Valley Hues

Mountain Valley, near Hot Springs, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Backlighting from the afternoon sun warms
 a mountain valley alight with autumn hues.

Mimicking Clouds

Clouds at Sunset, Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Clouds at sunset hover high above Appalachian ridges,
 whose contours the wispy vapors seem to mimic.

The Creature from Outer Someplace

Alien Spider, Waterfront Park, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



This bizarre arachnid appears to have descended from outer space (or someone's outer imagination) to invade earth on Halloween. Perhaps the opening is a wormhole to another universe, where one might be dropped suddenly into a fantastical Willy Wonka world.

Grand Gondolas

Gondolas, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Rows of moored gondolas covered with blue tarpaulins
offer a classic Venetian sight along the Grand Canal.

Ship Watching

Cupola, Antebellum Mansion, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



With a view over Charleston harbor, this antebellum mansion, near the Battery,
 is an ideal place for watching ships come and go.

Mission Angel

Angel Face, San Antonio, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved  (Velvia slide film.)



At the San Jose Mission, an old stone carved angel greets parishioners.

Palmer Chapel

Palmer Chapel, Big Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Tucked near a wood margin in Big Cataloochee Valley,
 a little one-room chapel evokes the primitive lifestyle
 of Appalachian Mountain settlers.

A Fond Farewell to my Father-in-Law

Cliff, Overlooking Cannon Beach, Oregon  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



"I remember you too clearly,
but I'll survive another day;
Conversations to share, when there's no one there;
I'll imagine what you'd say."
                                -Company by Rickie Lee Jones

In loving memory of
Cliff Schulte
1931-2013

Looking for Clues

Tire Tracks, Sand Dunes, Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



If I were a detective or a tracker looking to piece together a story of what happened here, I should be able to "read" the assortment of clues left in these dunes in the Arabian Desert near Al Ain...
 tire tracks, camel tracks, foot prints, etc.

But all I can gather is that the desert, despite its forbidding nature, 
can be quite a busy place.

A Spot of Green

Balcony and Windows, Venice, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



A spot of green in a balcony curtain complements the red hues
 of a Venetian facade in the Campo Santo Stefano.

Late Autumn Hues

Sunlit Mountain Ridge, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Late autumn along the Blue Ridge Parkway
 offers a panoply of color to enjoy.

The Real Thing

Display at World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, Georgia  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A giant green Coke bottle appears ready for an
 interstellar launch at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

Daybreak on the Atlantic

Boneyard Beach, Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A clouded horizon adds mood to an early morning silhouette
 of twin, bare trees on the beach.

The Padua Tridangle

Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata and Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua, Italy  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved 
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



The timely flight of a pigeon adds an extra layer of interest to this Paduan tableaux by creating a visual triangle between statue, bird and church. 

The horseman statue was sculpted by Renaissance artist Donatello...
 the namesake of the famous teenage mutant ninja turtle.

Rough-hewn Home

Carter Shields Cabin, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A rough-hewn log cabin tucked in a forested mountain cove 
evokes an era of rugged living in the Appalachians.

Scraggly but Strong

Lone Tree, in the desert near Al Ain, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



It may be scraggly looking, but a solitary tree in the Arabian Desert somehow hangs on to its meager existence. In the hot, hazy background is the ridgeline of Jebel Hafeet, the highest mountain in a region that is predominantly vast expanses of sand dunes.

Throwback Thursday - Ungentrified

Secret Garden Door, Longitude Lane, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Kodachrome film)



I shot this picture years ago on Kodachrome film.
It ended up being selected for the cover shot for an issue of Where Charleston magazine. The door has since been gentrified, 
loosing the old country charm seen here.

Bridge Wednesday - Autumnal Hues

Ravenel Bridge, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The setting sun highlights a curve in the Ravenel Bridge
 with autumnal hues.

Wood Nymph at Middleton

Sculpture, Middleton Place Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



A tranquil atmosphere in the gardens at Middleton Place surrounds this wood nymph sculpture from the early 1800's.
If you follow this link to Middleton's website, you can see another one of my images of this statue.

Tic Tac Toe

Olympic Torch and Skyscrapers, Atlanta, Georgia  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An implied diagonal line and visual rhythm come together to make a
 tic tac toe of architectural styles in downtown Atlanta.

Night in the French Quarter

Stylized Pineapple on Gate, Saint Philip's Church, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



At night, lights illuminate the steeple of Saint Philip's Church, in Charleston's French Quarter. It provides a colorful background for a stylized pineapple atop the church gate. The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, a concept which is often in the forefront of Charleston's destination travel marketing.

As you can see from the graininess of the photo, this image was made on Velvia slide film, from my earlier days of shooting.

Thought Bubbles?

Binocular Viewer and Clouds, Folly Pier, Folly Beach, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Clouds seem to emanate from this viewer like thought bubbles in a cartoon.

Rebirth

Lone Tree, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



After widespread destruction by fire and ash, a lone tree acts as a bellwether on a formally forested mountainside near Mount St. Helens.
From death comes rebirth as life resumes its relentless hold on the land.

Branching Out

Conifer at Sunrise, Waterrock Knob, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



As dawn unfolds on Waterrock Knob, the branches of a conifer reach out for the light, creating a strong graphic silhouette. At an elevation of 6,293 feet, Waterrock Knob is an ideal place along the Blue Ridge Parkway for watching sunrises and sunsets, and also excellent for star gazing on clear nights.

Morning Among the Ruins

Ruins and Olive Trees, Roman Forum, Rome, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



Soft morning light illuminates what remains of ancient Rome.
On the Palatine Hill are the ruins of the Emperor's palaces.
Alas, even the mightiest fall.

Atlanta Is Burning

Red Maple, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A flaming red maple blazes in downtown Atlanta.

Tunnel of Oaks

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



On the way to Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area,
 a road passes beneath a tunnel of live oaks, and their ancient wisdom, 
on the sea island of Edisto.

Angel and the Scrollwork

Angel and Ironwork, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A stone angel contrasts with 
scrolled ironwork in this gold and blue composition.

Making a Splash!!!

Paint Splashes, Cannon Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Paint splashes on a pink wall make
 a loud artistic statement by an unknown artist.

Gold Leaves

Courtyard, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Columns in the courtyard of Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque
 are adorned with gold leaves.
Its stone floor is polished smooth as a mirror.

Gem from the Sea

Sand Dollar, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Like a small gem offered up by the sea,
a beautiful sand dollar
 rests on a wave-patterned beach.

After the Rain

Country Road, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



After the rain, evening settles quietly
 over a country road in Cades Cove.

Window Light

Window Glass Reflection, near Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film)



Sunlight reflecting off nearby window panes casts
 an abstract image on a wall near Piazza Navona, Roma.

Marina Tableau

Sail Boat, Charleston Harbor Marina, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Sunlight breaks through overcast clouds
 to enhance the look of this nautical tableau.

Tropical Alley

Longitude Lane, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Although the calendar says it is autumn,
 an alleyway in Charleston
 still retains a tropical lushness.

A Canopy of Flags

Flags of the World, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Flags from around the world
 represent participants in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Do you see your flag?

Japanese Maple

Maple, Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A low growing maple adds fine texture to one of Portland's star attractions,
 its beautiful Japanese Gardens.

Throwback Thursday - Abandoned Battery

Detail of Concrete Wall, 19th Century Military Battery, Sullivan's Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Kodachrome slide)



About 25 years ago, I made this Kodachrome image of an abandoned military battery wall. I was fascinated by the odd weathering patterns of streaking and corrosion, part of which resembles the moon.

Edgar Allen Poe was stationed at a fort near this old battery in 1827.

A Tree Grows in Charleston

Chinese Tallow Tree, Sarcophagus at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A tree, a shrub, a vine, a fern...
anything that will take root
in tiny cracks and crevasses will grow
 in the moist climate of the lowcountry.

Ponte Vecchio

Reflection of the Ponte Vecchio, Arno River, Florence, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



Not the usual take on Florence Italy's famous Medieval bridge,
 but I like the bit of mystery evoked by not showing the whole structure.

The Ponte Vecchio was constructed in 1345, replacing a series of older bridges that dated back to the Roman era. It still has several levels of bustling shops, as it has had throughout its history. You can see some of the tourists in the open archways reflected in the Arno.

French Quarter Single House

Single House, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The side entrance to a Charleston single house
 quietly faces a narrow courtyard in the French Quarter.

Cherohala Sunset

Sunset, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A view from Cherohala Skyway offers a tranquil sunset over layers of ridges in the Appalachian Mountains. Cherohala Skyway is like a shorter version of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is often overlooked because it is off-the-beaten path.

Kiawah Marsh Egret

Great Egret, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



Warm morning backlighting gives an edge of color to this Great Egret.
 A Kiawah marsh adds the blue backdrop.

A Little Privacy, Please

Garden Gate Hung with Privacy Cloth, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



For a little privacy, a garden gate is adorned with a printed cloth of hydrangea flowers. This gate belongs to a walled garden along one of Charleston's many narrow alleyways frequently explored by tourists.

Throwback Thrusday - Fishing at a Folly Jetty

Fisherman on a Jetty, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Kodachrome slide film)



I recently found this image, a fisherman at Folly Beach, while going through my old Kodachrome files. I shot it around the time we first moved to Charleston. The aqua tint is likely from aging (the slide is about 25 years old), and because of that the image has the look of Instagram photos.

Cataloochee Valley

Mountain Road, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
 North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Cataloochee Valley is a hidden gem in the Smoky Mountains. Not nearly as crowded as Cades Cove, the valley is less traveled because of its more remote access. But the natural beauty is self evident. Even during the busy visitation which the park receives in autumn, Cataloochee can feel quiet and secluded.

Goat Head

Goat head Door Knocker, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Knock to enter... but only if you are a goatherd
dressed in goatskin while sporting a goatee,
and have a firm belief in scapegoatism.

Cobbles and Wobbles

Bike on Gillon Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



How do you beat Charleston's heavy traffic?...
ride your bike to work and park it near a cobblestone street.

Except, stay off the cobbles,
otherwise you and your bike will get the wobbles.

Ghostly Moon

Saint Philip's Chruch, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



A moonlit night in Charleston's French Quater
 is perfect for joining a stroll with one of the city's ghost tours.

Little Free Library

Little Free Library, Logan Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



One of the best ideas humans have ever had is the library!
After all, who doesn't like free books to read!
Here is a little example of free books in Charleston.

Some of my favorite library reads of 2013 include The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, Round House by Louise Erdrich, Revelation by C. J. Sansom, The Snowman by Joe Nesbo, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell, A Time of Angels by Karen Hesse, and Decartes' Bones by Russell Short.