Mad as a Hatter

Hat Man Sign, Broad Street, Charleston, SC  Doug Hickok


Most readers are familiar with the frenzied Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll's fantasy Alice in Wonderland. If you haven't read the book then you may be familiar with Johnny Depp's eccentric interpretation of the character in the movie version. There is actually truth to the phrase "mad as a hatter". In the 19th century, mercury nitrate was used in making felt hats. Hat makers exposed to this chemical could eventually contract St. Vitus' Dance, (Sydenham's chorea) a nervous disorder which causes frenetic jerking behavior.

This image shows Charleston's Hat Man, a painted sign discovered on the side of a building on Broad Street during renovation. It marks the place which used to be a haberdashery. It is a curiosity, a downtown landmark most people walk past without noticing. Mad as it may seem, the figure is made almost entirely of hats, hats of all sorts.

Oh Man, Oh Man... Friday!

Sunrise over Sea Oats, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


In Daniel Defoe's classic novel, the castaway Robinson Crusoe happily discovers a companion on his deserted island (on a Friday), and names him Man Friday. 
Little did he know he continued a long tradition of welcoming Fridays 
that dates back to ancient times.

The Roman word for the sixth day of the week was dies Veneris, a day dedicated to Venus (who wouldn't mind welcoming the sight of this renown goddess of beauty?). In Norse mythology, the counterpoint of Venus was Freyja, hence Friday, from the Old English interpretation of the word. Freyja was the goddess of love and marriage. So it is no surprise that Norsemen considered Freyja's day one of good luck, and they often 
held weddings on this day, another reason to celebrate the arrival of Fridays.

So I welcome Friday with open arms, and thankfulness for the start of a new weekend.

Here's to Friday... Prosit!

Foghorn

East Quoddy Lighthouse, Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada  © Doug Hickok


If you ever wanted to know what a lighthouse foghorn (diaphone) looks like, this is it. Even though it is pointed toward the ground, the sound it makes is loud and carries
long distances. It operates by forcing compressed air through an apparatus, making extremely powerful low frequency notes. So don't stand next to one when it is blowing. This one, by the way, was quiet.

East Quoddy Lighthouse is one of the oldest in Canada. Although it is unmanned, it serves an important function in warning fishing vessels of the treacherous rocks
at the tip of Campobello Island. And it is especially useful for guiding boats through the dense Bay of Fundy fogs.

Homage to Rothko too

Old Red and Yellow Door, Auburn, Alabama  © Doug Hickok



The color on this old door is so vibrant...
so strong that it creates a visual tension.
I have to slip my sunglasses on while looking at the screen to keep my eyes from going bonkers...

(look here for the first Homage to Rothko.) 

An Impromptu Note on Music History

Gate Scroll at Night, Porter's Lodge, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok

Probably not on this date, sometime in the 1920's, Louis Armstrong is thought to have started scat singing when he misplaced the lyrics to a song. So the charismatic trumpeter improvised by performing his song by making instrumental sounds with his voice.

 (Psst... if you listen closely, you will hear politicians making similar nonsense sounds when orating, but in a less musical way.) 

Give scat singing a try in the privacy of your home, at your earliest convenience. 

I promise, you will have a blast!


A skeep beep dee bop bop boo!

Outlier

Fox Theatre and Bank of America Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia  © Doug Hickok


Situated among towering skyscrapers and modern edifices, the Moorish style of the Fox Theatre stands apart from the group, daring to be different. Coming soon to the theatre for a performance is the Celtic Thunder group. Celtic music and Islamic architecture in the heart of the old South. My how times have changed. What would Scarlet have thought of that?

Saint Stephen's Sunday

Pavement, Saint Stephen's Basilica, Budapest, Hungary  © Doug Hickok


A splendid, swirling star motif adorns the paved square in front of 
Saint Stephen's in Budapest.



Photo note: Like yesterday's post, today's image was photographed on Velvia slide film using a 24mm wide angle lens.

Behind the Dunes

Valley of Dune Grass, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon  © Doug Hickok


On the leeward side of Oregon's coastal dunes grow swales of thick dune grasses, illuminated here by late afternoon sunlight.


Photo note: This image was caught on Velvia slide film using a 24mm wide angle lens.

Arno Reflection

Uffizi Gallery Reflected in the Arno River, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok


The famous Uffizi Art Gallery shimmers as a reflection in the Arno River, the warm tonalities of the mellowed stone highlighted by afternoon sun. This picture was shot from the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge which spans the river.

Moonlight Promenade

Moonlight Reflecting on Charleston Harbor, East Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Perhaps the most romantic setting in Charleston is walking the promenade along the high battery on a balmy moonlit night.

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.