Keeper of the Stone

Tree Roots, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Twining tree roots enclose a stone for safekeeping
 in an old growth forest in the Southern Appalachians.

Loud Bark

Sidewalk, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Crepe myrtles with their vibrant colored bark
 line a sidewalk along King Street in Charleston.

Doing the Dock Walk

Great Egret, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A great egret struts its stuff along the runway
 of a boat dock at Shem Creek.

Bygone Era

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A timeworn fence surrounds an old family plot
 at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery.

Fall Bloomers

Cassia Flowers, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



It's that time of year when autumn blooms
 unfold in Charleston gardens.

Pelican Brief

Shrimp Boats, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



I captured a brief moment in time...
 pelicans taking flight along Shem Creek
 where shrimp boats dock for the evening.

Outdoorsy

Doors in Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Here is a small collection of doors
 found outside in Charleston.

Pew With a View

Church Pew, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



In Cades Cove in the 1800's, a window seat at church
 offered natural air conditioning with the added benefit
 of a view of the surrounding forest.

Evening Allure

Piazza Entry, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Lanterns set a warm mood at dusk
 at a single house in the historic district.

Evening Walk

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



A perfect glowing orb setting over the salt marsh
 is a peaceful sight to see from Shem Creek Boardwalk.

Small Embellishments

Step Railing, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Curls of ironwork add a touch of charm
 to these brick stairs in a courtyard garden.

Whippersnappers

Tree Line, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



In contrast to the worn and rounded peaks of the ancient Smokies,
 Colorado's San Juan Mountains are rocky and rough.
 Geologically speaking they are young whippersnappers.

Live Streaming...

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



The process of taking photos
 of actual streams in the wild.

Colonial Town

Early Morning on Tradd Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Sunrise illuminates a house in a section of the historic district
 that dates from the 1700's when Charleston thrived as a colonial port city.

Subtlety

Fence Line, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Once you focus on these fence posts mirrored in a rain puddle, you might then notice the more subtle detail of a mountain ridge reflected in the pool as well.
Its soft rounded contour worn down over millions of years is typical of
the ancient mountains that are the Smokies.

An Inclination to List

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



Some of Charleston's older structures tend to...
1. have a bit of a lean to them.
2. be far from plumb.
3. appear distorted like a fun house mirror.
4. defy gravity.

Boo

Saint Philip's Church, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Ghost tours of Charleston often start near the churchyards
 of the French Quarter, where spirits hide
 beneath the shroud of misty shadows.

Gateway Design

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



Twin gates frame the doorway
 of a mansion near Charleston's High Battery.

Johnson's Row

Johnson's Row on Queen Street, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Morning sun warms early 19th century tenements
 in Charleston's French Quarter.

Blue Mood

Country Lane, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Afternoon showers darken the day
 along a rural lane in the Smokies.