Sheldon Church Remains

Sheldon Church Ruins, Yemassee, South Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Surviving burnings by two invading armies, in two distant wars,
 the remains of colonial era Sheldon Church are a reminder of the Lowcountry's turbulent history. 

Ironically, its quiet setting in the countryside makes it a perfect place for a peaceful stroll.

Charleston Mosquito

A-6E Intruder, USS Yorktown, Patriot's Point, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The more it rains
 the bigger they get.

Rockin' At the Top

Pink House, Chalmers Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Good news continues for Charleston tourism. Travel and Leisure Magazine selected Charleston as the No. 1 city in North America for visiting. This recognition is in addition to Conde Nast's vote for top travel destination 
in the world last year.

We have a long holiday weekend,
so why not enjoy some of our city's many charms?

By the way, Charleston rocks...
as in, there are lots of cobblestone streets to see!

Independence Day in the USA

USS Yorktown Flag, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)


Old Glory shines bright.
Happy 4th!

Showing the Way

Stetts at Sundown, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view)



Sunlight glances across a stone path showing the way.

Earth's Bounty

Workbench, Old Salem, Winston-Salem, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Natural textures of wood and stone abound in the village of Old Salem. Visitors step back in time to glimpse a life of simplicity and intimacy with the earth.

Archway to the Heavens

Monument Rocks, Kansas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An earthen archway frames a view toward the airy heavens.


I have a brief announcement. Regretfully, I am stepping back from the social part of blogging for awhile. I need to refocus time and energy on our photography business. In the meantime, because I have a trove of photos which I would like to share with you, I still plan on taking a few moments each day to make a post. 

I hope you will continue to stop in for a quick visit.

Stucco Canvas

Unitarian Church at Sunset, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



The stucco facade of the old Unitarian Church makes a perfect canvas for the warm painterly light of sunset.

A Cool Way

Lush Pathway, Gateway Walk, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A cool way to seek relief from summer's heat...
 stroll down one of Charleston's secluded shaded pathways.

Lines Drawn in the Sand

Sand Dune and Sky, near Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Artistic winds delineate parallel patterns in a desert dune.

Have a great weekend!


 

Front Row Seat

Great Blue Heron at Sunrise, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A resting heron finds the best "seat" in the harbor
 to watch a breaking dawn.

Three Sisters

Three Single Houses, Meeting Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Like three sisters holding hands, a trio of Charleston single houses bask in the morning sun on Meeting Street.

Quintessential

Portico and Palmetto Tree, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Palms and porticos... this must be Charleston!

Ethereal

Surf at Sunset, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An ethereal moment in time is captured at Folly Beach
 using a long exposure.

Questions for an Old Door Handle

Old Door Handle, Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



I wonder how many souls have touched this door handle 
in the old town of Krakow. 
Who were they, what were their lives like, 
and where are they now?
Imagine the stories they could tell.

Buoys in the Hood II

Lobster Buoys, Bar Harbor, Maine  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Buoys in the hood,
just wanna hang.

Yo.

Kaleidoscopic Color

Umbrella Canopy, Miracle Garden, Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A canopy of kaleidoscopic color offers shade to visitors who stroll the paths of Dubai's Miracle Garden.

To see more of my UAE photos, visit my new tumblr blog.
There is a link on the sidebar also.

Happy Weekend!

Bear Lake

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Bear Lake is an alpine lake at about 9,500 feet in elevation in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. It was formed during the last ice age by glaciers. 

The surrounding peaks and slopes reflect in its glassy waters, making it a great subject for photography. It stays clear because constant cold water temperatures minimize the growth of algae and moss.

Tic Tac Tow...

Cadillac Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Three cars in a row.

Color on the Creek

Shrimp Boats, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



A few years back colorful shrimp boats adorned Shem Creek,
 making perfect subjects for the hue seeking eyes of a photographer.

Italy in Charleston

Drayton Hall, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Built in the symmetrical style of Italian architect Andrea Palladio, Drayton Hall is an 18th century plantation house preserved in its original form and open for public tours. Especially notable is its large projecting portico, a classic Palladian feature. It served both as protection from the sun and as a place to openly view the grounds.

A Momentary Peace

Sunset Clouds, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Gazing at clouds makes me dream.  
I loose track of time and am lost in another world... 
where I find a momentary peace.

Narcissistic Oak

Live Oak Branch and Reflection, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A narcissistic oak branch looms over the Ashley River to gaze at its reflection 
in the water's glassy mirror.

Giant Sundial

Shadow of Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The shadow of the world's tallest building moves across an arid urban landscape like a giant sundial. What time is it? Time to gape in disbelief at the Burj Khalifa's astonishing height!

To see more of my photographs from the United Arab Emirates see my new tumblr blog, Hue and Eye Photography.

Johnny

Mural, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



This figure is part of mural painted on the side of 
Planet Follywood Bar on Folly Beach. 
The painter is award winning Charleston artist James Christopher Hill. 

Any of you film buffs know the depicted Hollywood actor
 and in which movie he played?

High Plains Tea Pot

Monument Rocks, near Oakley, Kansas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Looking a bit like a geological tea pot, a butte of chalk rises above the High Plains of Kansas at Monument Rocks. In 1968 these rocky outcrops became the first designated National Natural Landmark in the U.S.  
Their origins however are much older...

This outcrop brews a mixture of 80 million year old fossils with multiple layers of sediment from an ancient inland sea.

Rivers of Stone

McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Channels of erosion in limestone rock form "rivers of stone" at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, Texas. The Cretaceous age limestone is the result of an ancient shallow sea which covered present day Texas.

A Real Survivor

Drayton Hall and Live Oak Shadows, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Drayton Hall is one of the few plantation houses to survive from the colonial era. It was built in 1742 and designed in the Italian style of Palladio. In contrast to most of the other Charleston area plantations, it endured the marauding forces of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, persevering in its original state. 

Unlike players on reality TV, Drayton Hall is a real survivor.

Antebellum Mansion

Antebellum Mansion, South Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved





An antebellum mansion looms above South Battery in evening light. A low angle view brings out quintessential Charleston elements of architecture... 
a tall ornate gate, multi-columned piazza and hipped roof.

Soccer at the Colosseum

Souvenir Bus, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Where is the best place to buy souvenirs when in Rome? Probably in front of the Colosseum. You can buy a soccer ball and kick it around with your friends where plebeians once cheered the gladiators of ancient Rome. And don't forget to buy a delicious ice cream afterwards... GOOOOOOAL!

Fan the Cotton

Fan and Cotton Shirts, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Not only does this fan cool the room,
 it's also perfect for hanging cotton shirts to dry.

And yes, the word cotton comes from the Arabic qutn.

To see more photographs from our UAE trip, take a look at my new tumblr blog

Old Rusty

Rusty Truck, Denny's Classic Cars, Elko, South Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved 
(Click on image for larger view)



This aged truck once enjoyed a vigorous life with a fresh green coat of paint. But since retirement, its splendid green has faded as it languishes in abandonment, subject to corrosive elements of the weather. It has remained sedentary for so long it is known now for its bright red hues, hence the name Old Rusty. 

Farms

Fence Post on a Farm, near Dayton, Ohio  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



There is nothing quite like the textures at farms... the rough hardwood of fences and barns, the bristly fur of livestock, the soft feathers of fowl, the delicate leaves of crops and gardens, the cool metal of machinery, the firm yet friable feel of the earth... the simple joy of being connected with the land.

The View from Rough Ridge

Boardwalk, Tanawha Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Along Rough Ridge, the Tanawha Trail becomes a boardwalk over a 
fragile mountain-heather ecosystem. Rhododendrons bloom rosy hues while 
in the distance the Line Cove Viaduct, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, 
can be seen below a cliff.

Scenes like this make me long for the mountains!

Fading Pine

Old Pine Tree, Lily Lake and Long's Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved




The solitary remains of an old pine overlooks a lake in the Rocky Mountains. 
As this tree fades to dust, younger pines growing near by will replace it. 
The life cycle continues.

A Subtle Touch

Hand Rail, Saint Philip's Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


A little curl at the end gives this hand rail a subtle touch of ornamentation which one might overlook on their way to Sunday services.

A Folly Stonehenge

Ruins of a Jetty, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



This "Stonehenge" on Folly Beach is nothing more than the rotting
remains of an old jetty. Despite man's best efforts, constant erosion
by wind and water whittle away the beaches. And yet, we continue
to be drawn to the magnificent, natural boarder of land and sea.

Deep South

Rural Road, Edisto Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A scene on Edisto Island symbolizes the way many envision the Deep South...
a tunnel of live oak limbs festooned with Spanish moss,
arching over a rural road... y'all.

Throwback Thursday - The Battery's Blooming Oleanders

Flowering Oleanders, East Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Years ago one of the spectacles of Charleston was the colorful and profuse blooming of oleanders along the entire length of East Battery. It was one of my favorite places to go to capture the picturesque beauty of the city.

But in recent years the parks department has kept the fast growing shrubs trimmed low, and the abundant flowers no longer frame the views of the old antebellum mansions.

Peaceful Beginnings

Old Canon and General Moultre Statue, The Battery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



A quiet morning at The Battery shows an old canon and a statue of General Moultre facing sunrise over the harbor. William Moultre's defense of the harbor at Sullivan's Island prevented the British from capturing Charleston in the early stages of the American Revolution.

Even with all the military reminders at The Battery, it is the perfect locale for a peaceful day's beginning.

Accent in Green

Tidal Marsh Grass, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



I made this image of wavy salt marsh grass looking straight down from the Ravenel Bridge several years ago. I was captivated by the strong color and texture, a perfect match for the Velvia slide film I was using at the time. Spoleto chose the shot as an accent image in this year's ticket brochure.

Noh Play to Miss

Dock Street Theatre, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A spotlight venue for Spoleto performances is the old Dock Street Theatre. Included in this year's shows is Matsukaze, a Japanese Noh play made into an opera... sung in German with English subtitles... directed by a Chinese director... in Charleston's French Quarter.  You don't want to miss this one!

Iconic Landmark

Steeple of Saint Philip's Church, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Saint Philip's Church is an iconic landmark in Charleston's French Quarter, where many art galleries and restaurants can be found. The French Quarter is also a busy locale for Spoleto events.

The city of Charleston holds its own version of Spoleto called Piccolo Spoleto. Historic Saint Philip's Church is the venue for one of the Piccolo events, a choral music performance featuring the Singers of Summerville.

Lights on Shem Creek

Bokeh Lights, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


This is one of the images used in the design of the Spoleto Festival USA ticket brochure... it makes a nice soft background for overlay of copy.

2013 Spoleto Festival USA

2013 Spoleto Festival USA Ticket Brochure Cover
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Spoleto Festival USA begins in Charleston today. It is a much celebrated annual event that runs for about two weeks, and is one of the largest international arts festivals in the world.

One of my ironwork images was selected for the ticket brochure cover this year. The marketing department at Spoleto favors images that have a strong graphic design while also hinting at the unique character of Charleston. The talented designers at Stitch Design Co. chose one of my photographs and transformed it into a terrific cover image.

I am honored to have a guest appearance on the Spoleto Festival USA blog this year as well. I wrote a brief entry on how I go about making photographs of Charleston.

I also have Spoleto prints for sale in the Charleston Crafts gallery at 161 Church Street near the Market.

Palace Coffee Room

Coffee Room, Al Ain Palace, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Of all the rooms in all the palaces and hotels and resorts in the UAE, this one would be my favorite... the coffee room in Sheikh Zayed's palace. This is where he entertained his guests while serving fresh Arabian coffee straight from the coals.

Coffee is an excellent word... a very excellent word... one which I love to use freely in daily conversation. Yes, it is derived from the Arabic qahwah, which means any stimulating drink, but especially the one which Doug drinks with relish

Today's post concludes our UAE series. I hope you have enjoyed them as much as we did! Tomorrow I will switch to regular programing, featuring images of Charleston and other points on the compass. But because I have so many images from the UAE, I will continue to post them occasionally.

An Oasis for the Biker

Bicyclist, Al Ain Oasis, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



One way to get around the brick paved lanes of the sprawling Al Ain oasis is by bicycle, but we chose to walk because we were bird watching.

Tower with a Twist

Infinity Tower, Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Construction work nears completion on the Infinity Tower of Dubai. It will be the tallest skyscraper in the world with a 90 degree twist. Incidentally it is designed and engineered by the same American firm that did the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on record.

A Courtyard Oasis

Courtyard, Al Ain Palace Museum, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A courtyard at Sheikh Zayed's Palace in the oasis town of Al Ain was a refuge from arid desert. Walls built around the palace enclosed an area that was ideal for shade trees and quiet rooms for retreat from the heat.

Room with a View

Observation Deck, Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The view from 124 floors above Dubai shows the expanse of the UAE's desert landscape. Needless to say there is plenty of room
 for the city to expand out there.

On a different topic, we switch from one view to another...

My photographer friend, George Munday, of Waterford Co., Ireland 
is finalizing a book project, a collection of his fine art photographs called 
"Waterford, A County Revealed". 
Please take a moment to check out this link to his website to learn more.