A New Year Begins

Gas Lantern, East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



At an entry to a house in the historic district, a lantern flame burns steadily,
like the advancement of time itself. So, a new year begins
in the old city of Charleston, marking the 344th year since it's founding in 1670.

Stairway to the Sea

Steps and Surf, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Inviting steps lead down to the surf
and the unknown wonders of the vast open sea.

May your New Year be as full of wonders!

Misty Monday - A Pier Appears

Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Sea fog and clouds dissipate as the morning sun rises,
revealing the Folly Beach Fishing Pier.

Makeover

Air Hose, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



It has been awhile since air was 25 cents. This abandoned air hose could have been an eyesore, but it was revived by an eye-popping makeover.

Fence Pattern

Sand Fences, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Groupings of sand fences form a rhythmic pattern as they fade into the distance on Folly Beach. Storm erosion has dramatically altered the coast line on this portion of the sea island, so the fences are intended to help stabilized what remains of the dunes.

Liquid Hues

Reflections, Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Blue and gold hues reflect
in the pool
 beneath the Pineapple Fountain
in Charleston's Waterfront Park.

Winter Dawn

Shrimp Boats, James Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



As twilight fades into the light of dawn, shrimp boats on a tidal creek are revealed this misty winter morning.

A Home for the Holidays

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



The courtyard garden of a Charleston home
 is decorated simply and elegantly for the holidays.

Merry Christmas from Charleston!

December Garden

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



A garden statue is crowned with a red wreath made of berries from the
Chinese Tallow Tree, otherwise known as the Popcorn Tree. It is an introduced species that appears profusely in the coastal plain of South Carolina.

Acadia Morning

Rocky Shores, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Warm colored stone contrasts with cool colored waters
 and skies on a sunny morning in Acadia.

Lowcountry Morning

Tidal Creek, Edisto Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Rising mist softens a view of a tidal creek
 on a Lowcountry morning.

Pony Ride

Mini Pony Ride, Woodstock, Georgia  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A cold December evening finds a lonely group of mini ponies
waiting patiently to give children a ride for the holidays.

Desert Developement

Flower Walls, and Crane Miracle Garden, Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A crane at a construction site near Dubai is framed by two flower walls. Cranes are no uncommon sight in the UAE. In spite of the country's small size, it had the largest percentage of construction cranes in use in the world. The cranes are indicative of the Arabian Gulf State's rapid growth and vigorous economy.

But the Miracle Garden, where these flowers grow, is an improbable sight.
Thriving in the desert outside of Dubai, plenty of water is piped in
to keep the plants alive in the searing heat.

Foothills Hike

Pinyon Pine, Foothills of Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Bordering the Great Sand Dunes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are foothills covered with Pinyon pine and Rocky Mountain juniper. Becky and I hiked a trail here one morning doing one of our favorite outdoor activities... birdwatching.

 A twitter here, a twitter there, a little brown bird flitting in the brush... well, the morning was tranquil and beautiful, but the birds were elusive.

Still it was great to be outdoors.

Colossal

Caesar Augustus, Belvedere Courtyard, Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



An ancient sculptured head of Caesar Augustus is not only massive in size,
 but also suggests the ruler's colossal impact on the course of
 western civilization as the founder of the Roman Empire.

Carolina Days

Sunset, White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Click on image for larger view.)



Another clear winter day in the Carolinas comes to a close
 with a sunset at Charleston's White Point Gardens.

Ridge and Valley

Sunlight on Mountain Ridges, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



A setting sun warmly illuminates ridgeline trees
while valleys are blanketed with cool autumn shadows
in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Masonry Frame

Arches and Cross, Mission San Jose, San Antonio, Texas
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved 
(Velvia slide film.)



An open archway at Mission San Jose provides
 a natural frame for its humble cross.

Seaward Winds

Coastal Live Oaks, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A copse of coastal live oaks is shaped by the constant force of seaward winds, much like the hair on my head is shaped by the force of the hairstylist's blow dryer.

The Magnetism of Donuts

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain and wishing for a return visit to Rome actually works. We've been back to Rome several times. And I think I know why.

There is a scientific cause and effect explanation for everything that occurs. So I surmise that these Baroque sculptures contain incredibly powerful magnets which pull humans back to them, even from distant corners of the planet.

 This would also explain why hoards of people swarm around the fountain, like ants swarm around donuts at a picnic. Wait, that would mean the fountain is made of donuts. Ok, let me rethink my supposition.