Campus Beauty

College Way, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok



This vignette along College Way illustrates the unique
 charm of the College of Charleston campus...
it is both an historic and horticultural beauty.

Slightly Different Take

South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona  © Doug Hickok



When visiting the Grand Canyon,
it ultimately becomes the subject of everyone's focus.
But for something a bit different, I used it as a backdrop
 to this shapely juniper growing at the canyon rim.

Window Display

Window Boxes, East Battery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Just about any street in the Historic District
 will have houses with decorative window boxes.
These are on a classic Charleston single house near The Battery.

Marshland Moods

Marshland, West Ashley Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Summer morning haze adds a misty atmosphere
 to the Lowcountry marshlands near where I live.
I take my daily bike ride past here
 and try to capture the mood of the park.

An Eden for the Natives

Garden Door, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A rounded door with trellis archway
 is surrounded by a lush garden and
wrought iron scrollwork in the Historic District.
If your eyes are sharp enough you might also spot
 an inconspicuous reptilian denizen as well.

Summer Hues

Parkinsonia, East Battery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



June blooms along The Battery fill a blue sky with color.

Colorado Plateau

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A view across the Grand Canyon toward the North Rim
 illustrates the plateau's flatness, and the layers of stone
 which the Colorado River persistently cut through over time.

Morning Clouds

Marshland in the Morning, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Morning clouds add texture to sky
 and water at a West Ashley Park marsh.

Backdrops

Ironwork, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Colorful doors, walls and gardens provide vivid backgrounds
 for Charleston's seemingly unending variety of ironwork.

Country Life in the City

Cast Iron Gate, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Details on this ornate gate evoke a pastoral theme
 that dates back to the classical era.

Behind Door Number One

Garden Door, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Behind this door in the wall
 awaits a secret garden blooming with color.

Web of Light

West Ashley Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A spider web catches the morning light
at West Ashley Park.

Desert Eden

Ocotillo Cactus, Superstition Mountains, Phoenix, Arizona
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A hiking trail in the Superstition Wilderness
 led us past a desert paradise in spring bloom.

Still Standing

Pioneer Cabin, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The Carter Shields Cabin stands alone in a quiet clearing
 near the Cades Cove Loop Road. This solitary rustic dwelling
dates from the 1880's when the cove was occupied by
descendants of the early pioneers.

Sea Shells and Sand

Chapel of Ease Ruins, St. Helena Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A detail shot of the Chapel of Ease ruins
 shows the brick and tabby construction
 materials used on this Anglican church
 which dates back to the Colonial Era (1740).



 

Afternoon Shadows

Door Handle, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Afternoon sun casts shadows on a Meeting Street door
adding a bit of contrast and texture.

Row of Boats

Sail Boats, Ashley River, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A neat row of sail boats makes a reflective pattern
 on a misty morning along the Ashley River.

Be Cool

Oasis, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A shaded pathway through the Al Ain Oasis
 entices those on foot or riding a bike to seek a cool place
 during the heat of the day in the Arabian Desert.

Uplifting

Gate Design, Washington Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



There is nothing quite like springtime in Charleston.
It raises my spirits every year.

Time and Distance

Afternoon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A view across millions of years of geologic history can be had
 with a glance from the rim of the Grand Canyon.