Starry Night?

Carpet and Column, Esquire Theatre, Cincinnati, OH  © Doug Hickok


Pure Imagination

Nocturnal Stairway

Stairway at Night, Maritime Center, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A dream of climbing steps up, up, up into the unknown...
thoughts traveling to distant destinations.
Awaking... yearning to travel as freely as those thoughts.

The Old Charleston Light

Morris Island Lighthouse, near Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


When the Morris Island Lighthouse, also called the Old Charleston Light, was built in 1876, it stood on solid ground surrounded by a large sandy island. Before the lighthouse was built, a significant Civil War battle was fought on Morris Island at Fort Wagner, later featured in the film Glory. This movie followed the course of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major all black American military units.

Although time and erosion have vanquished the fort, and the sands that surrounded the lighthouse buildings, the lighthouse itself still stands, albeit with a slight tilt. It was decommissioned in 1962, but efforts have been underway to preserve and restore it, as is the case with many historic structures in and around Charleston.

Saint Mary's Basilica

Cloth Hall Lantern & Saint Mary's Basilica, Main Market Square,
Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok


Saint Mary's Basilica is seen here through an archway of Cloth Hall, in the Main Market Square of Krakow's Old Town. The Gothic brick church was rebuilt in the 14th century after a city fire, and is featured in Eric P. Kelly's young adult novel, The Trumpeter of Krakow. This book tells the story of the town trumpeter who sounded an alarm in the tower of Saint Mary's during an attack by the Mongols in 1241. He was shot in the throat before he could complete his song. Today the trumpeter's mournful alarm is heard from the church on the hour, and breaks-off midway to commemorate his famous deed.

Douglas Falls at Douglas Falls

Douglas Falls Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Becky Hickok


A Tip From "The Hiking Guide for Beginner Hikers"
"Exercise common sense... that means don't get carried away with your enthusiasm and a belief in your invincibility... and tempt fate. Mother Nature is quite indifferent to hurting you when you do dumb things."

Down East

Rocky Cove, Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok


Ancient granite rocks dominate the coastline of Acadia National Park, the result of volcanic activity hundreds of millions of years ago. Here at the secluded Schoodic Peninsula section, these outcrops are "painted" in stripes of colors by the rise and fall of tides. Within the inter-tidal zone marine life flourishes. Shown here are hardy barnacles and rock weed clinging to the edges of the rocks, a reminder of the persistence of life in nature despite the harsh year-round conditions.

Line, Shape and Pattern I

Piazza, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok


Although at first glance this may remind you of Las Vegas, it is actually not. A Gothic piazza along the side of the Palace of the Doge, in Venice, Italy, presents a nice example of line, shape and pattern, complements of the 14th century architect, Filippo Calendario. These 3 elements, along with light, color and texture (see September 22nd's post), are a photographer's best friend. Where ever you see them, there is potentially a wonderful photograph to be made, eh?

The Creatures Among Us - Primary Scary

Lights on a Truck, Folly Beach, South Carolina  © Doug Hickok


A unibrow can be so very scary.

She and Him

Riverfront Park, Old Navy Base, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


"I thought I saw your face today..."
Wait... we don't have faces! Hey, we don't have necks either!
Call back the portrait painter, we're not finished!

Shem Creek

Shrimp Boats, Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


Order and chaos.

Profound Symmetry

Ornate Gate and Red Door, Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


"The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect."

-Paul Valery, French poet and philosopher.

Blue Mood

Rocky Jetty, Breech's Inlet, Sullivan's Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


This week has been dreary & rainy. The kind of weather that makes you want to stay home... in your pajamas... drinking mocha...

Not going to work, or even out to photograph. I know there are plenty of people in TX and OK who want this rain. I wish I could send it to them!
(I really do Cathy, Greg, Collin, Gretchen & Dan!)

Scarlett in Charleston?

Porter's Lodge, College of Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok



The scene shown here is a view through Porter's Lodge toward Randolph Hall, on the campus of the College of Charleston, the oldest municipal college in the U.S. (est. 1770). The setting for an early part of the movie The Patriot was filmed at this location. Parts or entire movies have been filmed in Charleston over the years. Here is a short list... Cold Mountain, White Squall, The Prince of Tides, The Notebook, The Lords of Discipline, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Great Santini, The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys, Rich in Love, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and Dear John, as well as the TV mini series North and South, Love and War, and yes, you guessed it, no surprise here, Scarlett, the sequel to Gone with the Wind.

Hope this post puts you in the mood to watch a good movie this weekend.

Light, Color, Texture I

Sunrise Reflected in Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes focusing on the less obvious is preferable to focusing on the obvious. In this instance, I passed on making a cliche picture of the sun rising over Charleston Harbor. Instead I wanted to extract a more abstract version of the early morning, aiming my lens towards the gentle waves, and the way they reflected the warm glowing light.

The combination of light, color and texture is often a photographer's best friend. No matter what language we speak, this trio of image elements often speaks for itself... you might call it the Lingua Franca of photography.

Fahrvergnügen

Red VW and Restaurant Window, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


A little red Volkswagen is reflected in a porthole window at Folly Beach.
Red is a fun color,
and a VW Beetle is a fun car.
Together they make... Fine Fahrvergnügen.

But Herbie The Love Bug is the most fun of all.

Swiftness

Statue of Mercury, Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok


Mercury, the mythological messenger of the Gods, is the epitome of swiftness. He was said to have run "on the wings of the wind". He is represented here in bronze wearing his iconic cap, winged petasus, which in itself is a symbol of speed. But as fast as Mercury was, he would have been no match for my favorite speedster, the fleet footed cartoon character Roadrunner... beep, beep!

Light... as a Feather

Pampas Grass, Patriot's Point, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


A cluster of pampas grass is highlighted by morning sun.
This tall ornamental grass from Argentina reminds me of ostrich feathers ready to be made into old fashioned ladies' hats.

Healing

Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua, Italy  © Doug Hickok


Saint Anthony of Padua was a contemporary of Saint Francis of Assisi, and renown for his spiritual teachings. This church was built in 1232 to honor him after his death and canonization. Although he is the patron saint of lost things, both physical and spiritual, he is particularly sought after by the elderly for spiritual healing. Thousands visit here annually on pilgrimage.

The power of spiritual healing is quite strong. The capacity of the human body and mind to heal itself has been underrated in Western medicine, though it is gaining more recognition in recent times. Self-healing is at the core of many Eastern philosophies. My son practices a Hindu method of self-healing, focusing his energies on the chakras, the seven spiritual centers of the body.

Tapping into the body's ability to heal itself is an Eastern method that reaches back thousands of years. I have successfully undergone Chinese acupuncture to heal my injured back when conventional medical treatments failed. Acupuncture is said to help release chi, the body's self-healing energy.

Yet thousands of lives are saved by the accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment of lethal diseases by medical physicians, who practice a thorough scientific method established by the great ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, as was the case earlier this year with my wife.

1/20 of a Second

Parking Lot Detail, Ludlow Ave., Cincinnati, OH  © Doug Hickok


A moment in the life of a parking lot.

Revolution

Pock Marked Wall from the Hungarian Revolution of 1956,
Castle Hill, Budapest, Hungary  © Doug Hickok


Modern civilization is built on revolution...
American, French, Bolshevik, Chinese, Iranian, Arab, Agricultural, Scientific, Industrial, Technological... just to name a few.
Where would we be today without mankind's will to revolt against oppression, 
or conventional wisdom?