue sea beyond.

Fountain in Autumn

Fountain Waterfall, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A pool reflects the blues and golds of a clear autumn day
 in a park in Atlanta.

Misty Monday - Kiawah Palmettos

Palmettos and Pond, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A misty stillness envelopes a row of palmettos on
the resort island of Kiawah, creating a painterly, picturesque scene.

Trinity Medallion

Ceiling Medallion, Trinity United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Ornate architectural detailing embellishes the portico
of one of Charleston's many historic churches.

Appalachian Vignette

Autumn Colors, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



An autumn breeze rustles the vibrant undergrowth along the Blue Ridge Parkway, adding a painterly touch to this Appalachian vignette.

Visual Delight

Garden Tree, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A finely feathered tree presents a delightful visual contrast
 with the solid stone shapes of Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque.

Throwback Thursday - Headless in the Courtyard

Headless Sculpture, Belvedere Courtyard, Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Italy
(Kodachrome film)



A headless classical statue finds its niche
 in the Vatican Museum's Belvedere Courtyard.


Three years ago this week, I found my niche in the blogosphere when I started Doug's Photo Blog. Over 1100 consecutive daily posts later, I am still at it and determined to continue as long as possible.

I wish to thank all visitors, especially the one's who have been regulars over
the years. And I offer a special thanks to my wife, Becky, who has been my
 blog/life editor since the earliest days.

Haven for Nature Lovers

Footbridge, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A footbridge beneath moss draped live oaks leads to trails that explore wilder parts of Magnolia Gardens, including an observation deck that overlooks ancient rice fields. These marshes are a haven for water birds and reptiles.

Reflecting Canal

Reflection in a Canal, Rio di San Barnaba, Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Venetian waters mirror a row of warm hued buildings
bordering a canal in the Dorsoduro sestiere.

A November Autumn

Cobblestones and Autumn Leaves, Chalmer's Street, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Fall comes to Charleston later in the year than many places in North America. November is our autumnal month, when splashes of colorful fallen leaves decorate our cobblestone streets.

Lingering Light

Spanish Moss and Palmetto, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The last light of day lingers on beards of Spanish Moss
 dangling from branches in a maritime forest.

Ancient Dunes

Mt Herard, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



In the blue shadow of lowering clouds, Mt. Herard and the Sangre de Cristo Range rises above the the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado. It has taken nearly half a million years for these dunes to pile-up in the San Luis Valley.

Fly Over

Parachute and Plane, Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An air strip along the coast of Dubai
 is the destination of a parachute gliding down from above.
 Sightseeing by high flying daredevils is a popular activity over the city.

Future Event

Olympian Athlete Sculpture, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia



A stylized Olympian athlete seems engaged in molecular shifting
 to pass through a wall of heavy metal,
 perhaps foretelling an Olympic event of the distant future.

A Moravian Village

Tree Shadow and Fence, Old Salem, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Shadows from a bare tree provide a wintery setting for a picket fence in the village of Old Salem. This restored village interprets the lifestyle of a Moravian community that thrived here in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The League of Extraordinary Women

The League, near Mount St. Helens, Washington  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Thanks Gramomistel.
The League wouldn't be so extraordinary without you.
Happy Birthday!

Autumn Marshes

Brackish Pond, James Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Late season colors appear in Lowcountry marshes
 as russet hues take the place of lush summer greens.

Lounging Around the Vatican

Statue, Vatican Museum Belvedere Courtyard, Vatican City, Italy 
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A man lounges around in a Vatican Museum courtyard,
spending a carefree Sunday afternoon frozen in time.




 

Valley Hues

Mountain Valley, near Hot Springs, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Backlighting from the afternoon sun warms
 a mountain valley alight with autumn hues.

Mimicking Clouds

Clouds at Sunset, Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Clouds at sunset hover high above Appalachian ridges,
 whose contours the wispy vapors seem to mimic.

The Creature from Outer Someplace

Alien Spider, Waterfront Park, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



This bizarre arachnid appears to have descended from outer space (or someone's outer imagination) to invade earth on Halloween. Perhaps the opening is a wormhole to another universe, where one might be dropped suddenly into a fantastical Willy Wonka world.

Grand Gondolas

Gondolas, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Rows of moored gondolas covered with blue tarpaulins
offer a classic Venetian sight along the Grand Canal.

Ship Watching

Cupola, Antebellum Mansion, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



With a view over Charleston harbor, this antebellum mansion, near the Battery,
 is an ideal place for watching ships come and go.

Mission Angel

Angel Face, San Antonio, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved  (Velvia slide film.)



At the San Jose Mission, an old stone carved angel greets parishioners.

Palmer Chapel

Palmer Chapel, Big Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Tucked near a wood margin in Big Cataloochee Valley,
 a little one-room chapel evokes the primitive lifestyle
 of Appalachian Mountain settlers.

A Fond Farewell to my Father-in-Law

Cliff, Overlooking Cannon Beach, Oregon  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



"I remember you too clearly,
but I'll survive another day;
Conversations to share, when there's no one there;
I'll imagine what you'd say."
                                -Company by Rickie Lee Jones

In loving memory of
Cliff Schulte
1931-2013

Looking for Clues

Tire Tracks, Sand Dunes, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



If I were a detective or a tracker looking to piece together a story of what happened here, I should be able to "read" the assortment of clues left in these dunes in the Arabian Desert near Al Ain...
 tire tracks, camel tracks, foot prints, etc.

But all I can gather is that the desert, despite its forbidding nature, 
can be quite a busy place.

A Spot of Green

Balcony and Windows, Venice, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



A spot of green in a balcony curtain complements the red hues
 of a Venetian facade in the Campo Santo Stefano.

Late Autumn Hues

Sunlit Mountain Ridge, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Late autumn along the Blue Ridge Parkway
 offers a panoply of color to enjoy.

The Real Thing

Display at World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, Georgia  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A giant green Coke bottle appears ready for an
 interstellar launch at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

Daybreak on the Atlantic

Boneyard Beach, Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A clouded horizon adds mood to an early morning silhouette
 of twin, bare trees on the beach.

The Padua Tridangle

Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata and Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua, Italy  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved 
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



The timely flight of a pigeon adds an extra layer of interest to this Paduan tableaux by creating a visual triangle between statue, bird and church. 

The horseman statue was sculpted by Renaissance artist Donatello...
 the namesake of the famous teenage mutant ninja turtle.

Rough-hewn Home

Carter Shields Cabin, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A rough-hewn log cabin tucked in a forested mountain cove 
evokes an era of rugged living in the Appalachians.

Scraggly but Strong

Lone Tree, in the desert near Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



It may be scraggly looking, but a solitary tree in the Arabian Desert somehow hangs on to its meager existence. In the hot, hazy background is the ridgeline of Jebel Hafeet, the highest mountain in a region that is predominantly vast expanses of sand dunes.

Throwback Thursday - Ungentrified

Secret Garden Door, Longitude Lane, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Kodachrome film)



I shot this picture years ago on Kodachrome film.
It ended up being selected for the cover shot for an issue of Where Charleston magazine. The door has since been gentrified, 
loosing the old country charm seen here.

Bridge Wednesday - Autumnal Hues

Ravenel Bridge, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The setting sun highlights a curve in the Ravenel Bridge
 with autumnal hues.

Wood Nymph at Middleton

Sculpture, Middleton Place Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



A tranquil atmosphere in the gardens at Middleton Place surrounds this wood nymph sculpture from the early 1800's.
If you follow this link to Middleton's website, you can see another one of my images of this statue.

Tic Tac Toe

Olympic Torch and Skyscrapers, Atlanta, Georgia  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An implied diagonal line and visual rhythm come together to make a
 tic tac toe of architectural styles in downtown Atlanta.

Night in the French Quarter

Stylized Pineapple on Gate, Saint Philip's Church, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



At night, lights illuminate the steeple of Saint Philip's Church, in Charleston's French Quarter. It provides a colorful background for a stylized pineapple atop the church gate. The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, a concept which is often in the forefront of Charleston's destination travel marketing.

As you can see from the graininess of the photo, this image was made on Velvia slide film, from my earlier days of shooting.