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.

Profound Symmetry

Ornate Gate and Red Door, Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


"The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect."

-Paul Valery, French poet and philosopher.

Blue Mood

Rocky Jetty, Breech's Inlet, Sullivan's Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


This week has been dreary & rainy. The kind of weather that makes you want to stay home... in your pajamas... drinking mocha...

Not going to work, or even out to photograph. I know there are plenty of people in TX and OK who want this rain. I wish I could send it to them!
(I really do Cathy, Greg, Collin, Gretchen & Dan!)

Scarlett in Charleston?

Porter's Lodge, College of Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok



The scene shown here is a view through Porter's Lodge toward Randolph Hall, on the campus of the College of Charleston, the oldest municipal college in the U.S. (est. 1770). The setting for an early part of the movie The Patriot was filmed at this location. Parts or entire movies have been filmed in Charleston over the years. Here is a short list... Cold Mountain, White Squall, The Prince of Tides, The Notebook, The Lords of Discipline, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Great Santini, The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys, Rich in Love, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and Dear John, as well as the TV mini series North and South, Love and War, and yes, you guessed it, no surprise here, Scarlett, the sequel to Gone with the Wind.

Hope this post puts you in the mood to watch a good movie this weekend.

Light, Color, Texture I

Sunrise Reflected in Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes focusing on the less obvious is preferable to focusing on the obvious. In this instance, I passed on making a cliche picture of the sun rising over Charleston Harbor. Instead I wanted to extract a more abstract version of the early morning, aiming my lens towards the gentle waves, and the way they reflected the warm glowing light.

The combination of light, color and texture is often a photographer's best friend. No matter what language we speak, this trio of image elements often speaks for itself... you might call it the Lingua Franca of photography.

Fahrvergnügen

Red VW and Restaurant Window, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


A little red Volkswagen is reflected in a porthole window at Folly Beach.
Red is a fun color,
and a VW Beetle is a fun car.
Together they make... Fine Fahrvergnügen.

But Herbie The Love Bug is the most fun of all.

Swiftness

Statue of Mercury, Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok


Mercury, the mythological messenger of the Gods, is the epitome of swiftness. He was said to have run "on the wings of the wind". He is represented here in bronze wearing his iconic cap, winged petasus, which in itself is a symbol of speed. But as fast as Mercury was, he would have been no match for my favorite speedster, the fleet footed cartoon character Roadrunner... beep, beep!

Light... as a Feather

Pampas Grass, Patriot's Point, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


A cluster of pampas grass is highlighted by morning sun.
This tall ornamental grass from Argentina reminds me of ostrich feathers ready to be made into old fashioned ladies' hats.

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.