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?

Throwback Thursday - Taking Chances

Window and Stop Sign, Old Barn, near Chillicothe, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes in life you have to take chances. You have to ignore caution, overcome fears, break out of your self-imposed comfort zone.
Sometimes you have to put away your "stop sign",
and charge full speed ahead.

(This "CHARGE!!!" is for you, Adam.)

Photo Note: This image was made on Kodachrome 64 slide film about 25 years ago, during what seems now the ancient times of photographic technology.

Seawall

Rocky Shore and Clouds at Dusk, Seawall, Acadia National Park, SC  © Doug Hickok


Grace of Simplicity

Three from the Old Town of Krakow

Corner, Near Florian Gate, Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok

Old Door, Near St. Mary's Basilica, Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok

Stone Face, Courtyard of Collegium Maius (where Copernicus studied in the 1490's),
Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok

Misty Monday - Business

Diamond Tower, Ravenel Bridge, Mount Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok

Town of Mount Pleasant Business Plan


The upscale Town of Mount Pleasant, across the harbor from Charleston,
used one of my stock images recently for the cover of their Business Plan booklet.
The goal is to attract more corporate business to their city,
and therefore more revenue for the local economy.

Speaking of business, because Becky and I were out of town so much during the summer, I am several weeks behind in photography work. Plus, the busy fall shooting season is under way.

To all my blogger friends, I apologize for not being able to visit you as regularly as I would like. Please know I have not forgotten about you! I will catch-up with everyone as soon as I can. Thank you very much for all your comments. 
I appreciate the time you take to stop by. 

A 9/11 Remembrance

Saint Michael's Church and Federal Building, Broad Street,Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


In memory of the innocent and the brave who lost their lives 10 years ago today.

The world as we knew it changed forever.

New Beginnings

West Prong, Little Pigeon River,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee  © Doug Hickok


Most of this soggy summer has been a rush of family events. We have made three road trips to Ohio in the last 60 days. Once for the Schulte family reunion.. a jaunt into the past and getting in touch with the present. Next for our niece's wedding... a wonderful new beginning for Sarah and Mike. Last weekend we made our third road trip. This time we helped move our son in with his cousin... another new beginning, especially when he experiences his first midwestern winter! 

Since our daughter moved out of the house last year (and is now applying to grad schools), we are officially "empty nesters". We are experiencing a flood of mixed emotions. It is exciting to watch our talented children growing into adulthood, flourishing as amazing individuals. As for us, we are traveling on a new tributary, enjoying a strangely quiet home, filled with distant echos of tiny babbling voices and bubbling laughter.

As we returned to South Carolina, we drove through the deluge of Tropical Storm Lee. We stopped briefly in the Great Smoky Mountains where streams and rivulets buoyantly cascaded... each drop of water on its newest journey... like the new beginnings of each member of our family.

Sentinels

Sycamore Trees, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


The day Irene passed by Charleston, my plan was to photograph a scene of inclement weather. Fortunately, for the lowcountry, there was less of that than expected (though Mother Nature continues to aim hurricanes our way). Instead, I improvised and switched my focus to these rows of sycamores in early autumn color.

Sycamores are the first to alert us that "danger" is on the way.
They begin to turn yellow at the first signs of drought and are the first to change color when the temperatures begin to drop.


Like sentinels on the first line of defense, these trees stand in a column with their camouflage trunks, alerting us to what lies ahead.

Relic of the Depression Era

Old Ford, Danny's Classic Cars, Elko, South Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Miss Daisy's Sunday driving car or
Bonnie and Clyde's getaway?

Imagine what modern autos will look like in 80 years.

Green Light

Green Light Bulb Cage, Loan Shop, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A light complement to the red.

SCAD

SCAD Building, Savannah, Georgia  © Doug Hickok


This is one of the colorful buildings of the Savannah College of Art and Design. The university offers fine art degrees in 11 majors. Fields of study include historic preservation, sequential art, furniture design, menswear, printmaking, game development, museum studies, and film & television, to name just a few. The school has branches in Hong Kong and Lacoste, France.

My daughter studied here her first year of college.

Mysterious Monday - Folly Beach Walker

Reflections of a Hotel on Wet Sand, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok

Beach Walker, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok

Reflections of a Hotel on Wet Sand, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Where did the man go?

Saint Philip's Sunday - Entry Gate

Entry Gate, Saint Philip's Church, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This weathered iron gate adorns the entry to one of Charleston's most beautiful historic churches.

Impression of a Sunrise VI

Sunrise Waters, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


The warm colors of sunrise reflect in the calm waters of Charleston Harbor in this short time exposure.

Faceless

Faceless Figures, Green Acres Canoe and Kayak, Harrison, OH  © Doug Hickok


I post this unusual image today because I have not done a Favorite Photographer Friday post in a long time. This kind of picture reminds me of the old master photographer of humor, strangeness and odd juxtapositions, Elliott Erwitt. In case you need a smile (or a cringe) today, below are two links to some of his better known photographs,
 here and here.

Hope you have a fun weekend.

A Farewell to Summer

Green Acres Canoe and Kayak, near Whitewater River, Harrison, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


As August ends and September begins, we start saying our farewells to Summer. In the U.S. this is especially so after Labor Day weekend. We say farewell to family vacations, long weekend getaways, and lingering evenings of ease & relaxation. Farewell to sun & fun, and cooling off in the refreshing waters of rivers, lakes and seas. Farewell to you, lazy, idyllic Summer.

Though perhaps I glorify you too much. Mostly, you have been too hot, too dry and too stormy. Call me fickle, but I'm ready for a taste of sweet Autumn.

The Lotus Eaters

Red Lotus, Old Farm House Pond, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


If you recall your Greek mythology and the story of Homer's Odyssey, the Lotus Eaters were a people inhabiting an island near North Africa who feasted on the Lotus flower and fruit. The plant was said to have a narcotic effect. According to Odysseus, when his ship ran aground on this island, his men munched upon the delicious Lotus plants. They soon felt carefree, being completely apathetic about ever leaving the land of the Lotus Eaters and returning home.

Though we did not partake of the fruit or flower of the lotus, we felt the same way about our family and their farmhouse in Lewisburg.

The Next Newest Thing

Pulleys, Old Style Harvester, The Old Depot, Village Of Lewisburg, OH  © Doug Hickok


It was not so very long ago that farmers had to harvest crops by manually removing the grain from the rest of the plant. By the 19th century, machines were invented to do this mechanically, but they were ponderously drawn by horses or mules. By the early 20th century, self-propelled harvesters like this one made the work much easier and efficient. Now antiques, they are put aside to rust in weedy patches of fields, all but forgotten. These relics of by gone eras are reminders of man's ability to constantly improve upon an idea.

 Today, technology advances with such speed that new inventions are rapidly replaced by the next newest thing, in seemingly just a matter of months.

Mysterious Monday - Not What You Think

Window and Sky, The Old Depot, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


You might think this is a photograph of a cloud reflected in the pane of a window. But on closer inspection it appears to be an open window to the sky.

Or is it?

This visual riddle exemplifies the aphorism, "Life is an illusion".

Red-Eyed Gargoyle

Gargoyle Statue, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


We associate gargoyles with towering medieval cathedrals in Europe. These stone sculptures were designed as waterspouts to transfer rainwater away from buildings, or used sometimes as grotesques to scare away evil spirits.

So it was a little surprising to find, on our second, most recent road trip to Ohio, a pair of tall gargoyles guarding the entrance to an old Victorian home in the little town of Lewisburg. These two ferocious lions came equipped with glowing red eyes as well. Perhaps this is an intimidating sign to neighbors to beware of trespassing, or simply another version of local mid-American kitsch.

With my commitment to unadulterated journalistic reportage, I decided not to use the red eye function on my camera.

Irene Passes by Charleston

Storm Walker, South Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Fortunately, Charleston was only brushed by the outer bands of Hurricane Irene as she passed up the Atlantic coast last evening.


 Today, our thoughts are with everyone in the path of this destructive force of nature.

Blue Cleat

Blue Cleat, Union Pier, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Large cleats such as this one help hold massive container ships to the piers at Charleston's various marine terminals. Vessels from around the globe arrive to load and unload cargos of all sorts. If only good will traveled as easily...


Hope your weekend isn't as stormy as ours is predicted to be!

Window Boxes

Flowers in Window Boxes, Tradd St., Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok



An assortment of blooming flowers adorn the front of an 18th century house along Tradd Street. Charleston has a 12 month growing season, so it is not uncommon to find beautiful surprises like these window boxes almost any time of year.

Cruise Ship Dilemma

Cruise Ship, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A large cruise ship is docked along a pier in Charleston Harbor. The recent frequency of cruise ship visits has elevated tourism in Charleston, but a debate now rages over the pros and cons of their presence. 


On the one hand, a fortune of tourist dollars is generated by the ships, but on the other hand the environmental impact of large boats in the harbor degrades flora and fauna, and the traffic generated around the waterfront disturbs local residents. 


The Charleston Board of Architectural Review is working hard to find a solution to the problem, the ever elusive balance between quality of life and profit.

Color in the Least Likely Place

Corner, Archdale Parking Garage, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes nice color is found in the least likely places, like the top floor of this parking garage in Charleston.

Fiery Light

Iron Gate Knobs, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Door knobs glow in the light of a setting sun along the Battery in Charleston. Ornate ironwork is part of the charm of our fair city, and can be seen throughout the neighborhoods on the peninsula. 


As the warm sunlight illuminates each curve of iron, the ornate design of the gate is traced in fiery colors. Annie Griffiths Belt, a well known National Geographic photographer, once said that a successful image communicates a sense of the light. And since photography is by definition about light, her remark makes perfect sense.

Chapel of Ease

Strawberry Chapel, Moncks Corner, SC  © Doug Hickok

Strawberry Chapel dates from 1725. It is a chapel of ease, which means it was built so citizens in the outlying parts of the parish could attend services without having to travel long distances to the main parish church.


It has been well preserved over the years and as with many old historic churches in rural areas, reports of strange happenings at night have given birth to ghost stories. These have sadly led to vandalism resulting in the property being made off limits to visitors. 

Running After the Rain

Runner, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


What better way to enjoy a morning than running in Charleston's Waterfront Park after a cooling rain shower. Well, maybe there is a better way, but I can not think of one at the moment. 


Oh, wait, maybe bowling. 
Or tiddlywinks.

Congratulations Sarah (8) & Mike on your Wedding Day!

West Ashley Sunset

Sunset, West Ashley, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes, the view from our front yard is absolutely stunning!

Have an equally stunning weekend!


HAPPY  HAWAII  50  NAMAHANA !!!!

One Hull of a Reflection

Shrimp Boat, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok

Bridge Wednesday - Memorial Park

Memorial Park, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok



Mount Pleasant's Memorial Park, as seen in this dawn image, sits at the base of the Ravenel Bridge. The public space offers a long fishing pier that extends into the Cooper River, a large expanse of lawn for outdoor events, a restaurant, and a colorful playground for children (and parents).

Abstract Angles

The PLEX, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  © Doug Hickok


These are the colorful stuccoed walls of a movie theater that was later used as a boxing venue. It has been demolished since I made this image on slide film about a decade ago. I miss the ability of good slide film to render color and textures in bright light without having to enhance these qualities in post-processing. The above image is a nice example of this. Raw digital images would need a bit of work to get them to look like this.

A Day at the Beach

Clouds and Beach, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


Summer clouds reflect in glistening shallows along a beautiful stretch of beach at Kiawah Island. This barrier island offers the most pristine beach along the South Carolina coast. On the horizon you can see a thin line of sand dunes where clusters of sea oat colonies thrive. 


A day at the beach like this is ideal for flying kites, hunting for sand dollars, or bowling. 
Or maybe even tiddlywinks.

Twining Vines from Historical Times

Ornate Cross, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Carved flowering vines climb this stone cross at Magnolia Cemetery. The large 19th century graveyard is the resting place of many Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War, including the crew of the Hunley. The Hunley is an early prototype submarine which sank off the coast of Sullivan's Island during a mission to torpedo a Union blockade ship. 


The Hunley was pulled out of the sea several years ago, and is on display at the old navy base, where research continues on this archeological gem from a distant era.

Rendition of a Jetty

Jetty at Sunrise, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


This painterly interpretation of a Folly Beach jetty at sunrise is a departure in style for me. I don't usually play around with Photoshop settings, but I couldn't resist a little experimentation with this old slide that I found in my archives. It seemed a suitable subject for an artistic rendering.

Caw Caw

Southern Wetlands, Caw Caw County Park, Ravenel, SC  © Doug Hickok


From the cool misty coasts of Maine to the hot humid climes of a Southern swampland, this weeks posts offer a variety of natural environments for you to enjoy.


Today's image shows swampy wetlands from a former rice plantation, which was converted in recent times to a wildlife refuge and nature education center. This park is called Caw Caw, just like the sound of wild crows.


Hope you have a wonderful weekend, 
and if you gotta... crow!

Sea Oat Sunrise

Sunrise, Folly Beach, South Carolina  © Doug Hickok


As a summer sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean, sea oats wave in the breeze, providing a frame for the fiery orb. All along the coast, where there are barrier islands, these grasses grow in colonies, and flourish when undisturbed by humans. They are crucial to the stabilization of sand dunes, especially in the face of powerfully eroding tropical storms and hurricanes. By July and August, sea oats are in full display,
showing their heads of gold.

Maine Dawn

Sailboats Moored in Southwest Harbor, Maine  © Doug Hickok


Dawn breaks on the still waters of Southwest Harbor, a little Maine seaside town near Acadia National Park, where sailboats anchor in temporary tranquility. From the dock you can see past the opening in the harbor, out to the Atlantic Ocean.
It is there, beyond the sanctuary of the moorage,
where boats are free to risk the winds and waves of the sea.

Little Gem

A little waterfall near a Carriage Road, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok

Acadia National Park has 45 miles of unpaved carriage roads dating from the early 20th century. Built by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., these rustic pathways meandering over Mount Desert Island were intended for horse and carriage rides. Today they are used by park visitors for hiking, horseback riding and bicycling. Along the way, one is likely to discover beautiful sights in the mountains and valleys, such as this gem of a waterfall, right next to the carriage road.

Misty Monday - A Gathering of Ancients

Hunter's Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok


The remains of conifers have tumbled down from a forested slope to gather on the rugged, rocky edge of Hunter's Beach. Looking like ancient pincushions of twisting limbs, they weather rapidly in the harsh coastal climate of Maine... aging, ancient spirits of the wild.

Saint Michael's at Dusk

Saint Michael's Church, Broad St., Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


On a clear cloudless evening, Saint Michael's steeple rises handsomely above Broad Street, glowing with warm light. With its prominent location and bells tolling on the hour, Saint Michael's presence is ever known along this main thoroughfare in Charleston.

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

Over the Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


The city of Cincinnati has an urban renewal project underway in the Over the Rhine area. This neglected part of town is being targeted for renovation because of it's nationally important 19th century architecture. It is one of the largest urban historic districts in the USA. Originally settled by German immigrants, it became the center of Cincinnati's beer brewing industry, but is known today for it's large collection of Italianate buildings.

Progress is slow, however. Many of the dilapidated structures are secured with brightly painted plywood to temporarily cover doors and windows, in an attempt to
"keep Cincinnati beautiful".
One day these buildings will be attended to, but in the mean time they wait.
Hope springs eternal.

Handy Work

Steps and Mural, Auburn, Alabama  © Doug Hickok


It took many hands to create this colorful mural.
It takes many more hands to create a peaceful world.

 Wishing you many handfuls of peace this weekend.