Illusion?

Tree Trunk and Printed Canvas Backdrop, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


You might think this scene looks a little unusual. Something is not quite right. Well, that's because the flowery meadow with blue sky and cloud is actually a canvas mural on a fence around a construction site. The only real bit of nature is the tree trunk in front.

Light for Light's Sake

Early Morning, Art Gallery Door, Chalmers Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


When I'm roaming around downtown Charleston in the early morning, there are many times I simply follow the light. By that I mean, I pick an area of the city to photograph, and wherever the golden light falls, that's where I shoot. In many instances, I'm just photographing the light for the sake of it's pure beauty. And that's because, the beauty of light can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.


Here's wishing you a weekend filled with extraordinary light.

 

Throwback Thursday - End of an Era

Cafe Sign, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Many years before the gentrification of the King Street shopping district, there were small mom-and-pop cafes along the street. This image shows a creative cursive script painted on the window of one of these establishments. It is no longer there, having been replaced by a high end designer shop or expensive restaurant.

(This image was made on Fujichrome Velvia 50 color slide film)
  

The Creatures Among Us - Part Three

Red Doors, American Theatre, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Robot


(Hey Yoshi, this reminds me of you!)

Evening at the Marina

Ashley River Marina, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


I think it would be pretty cool to live in a sailboat or yacht as some people do. Charleston has plenty of places to dock your boat and enjoy the serenity of an evening on the waters of the city.

Misty Monday - Purple Overpass

Dawn, James Island Connector, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


The James Island Connector is a bridge that links Charleston with one of the neighboring sea islands. This image was made on slide film a few years back, at a time when I was push processing chromes one stop for added punch. Photo buyers in Charleston seem to like my images for their strong hues, so I often strive for that pop of color. A draw back of push processing is added grain in the image, as you can see in this misty twilight scene along the Ashley River.


More importantly...
Happy 21st Birthday Adam Cade Gabriel ! !

Shadow and Symbolism

Gate Shadow, Saint John's Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


In late afternoon, the shadow of this church's ironwork gate is cast upon the red doors and tiled porch. Many Episcopal and Lutheran churches paint their doors red as a symbol of sanctuary, both physical and spiritual. The color is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, the blood of Christ and the Passion. You can go to just about any town or city in the USA and find a church with red painted doors.

Proud to be #2!

Carriage Tour, Longitude Lane and East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Travel and Leisure magazine recently rated Charleston the # 2 travel destination in the United States and Canada, just behind New York City. Congratulations Charleston. Whoopee!!!

Raster Pattern

Chair Shadow on Shell Pavement, Freshfields, John's Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


"A raster is usually a very fine-grained and always strict order principle on a surface. As a special category of pattern, it is not generally a design element - unless it is used as an artistic means to evenly mark a surface."

This quote is from Harald Mante, my Favorite Photographer Friday selection. This German photographer has had the strongest influence on the way I see images. He is a highly regarded teacher of photography, and his book  The Photograph, Composition and Design  is the best one I know of for demonstrating the art of visual design.
 

For Book Lovers

Construction Site Fence, College of Charleston Library, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


For all of you who love books, our lovely and talented daughter recently started a book blog, chelseareadsbooks. She has a B.A. in English with a concentration in Fiction Writing and is a true blue book lover. I think you will enjoy her posts.

Morning Marsh Magic

Sunrise over a Tidal Marsh, Kiawah Island, SC   © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


The sun breaks through early morning clouds to illuminate a marsh at high tide. On many mornings during summer, warm humid air along the coast creates clouds that build above the horizon. Sometimes it rains, sometimes not. But the moisture is so thick you could slice it with an oyster shucking knife.


Quick take: If you like adventure photography, take a moment to peak at
Jimmy Chin's work. It's amazing.

 

Keep Your Hair On

Wig Shop, Savannah, Georgia  © Doug Hickok


One of the first rules of thumb when going out in public is to keep your hair on. Keeping your hair on makes a positive first impression as well as a chic fashion statement. Wearing your hair with a color coordinated pair of shoes or maybe an Armani suit will please your family and friends, and even your pet cockatoo.

Keeping your hair on also builds self-confidence and a general sense of well being. You can tell your friends, "I have the pleasure of wearing my hair today." If you say this frequently enough, it will soon become a popular catch phrase, applicable to many social situations. You can even use this phrase as a form of greeting... "Hello, I have the pleasure of wearing my hair today, and you?" You may repeat this useful greeting to the police, for instance, after being pulled over for a traffic violation.

Keeping your hair on is especially important to remember when riding fast roller coasters at the amusement park, or when leaping off tall cliffs while strapped into a parachute. To keep your hair on during these extreme situations, just place a hand on top of your head, and hold on firmly to your hair. It doesn't have to be your own hand either. Anyone's hand will do.

If you don't have hair, or are rapidly loosing your hair like me, simply proceed to a wig shop. They can assist with a variety of designer styles and colors. If you prefer a 60's psychedelic look, they can assist with this as well.

So, remember to keep your hair on. It is the sensible thing to do. Have a nice day. And may your hair always be with you.

Happy Birthday USA

Two Story Flag, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


As a nation the United States is 235 years old today.
Happy 4th of July!

San Marco Sunday - Dream World

Basilica de San Marco, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok


By day Venice is a riotous carnival of tactile delights,
where day light seeks to illuminate every color and form.
But by night, Venice is a muted dream world of ancient vintage,
where imagination seeks to illuminate every shape and shadow.

Eye Level Clouds

Near Summit of Mount Mitchell, Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Near the top of Mount Mitchell, in the Appalachian Mountains, a view past the trees shows a summer evening thundercloud building in the sky. At this elevation (6684 ft), you seem as tall as the clouds. Mount Mitchell is the highest elevation in the eastern US. In July the average high temperature is about 68 degrees, making it a refreshing spot to cool off in the heat of summer.

A Time and Place to Relax

Mansion Courtyard, Meeting Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Here is hoping you can relax and have some fun this weekend.

Throwback Thursday - Pan and His Delicious Cakes

Amish Farm Fields, Holmes County, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


I made this image several decades ago on Kodachrome film, and now, that seems like ages ago. What is curious is that a pastoral scene such as this, in a convoluted way, reminds me of Pan, the mythological god of fields, flocks and hay fever allergies. A little known item of interest about Pan is that he loved to bake. There is a story (which may be apocryphal) that tells of his fondness for baking cakes, cakes of all makes.

One morning, after a long night of faun frolicking, pan piping and cake baking, Pan found some leftover ingredients laying around his country kitchen, some flour, salt, sugar, eggs and goat's milk. Just to see what would happen, he decided to mix these ingredients together, pour in a skillet, and heat over his hearth. Lo and behold, he made a perfectly round, flat, delicious cake, which he topped with a scoop of fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream. Pan ate his new found concoction with much pleasure, complementing it with a steaming cup of French pressed coffee.

Hence, the discovery of Pan's cake, or what would become known as
pancakes. Yum!

A Charleston Walkabout I

Antebellum Mansions, South Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Corinthian Capital, US Customs House, East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Ironwork Gate Shadow, Dock Street Theatre, Church Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Rainbow Row Carpet, Market Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Carriage Horse and Tourists, East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Pirate House Fan Window, Church Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Elliott Street Windows, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A few sights you might see walking around Charleston.

Horace the Poet

Happy Coin Viewer, Folly Beach Pier, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Horace stood on the pier overlooking the sea. He did this everyday, all day, and even into the night. As people dropped their coins into the slot behind his head, and gazed through his eyes, he saw what they saw. But what no one could know about Horace was that he loved poetry, and invented poems in his head about all that he saw by the sea. 
You see, Horace was a poet.

He imagined poems about golden-crowned dawns suffusing the sea with flushes of scintillating color. He composed rhymes about seabirds dancing high in the bright blue sky. He recited sonnets about lovers strolling hand in hand along the ocean's edge. He smiled his peculiar round smile when he described children playing in the sand, molding their mountains or sculpting their castles. Because, for all that Horace saw by the sea, he was enchanted most by the children. "Ah",  he thought,
"what happiness it is to be so young, innocent, and free
 on that simple beach
by the sea...
if only for a little while."

Ruins of a Jetty I

Old Jetty and Clouds, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


The sea is beautiful to behold, but its forces are relentless. This old jetty, which stood here for many years trying to slow beach erosion, will soon be nothing but driftwood. The power of nature persists, but the works of man are as fleeting as clouds scuttling across the sky.


Quick take: Speaking of nature's forces, here's a link to some amazing images of an erupting volcano in Chile.