The Red

Cliff in the Mist, Red River Gorge, Kentucky
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Mists clear momentarily to reveal a sandstone cliff
 in the Red River Gorge Geological Area in Kentucky.
This area is famous not only for its rock formations
 but also for its challenging rock climbing.

A Moonlight Sea

The Surf at Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Silvery moonlight shimmers
 on the surf at Folly Beach.

Brand New Day

East Battery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Oleanders add hues for the eyes to enjoy
 as Charleston's East Battery greets the morning sun.

Aromatic Sunset

Meditation Garden, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A sprig of rosemary adds texture to a sunset
 at the Meditation Garden. I love the fragrance
 of this aromatic herb... so soothing and calming.

Odd Couple

The Battery at Dusk, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Standing in proximity,
two silhouettes on The Battery
 form an odd couple.

Sol

Morning Sun, Folly Beach, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A star shines above the sea,
radiating light while giving life.

Marbled Hall

Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A columned corridor of a basilica in Rome
 dazzles the eye with mirrored repetition
 in its architectural design.

Accessories

Purple Door, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved




A purple door in Rome is accompanied
 by a miscellany of accessories.

Towers in the Mist

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



Heavy fog moves in over Charleston Harbor
 on a cool winter morning.

Fireplug Man

Fire Hydrant, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Fireplug man stands completely still by the street
 in hopes of one day being put to good use.
His super power is unending patience.



 

When in Rome

View from the Pincio Hill, Rome, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



To experience one of the best views of Rome
 visit the gardens on the Pincian Hill
 which overlooks the Piazza del Popolo.

Eagle in the Mist

Eagle Finial, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A dawn shrouded in fog
 silhouettes an eagle finial
 near Saint Michael's Alley.

Sunbeam

Sunbeam, Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



My camera lens catches a ray of light at just the right angle,
creating a textured sunbeam that streaks across the frame.

Scintillating Morning

Morris Island Lighthouse, Folly Beach, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The rising sun glimmers on the Atlantic like a fiery gem
as it embraces the Morris Island Lighthouse.

Throwback Thursday - Rare Sighting

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



I captured this wintery scene on film almost 20 years ago
 when Charleston experienced one of its occasional snow falls.
Usually snow melts quickly here, but not that day.  
Looking back now, a cypress swamp pictured with fresh snow
 is a very rare thing to witness in the Lowcountry.

Catching My Fancy

Balcony, Tradd Street, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A balcony cantilevered by fancy scroll work
 caught my eye on a house
 in the historic district South of Broad.

Coming Soon

Sunrise on East Bay Street, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Fresh blooms amid historic architecture
 epitomize the spring show in Charleston.

Service with a Smile

Mailbox, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



If I were a letter carrier, it would cheer me up
 delivering mail to this house in the Historic District.

An Avenue for the Eyes

Avenue of Oaks, near Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Live oaks overlaid with resurrection fern and Spanish moss
 form an impressive row of repeating shapes and lines.

Morning Magic

Garden Gate, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A misty morning on the peninsula adds a magical mood
 to this Charleston courtyard garden.

Zephyrous Touch

Tide Pool, Kiawah Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A gentle breeze caresses the surface of a tide pool
 on the sea island of Kiawah.

Night Walk

French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A walk in Charleston at night
 presents the historic city
 in an entirely different light.

Captured in a Lily Pond

Portico Reflection, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



This garden pond reflects a neo-classical portico
 in Charleston's Historic District.

Split Trunk

Sunset, Hampton Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



This old, gnarled, split-trunked tree seems to enjoy
 the sunlight at Hampton Park.

Lowcountry Gothic

Gate, Fenwick Hall, John's Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



An eerie presence envelopes the entrance to Fenwick Hall,
also known as Fenwick Castle, an old plantation
 that dates back to the colonial era. Note the distant 
wild turkey in the road behind the gate.

Keen for Spring

Garden Gate, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Light, color and texture come together nicely
 in this depiction of a scrolly garden gate in spring.

Journey

Forest Path, New Brunswick, Canada
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Light at the pathway's bend
 entices us to keep exploring.

Prime Real Estate

Lanterns and Steeple, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



These distinctively shaped lanterns belong to Hibernian Hall,
 which is situated near Charleston's prime landmark,
 the colonial era Saint Michael's Church.

Edisto Sunrise

Sunrise, Boneyard Beach at Botany Bay, Edisto Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Morning sun peeks above the Atlantic Ocean
 as the surf inundates what remains
 of a maritime forest on Edisto Island.

Street Charm

French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A stroll in Charleston's French Quarter
 offers charming vignettes around every corner.

Icy Waters

A Cascade near Mount Hood, Oregon
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Glacial runoff from the sides of Mount Hood
 creates a cascade of icy cold water in the White River valley.

Magic Show

Gate near the Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



This garden gate near the Battery stands next to a sidewalk
 used by many walkers and runners.
At sunset warm light transforms the ironwork
 into something magical for them to enjoy.



 

A Winter Refuge

Courtyard Garden, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Courtyard gardens in Charleston are often protected
 from winter chills by the tall houses
 and brick walls that enclose them.

Moors in the South

Arcade, Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Moorish influence is echoed in the architectural style
 of Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre.

Southern Home and Garden Show

Lantern with Row Houses, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Row houses along East Bay Street display
 a variety of horticultural delights for the springtime.

Dawn at the Battery

Promenade, East Battery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A new day silhouettes the railing at the Battery promenade.

Curlicue

Avenue of Oaks, near Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A curlicue in the branch of this live oak
 gives the illusion of a loop in the tree.

Curls and Curves

Scroll on Hand Railing, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A curling banister and curving steps welcome visitors
 to a house in the Historic District.

Time For Reflection

Sunset, Shem Creek Park, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A boardwalk over the tidal marsh at Shem Creek
 reflects the last light of a sinking sun.

King Midas Was Here

Cobblestone Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



I wouldn't say that Charleston is paved with gold,
 but the warm light some mornings
 pointed at just the right angle
 sure makes it seem that way.



 

Deep South

Sea Island Road, Edisto Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Arching limbs of live oaks
 festooned with Spanish moss
 are the ingredients of a
 quintessential Deep South photo.

Rocky Obstacles

Mountain Stream, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A boulder-strewn stream bank offers rushing water
 an obstacle course of stone to work around.

Daybreak

Sunrise near Rainbow Row, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Rosy hues tint a house near Rainbow Row at first light of day.

Show Time

Shutter Clasp, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Colors and shapes collaborate
 for a visual show near Cabbage Row,
the setting for Catfish Row in
Gershwin's Porgy and Bess opera.

(This image makes an appearance in the
Spoleto USA ticket brochure which premiered this week.)

White Rainbow

Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



While visiting the Folly Pier recently,
 a layer of sea fog hugged the coastline.
When the sun finally shone,
 a rare weather phenomenon occurred...
a fog bow appeared and stretched across the beach.

Unity

Garden Path, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The hues of this brick path harmonize with the leaves
 of the crepe myrtles. In turn the green grasses complement
 the hues of the leaves and brick. Everything is
 getting along today.

Mysterious Mood

Fenwick Hall, Johns Island, SC
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A misty morning adds a mysterious air
 to the avenue of oaks at Fenwick Hall.

Shady Spot

Large Oak, Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A large oak spreads its limbs wide to provide
shade for those sunny Lowcountry days.

Fresh Perspective

Wave Pattern, Charleston Harbor, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A walk on the Ravenel Bridge gave me a new perspective
 on Charleston Harbor, inspiring me to photograph
 this mesmerizing wave pattern from high above.

Here's to hoping the New Year
gives us all a fresh take on life.

Essential Ingredients

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



All that is needed is light and water,
 and you have life's essentials.