Saint Philip & the Spider

Spider Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


Backlit by late afternoon sunlight, the Spider Fountain at Waterfront Park glistens like a gossamer web against a Charleston skyline. Seen in the distance is Saint Philip's steeple standing tall above the French Quarter.

Bare for Now

Bare Dogwood Tree and Fence Rail, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


But soon there will be white flowers...
and green leaves!

Residua of a Past Age

Twin Bollards, Church Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


If I can beg your patience for one last image from the Hank's Seafood Cookbook... this one shows two stone bollards, the remnants of a place along Church Street where boats used to be moored. However, if you walk past here now, you will notice something missing... the water. The tidal creek that once bordered this house was filled-in during the late 18th century, so that habitable land could be expanded beyond the bounds of the old city walls. Today the surrounding neighborhood has many Revolutionary and antebellum era houses.

I will leave you a few photography links for your weekend perusal...

 Have you ever wanted to run away to join the circus?

This Vermont artist, now living in California, pursued photography as ritual and story.

Lastly, see extraordinary color abstracts by Pepe Boulette.

Pirates and Cookbooks

Ornate Gate to Pirate Alley, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view.)


Another picture from the Hank's Seafood cookbook? Yes, you guessed it. But what, might you ask, does a cookbook have to do with pirates? Nothing really. This image just happens to portray the gate to Pirate Alley in the French Quarter, which hints at Charleston's historic past (plus it makes an interesting topic of discussion for this post).

Pirate Alley is adjacent to the Pirate House, a purported hangout for buccaneers in the early 1700's. Although there once were pirates in colonial Charleston, they are now safely tucked away in history books, and the only ones likely to be seen today are in costume, leading walking tours through the city.

Bridge Wednesday - Twilight Glow

Ravenel Bridge at Night, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


Aglow in the twilight, the Ravenel Bridge displays its symmetrical form while reflecting its illuminated towers in the waters of Charleston Harbor. This is another one of the images from Hank's Seafood cookbook.

Courtyard Garden

Fountain in a Small Garden, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)


Another picture from Hank's Seafood cookbook portrays a classical fountain in a small courtyard garden. These kinds of green spaces adjacent to homes are a significant part of Charleston's charm. Protected by surrounding houses and vine covered walls, these enclosed gardens usually have something blooming anytime of the year.

Cooking Charleston

Saint Philip's Churchyard Gate and Carriage, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


As I alluded to in a previous post, Charleston has been receiving much favorable attention as a travel destination in recent months. Conde Naste Travel Magazine ranked it as the number one city to visit in North America. Fodor's Travel went even further by placing Charleston among the top 21 "to go" attractions in the world. They described it as a "buzzy" destination that is "foodie-centric" and "leading the Southern food revival". Charleston, for such a small city, is indeed graced with an abundance of fine restaurants and cafes. There is a menu for almost anyone's taste.

Today's image is one that is featured in a coffee table cookbook recently published by Hank's Seafood Restaurant.  It is replete with delicious recipes presented by nationally recognized chef Frank McMahon. The intent of the image is to offer a taste of Charleston's historic and charming ambience.

Travertine

Colonnades and Lantern, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, Italy  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)

A solitary lantern hangs between the rows of large columns in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City. The centuries old colonnades are made of travertine stone, a common material of buildings in Rome, and throughout Italy. Travertine is a limestone formed from mineral or hot springs. The word itself derives from an Italian word meaning 

"of Tibur", an ancient Roman town, which is today called Tivoli, near Rome. 

It was a preferred stone of Michelangelo... and Bernini, the builder of the 

colonnades pictured here.

Time Capsule

Gresham Mill, Canton, Georgia  © Doug Hickok


Gresham Mill, amid the suburbs of Atlanta, seems like a Depression era time capsule preserved for modern eyes. Not far from a busy interstate highway, it is a reminder of who we once were, and how dramatically times have changed, even within recent memory.

The Edge

Palm Trunk and Shutter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Today's photograph illustrates color contrast between warm and cool colors, and is an apt segue into my Favorite Photographer Friday selection, Tom Mackie. He is a renown practitioner of color design, creating saturated images with vivid impact. He teaches about seeking conditions that maximize atmospheric lighting and color, conditions that create tension by being in a state of transition... for example, the edge of day and night, the edge of changing seasons, or the edge of clearing storms.

My take on this visual tension is the above image, which portrays the edge of light and shadow, where the setting sun briefly illuminates textures on a palm trunk, while the background lies in deep blue shadow.

I hope you take a few moments to look at his website.
Have a great weekend!

A Wheel and the Great Beyond

Tiller Wheel, The Old Depot, Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


Teeth on the wheel of this old tiller form an alternate pattern, seeming to move with the wheel in a relentless path toward the heavens...
 to infinity and beyond!

Bridge Wednesday - Into the Darkness

Cape Creek Bridge, Coastal Highway 101, Oregon  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view.)


This arched bridge, reminiscent of an ancient Roman aqueduct, disappears into the Stygian shadows of a mountain ridge as daylight fades to night. Who knows where the road may lead, or what lies ahead... perhaps only the Fates can say.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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


I know, I know, the color is a bit over the top...
 but it's Valentine's Day,
so why not go to extremes!?

Misty Monday - Veil of Obscurity

Sun and Fog, Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains NP, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


Beauty, behind a shroud of mist, will reveal itself for those patient enough and 
willing to see.

Guardians

Bronze Door, The Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua, Italy  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)

Saints of the Church, like guardians of the faith, peer down at the faithful from their ornate alcoves on the Basilica of Saint Anthony's tall bronze doors. The basilica was completed in 1301 to honor Saint Anthony of Padua, who after his death became the patron saint of lost people and things. The basilica is a major destination for pilgrims from all over the globe. If you have lost something dear to you, perhaps this is the place to begin your search...

"Tony, Tony, look around. Something's lost that can't be found."

Weathered

Blue Door of a Restaurant, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Rusted metal, peeling paint, worn wood... this weathered blue door seems to have the character of an old mariner, exposed to years of salty seas at the helm of his weatherworn ship.

Friday Finials

Tourists on Legare Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Finals in the shape of stylized pineapples decorate this 19th century mansion on Legare Street. Pineapples are symbolic of hospitality, a tradition that dates back to the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. Eventually the tradition spread to Europe and then to colonial America, where pineapples became a common architectural motif, from door knockers to finials to fountains. 


As one of the images featured in the Spoleto Festival USA ticket brochure, this picture gives a sense of Charleston's historic setting and the old world feel that the city can sometimes convey. 


I've listed a few photography links to click on if you have some extra time this weekend.


Here is a collection of stunning images by the renown photographer Peter Turnley.


A police officer with camera makes poignant images.


Finally, consider how different everything looks in the light of night.


Have a good weekend.

A Ride Back in Time

Horse Carriage and Old Exchange Building, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)


One of the fun ways to see historic Charleston is a horse carriage tour. It makes you feel like you have journeyed back in time, to an era when life moved at a considerably slower pace.

This is one of the images from the Spoleto Festival USA website, from a section that promotes things to do when visiting the city. If you come, remember to bring your Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara costumes, along with your carpetbags. But please, no scalawags or rascals allowed.

City at Night

City Lights, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)

Another one of the images used in the Spoleto Festival USA ticket brochure, one that suggests a lively night life... theater lights, restaurants, cafes, the fluxing auroras of city streets...

or maybe alien crafts landing at the site of an active volcano...

Palm Tree Cloud

Palm Tree and Cloud, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)


Palm tree fronds wave against an azure sky in this image from the Spoleto Festival USA ticket brochure. Although this picture may suggest a tropical island setting with visions of white sandy beaches, grass huts and coconuts, it's not...  Charleston has more of a semi-tropical coastal climate. There are tan sandy beaches, but no grass huts or coconuts that I know about.

Spoleto Festival USA 2012

Cover, Spoleto Festival USA 2012 Ticket Brochure  © Doug Hickok

Original Image, Riviera Theater Marquee, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


I am proud to announce that Spoleto Festival USA  selected this image to feature on their ticket brochure this year. Spoleto Festival USA is one of the largest international arts festivals, not just in the USA, but in the world. It has been a center piece of Charleston attractions since it was begun here in 1977 by the founders, who were looking for an American venue to correspond with the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. The two week event runs from late May through early June.

Charleston was selected because it would "provide the charm of Spoleto as well as its wealth of theaters, churches and other performance spaces..."

This image was made at night using a quick zoom blur with my tripod mounted zoom lens. I'll show you more images from the ticket brochure and the Spoleto website, in the following days.

Stitch Design Co., an awarding winning design and marketing group, did exceptional work, as they always do, in designing the brochure and selecting images.

Supercalafragalisticexpealadocous

Old Ornate Gate, Saint Michael's Churchyard, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This is a detail of one of the most famous decorative wrought iron works in Charleston, Saint Michael's Churchyard gate. It was made in 1840 by a German born blacksmith, 
J. A. W. Iusti. Inside the gate are the tombs of John Rutledge and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, signers of the U.S. Constitution (1787).

As you may know, the first 10 amendments of the Constitution are the Bill of Rights, which allow for, among other safeguards, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion, etc.

It furthermore allows for the drinking of coffee on a leisurely Sunday morning while humming songs from Mary Poppins...  "Supercalafragalisticexpealadocous" anyone?

Polly

Playground Turtle, Daniel Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


Having journeyed to South Carolina for sun and fun, Polly the Prefabricated Plastic Turtle was saddened to learn no swimming was allowed in the park.

White Point Light

Late Afternoon Light, White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


White Point Gardens on The Battery is a pleasant place to sightsee or simply find a place to sit and while away the hours. Light from late afternoon sun glances across the grassy grounds where outdoor weddings take place beneath the 19th century gazebo. Among other highlights, Charleston has also become one of the top wedding destinations in the U.S.

For your weekend pleasure, I'll end today's post by shedding some light on these fun photography links. Hope you enjoy!

A National Geographic photographer demonstrates how to use available light in a variety of situations.

See phenomenal images of the recent spike in arctic aurora activity.

Check out the editing process of Magnum photographers and see how a handful of great images were selected from their contact sheets.

Kumbayah

Sweetgrass Baskets and Camellia Petals, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


The word of the day is Kumbayah. It is a Gullah expression which means "Come by yah" or "Come by here". Its connotation is associated with closeness or spiritual unity, and derives from a 1930's African-American spiritual. The Gullah language (also called Geechee) was the Creole spoken by slaves of South Carolina's sea islands.

This sweetgrass basket image was used recently in a Town of Mount Pleasant advertisement, with the title "Kumbaya. (Come by here)". The basket design is simple, but other basket designs are quite elaborate, displaying the artistic skills of the weaver. Some are featured in art museums.

The local craft of basketry is an art form brought to the Carolina Colony by slaves from West Africa. It is prominent in the fabric of Gullah culture, a weave of African and New World elements. Sweetgrass is a native plant which grows in Lowcountry tidal marshes, and is gathered and dried for basket weaving.

The red flower petals are from the sasanqua camellia bush, which grows readily in our climate, and is featured in many Charleston gardens. Ironically it is not native, but derives from the southern coasts of Japan. It is a cultivar dating from the Edo period (1695-1733).


This concludes your South Carolina history/biology lesson of the day!

Appalachian Snow

Birch Tree Trunk and Rocks, Roan Highlands, North Carolina/Tennessee  © Doug Hickok


A dusting of snow adds texture to tree trunk and rocks in this scene along the Appalachian Trail. Many blogs that I have visited this January have displayed beautiful images of snowy winter wonderlands. We don't have snow in Charleston, so I had to pull an image from last fall when Becky and I took a hike in the highlands of North Carolina. With an unusually warm winter (thanks to a La Nina cycle), apparently, this will be the closest thing we will have to a snowy wonderland this year.

Stretch

Bike Taxi Rider at Night, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


A little bit of camera panning goes a loooooooooong way.

Misty Monday - Spanish Moss

Tidal Marsh, Daniel Island, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


Heavy Live Oak branches draped with Spanish moss hang over this tidal marsh on a fogging winter morning. Spanish moss is not actually a moss or lichen, but an "air plant", an epiphyte, that gathers nutrients and moisture from the humid air of southeastern US climates. It has a fondness for Live Oaks and Bald Cypresses, because these trees have foliage that provide abundant mineral nutrients. Creatures such as birds, bats, snakes and spiders make their homes in the pendant air plant, because it's a "cool" place to "hang out".

Spanish moss is also closely associated with the imagery of Southern Gothic folk tales and literature.

Budapest and the Top 21

Saint Stephen's Cathedral, Budapest, Hungary  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


Seen from the top of Castle Hill, through the columns of Fisherman's Bastion, the dome of Saint Stephen's Cathedral rises prominently above Budapest on a hazy summer day. Fodor's Travel recently gave Budapest the highest of praise when it listed the city among the Top 21 travel destinations in the world. A few other top spots included London, Paris, Milan, Belfast, South Korea and guess who else? Charleston, the only North American selection, made the list too, for the first time ever! I'll talk a little more on this in a follow-up post. In the meantime, congratulations to all the finalists!

Last of the Old Guard?

 

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


When life gets tough, sometimes you must put-up your guard and plow straight through. That seems to have been the philosophy of this old truck. Times have changed though, and life strategies have become more sophisticated... you can hire a life coach these days to help you survive the intricacies of the modern world, and achieve your goals. Outdated modes of thinking have become like this rusty relic from another era.

Single House Style

Single Houses, Colonial Lake, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A distinctive form of Charleston's architectural style is the single house. Many of the original plots in colonial Charleston were long, narrow properties, running perpendicular to the streets. A house built on this land was typically one room wide (a single house), or sometimes two rooms wide (a double house). Entry to the house from the street was through a side door which opened onto a porch or piazza.
The two houses pictured above on Colonial Lake are examples of the single house style.

I'll leave you with some cool photography links for your weekend pleasure... hope you enjoy!

A photographer from Chicago took a picture everyday of the same hill for four years.
Another photographer composed portraits of identical twins.
13 famous photographers posed with their most iconic images.
Here are the winners of the 2012 Hasselblad Masters Award.
Lastly, see some amazing waves from Tasmania!

Sea Turtles and Mermaids

Folly Beach Pier, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Folly Beach Pier is one of the longest on the East Coast. I remember when it first opened, we walked along the high boardwalk to the very end, admiring the beautiful views. Peering down into the ocean waters, we glimpsed a Loggerhead sea turtle suddenly swim to the surface, poke its reptilian head above the waves, and quickly dive back into the mirky depths. It was a thrilling site to see!
I think about ancient mariners seeing creatures like sea turtles, sea lions and dugongs (sea cows), and imagining them to be human-like beings such as mermaids and sirens. These ancient people were ignorant, trying to make sense of their world without the benefit of modern day knowledge. Hence the invention of myths, legends and supernatural tales.


Yet, I wonder how often imaginations still rule our perceptions, when we are ignorant of truths... and how will future generations look back on our myths, legends, and supernatural tales?

Bridge Wednesday - Triangle

Lamp Post, Ravenel Bridge, Mount Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


I know that I am breaking some rules of composition with this unorthodox image, but I like the implied triangle shape within the frame. Whether it is an effective composition or not depends perhaps upon the viewer.

Life Savers

Life Savers, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Not only do life savers give life saving support to sailors lost at sea, but they also provide chic decor for landlubbers dining outdoors at this Folly Beach restaurant.

Misty and Mysterious Monday - Claws

Limbs of an Old Oak Tree, Wando River, Daniel Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


Hanging over a misty river on a wet and foggy day, the dead limbs of this ancient oak are like claws of a monstrous being from Middle Earth, ready to grab any unsuspecting souls that pass by.

Winter Churchyard

Old Headstones, Unitarian Churchyard, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


The lush appearance of the Unitarian Churchyard is just one of the attractions of this old Southern Gothic graveyard. Ironwork fences try to contain the luxuriant growth of ferns and grasses. Crepe Myrtle trees draped in Spanish moss overhang ancient headstones that tell brief stories of mysterious past lives. A walk among the rampant growth and slowly decaying graves, in the shadow of the Colonial era church, is like stepping back in time to a place completely isolated from the present.

Know Your Books

A Stack of Books in front of Blue Bicycle Books, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Books, Books, Books!

On cold winter nights, what a joy it is curling-up with a good book. If you enjoy books, or just knowing all about books, take some time to explore Goodreads. This is the place for you, especially when looking for that next perfect book to read. A word of caution though... Goodreads can be habit forming.

Pharaoh

Faux Pharaonic Mask, Antique Shop, Mount Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)
The word for the day is Pharaoh. It is a noun meaning "great house", and applies to the official title of the kings of ancient Egypt. The word dates from the reign of Akhenaten (about 3,500 years ago), but was made popular by its use in the Bible, especially in the Book of Exodus. Famous Pharaohs include Ramesses the Great, Tutankhamun and Steve Martin.

The phrase "Pharaoh's Chicken" refers to the Egyptian Vulture, the symbol of which appears commonly in hieroglyphics. A philosophical question that might be asked is, "Which came first, Pharaoh's Chicken or the road kill?"



Completely unrelated to today's word (but it rhymes) is the phrase "fair row", which is when Crew teams don't cheat during a race.

Conveyances

Vessels, Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


The calmness of Shem Creek is momentarily disrupted by the passing of a pair of watercraft. The kayak and the motor boat, in conjunction with the docked shrimp boat, are examples of nautical conveyances typically found on Lowcountry tidewaters.

What you will not find in these waters is the infamous Yellow Submarine or Captain Ahab's Pequod.


(Oh... and Happy Birthday Bucko!)

Torch Light

Outdoor Dining Tent, Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


Like a flaming torch light, the glow of a setting sun illuminates an outdoor dining tent near a seafood restaurant on Shem Creek. On cool winter evenings you can sit outside beneath the enclosed canopy and keep warm while watching the fading light of day... a pleasant way to enjoy your favorite fresh seafood.

Battery Promenade

East Battery and Waterfront, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)


Perhaps Charleston's most iconic setting is the High Battery, perched on the waterfront and lined with antebellum mansions (built before the Civil War). A stroll along the promenade atop the seawall is ideal during the peacefulness of dawn or dusk. From here you experience the sights and sounds of this unique American vista, where waters from the sea and history converge.

Park Ramble

Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A lovely way to begin the day is a ramble in the park... Waterfront Park in Charleston offers beautiful fountains, shady lanes and pleasant views of the harbor, especially at sunrise.

The Duomo of Florence

Northern Facade, Bascilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


Few man made structures dominate a city center like the Duomo of Florence. Begun in 1296 and finally completed in 1436 by Brunelleschi, the famous Gothic cathedral towers above the 15th century Renaissance city, a symbol of Florence's religious and secular power. Centuries later, you still get a sense of its immense size with this view down a narrow street toward the Duomo's ornamental facade. The final step in construction was the making of the facade. Marble was quarried from various parts of Italy and transported to Florence to decorate the facade,... from Carrara, white stone, from Prato, green, and from Siena, red. This task was not completed until 1887. The Duomo was truly a long term project!

A Deceptive Quietude

Ruins and Old Olive Tree, Roman Forum, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


A peaceful moment in the Roman Forum inspires reflection upon the immense depth of history found here among the old olive trees and weathered ruins. Yet, it is a deceptive peace. Not only was the Forum a hubbub of activity in ancient times, but it still is during tourist season, when throngs of visitors file past the remains of the once vast and seemingly indestructible Empire of Rome.

La Serenissima

View from the Canale Della Giudecca toward the Fondamenta Zattere
 and the Bell Tower of Santa Maria dei Carmini, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view.)


The "Most Serene Republic" looks just that, serene, on a bright gem-like winter day. Perhaps Venice has seen more prosperous days, but in vivid light and glowing color, it is still a city of incomparable beauty.

Letters to Sala

Placards, Old Town, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


One of the amazing stories to come from Holocaust survivors is the story of Sala. Beginning as a 16 year old, she spent five years in seven different labor camps. Remarkably, she was able to hide over 300 letters, post cards and photographs from the authorities, documents that told the story of her young life.

If you would like to read further about her story, here is the link.

X Factor

Balconies of the Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


When I visited the Fox Theatre in Atlanta last summer, my goal was to frame an image that illustrated the variety of brickwork on its facade. The X in the brickwork of this foreground balcony caught my eye, so I sought to make it the focus of my photograph. But, I also wanted to include the rounded Moorish arch over the window as a counter balance to the X.


 Just as I was thinking about my composition, the sun came out from behind the clouds, illuminating the X. This emphasized the X, while leaving the background window in shadow. Lastly, a tilt of the camera... just enough to make the horizontal lines slightly diagonal... made the image more dynamic.


Composing a photograph is sometimes like putting a puzzle together. When something unusual happens, like the burst of sunlight, then that extra twist, the X factor, puts the final piece in place.

Time Weathers All

Rusty Door, Savannah, Georgia  © Doug Hickok
(Velvia slide film)


More rust than door.

Misty Monday - Ageless Shores

Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada  © Doug Hickok


Some places have a timeless feeling, a sense that little has changed since the dawn of the earth. While walking along the stretch of ancient shore seen above, I had this feeling. The rocky coast of Campobello Island has an ageless spirit... the scene above could be from the present or from a million years ago, before the age of man.

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir