A Pervading Stillness

Fishing Dock, James Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (click on image for larger view.)



A morning stillness pervades a tidal river
 with fishing dock and shrimp boats on James Island.

Patterns and Hues

Shutters, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



The patterns of shutters and the warm hues of Tuscan stone
 bring to life this vignette from sunny Florence, Italy.

Cast Iron Planter

Cast Iron Busts on Planter, Calhoun Mansion Garden, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A cast iron planter in the Calhoun Mansion garden is adorned
 with two stately busts. These personages may date from the Victorian age, 
given that the mansion itself is from that period as well.

Pigeons on the Pier

Rock Doves, Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Folly Beach, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Folly Beach Pier not only attracts fisherman, but pigeons love 
the latticework of posts and beams for nesting, as well as the 
railing for the enjoyment of a seaside sunrise.




 

Canoe Dock

Canoe Dock, Daniel Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



This small dock offers an ideal spot to catch a winter sunset. A canoe launched from here can enter a network of tidal creeks which take the adventurous paddler on a tranquil ride around Daniel Island, near Charleston.

Kodachrome

Steps, Abandoned Battery, Sullivan's Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Kodachrome film)



Step patterns are accentuated by afternoon light and shadow
 at an abandoned military battery on Sullivan's Island. I shot this image on Kodachrome years ago after we moved to Charleston,
 and when I first began to explore my new surroundings.

Jet Engine

Jet Engine, USS Yorktown, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved




A look down the engine shaft of an old fighter jet shows the scarring
of combustion exhaust which blasted out at unthinkably high temperatures.

Garden Flora

Pond and Reflections, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The still waters of a pond reflect an assortment of flora
 on display at Magnolia Gardens, near Charleston.

Appalachian Sunset

Sunset, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



The ancient ridges of the Southern Appalachian Mountains provide a
setting for this sunset seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway. At one time, the
Appalachians were the tallest mountains on Earth, but nearly 500 million years
of erosion have drastically shortened and softened their once lofty peaks.

Star of the Show

Blue Star, Nederland, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



I closely cropped this vignette that I found in Nederland, Colorado,
to emphasize the star of the show...
an attractive mix of bright colors!

Delicate Tendrils

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



Illuminated by afternoon sunlight, the delicate tendrils of a willow tree
 grace the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon.

Court Session

Door and Pediment, County Courthouse, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The Charleston County Courthouse dates from the colonial period
and is one of the oldest public buildings in town.
Morning light on the old restored stone gives this doorway a feeling of warmth,
in spite of how much you may not wish to enter a court room full of lawyers.

Glowing Steeple

Saint Michael's Steeple, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Aglow at twilight, the steeple of Saint Michael's Church
 is a beacon in the heart of Charleston's famous historic district.

Placid

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


Placid waters and the fading light of the evening sun 
create a peaceful conclusion to a day on Shem Creek. 

Cormorants in Flight

Flight of Cormorants, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A V-shaped skein of double-crested cormorants takes wing over the Atlantic Ocean near Folly Beach. These sea birds, and others, flock just offshore in the winter, and offer interesting birdwatching especially when the light is good.

Gate Scroll Target

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


I zeroed in on the "bullseye" on this gate scroll while making sure
 to align it with the garden path receding in the background.
 This gives the image a sense of place, picturing a Charleston
 home and garden in an indirect yet evocative way.

Italian Splendor

Cathedral of Florence, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A landmark of Renaissance Italy is the Duomo of Florence, otherwise known as the Bascilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Brunelleschi built its famous dome in the 15th century, the largest one of its time. The elaborate facade, designed by Emilio De Fabris, was completed more than 300 years later in 1887.

Garden Along the Ashley

Live Oaks along the Ashley River, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Click on image for larger view)



Magnolia Gardens lies along the Ashley River,
where live oak trees dip their limbs
toward the slow moving water.

Garden Fountain

Fountain, Calhoun Mansion, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Even in the midst of winter,
a garden in Charleston abounds with verdant color.

Salt Marsh Salutation

Bowing Tree in a Salt Marsh, Daniel Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A lone tree spreads its arms and bows slightly forward,
 as if offering a natural salutation to the marshland.




 

Shem Creek at Twilight

Motion Blur, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved




At dusk along Shem Creek, restaurant lights reflect in the water. 
I used a quick camera motion to create short "brush strokes" of the illuminations which blurred colors to make this abstract.

Dawn Along A Creek

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



The bluish hues of dawn suffuse a tidal creek
 at low tide on Edisto Island.

Beach Jog

Jogger and Sand Fence, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



What better way to begin the day than a jog on the beach, with the warm shining sun over the sea, the hissing waves of the surf, and the cooling sea breeze.

A New Year Begins

Gas Lantern, East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



At an entry to a house in the historic district, a lantern flame burns steadily,
like the advancement of time itself. So, a new year begins
in the old city of Charleston, marking the 344th year since it's founding in 1670.

Stairway to the Sea

Steps and Surf, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Inviting steps lead down to the surf
and the unknown wonders of the vast open sea.

May your New Year be as full of wonders!

Misty Monday - A Pier Appears

Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Sea fog and clouds dissipate as the morning sun rises,
revealing the Folly Beach Fishing Pier.

Makeover

Air Hose, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



It has been awhile since air was 25 cents. This abandoned air hose could have been an eyesore, but it was revived by an eye-popping makeover.

Fence Pattern

Sand Fences, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Groupings of sand fences form a rhythmic pattern as they fade into the distance on Folly Beach. Storm erosion has dramatically altered the coast line on this portion of the sea island, so the fences are intended to help stabilized what remains of the dunes.

Liquid Hues

Reflections, Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Blue and gold hues reflect
in the pool
 beneath the Pineapple Fountain
in Charleston's Waterfront Park.

Winter Dawn

Shrimp Boats, James Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



As twilight fades into the light of dawn, shrimp boats on a tidal creek are revealed this misty winter morning.

A Home for the Holidays

Courtyard Garden, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The courtyard garden of a Charleston home
 is decorated simply and elegantly for the holidays.

Merry Christmas from Charleston!

December Garden

Garden Statue, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A garden statue is crowned with a red wreath made of berries from the
Chinese Tallow Tree, otherwise known as the Popcorn Tree. It is an introduced species that appears profusely in the coastal plain of South Carolina.

Acadia Morning

Rocky Shores, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Warm colored stone contrasts with cool colored waters
 and skies on a sunny morning in Acadia.

Lowcountry Morning

Tidal Creek, Edisto Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Rising mist softens a view of a tidal creek
 on a Lowcountry morning.

Pony Ride

Mini Pony Ride, Woodstock, Georgia  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A cold December evening finds a lonely group of mini ponies
waiting patiently to give children a ride for the holidays.

Desert Developement

Flower Walls, and Crane Miracle Garden, Dubai, UAE  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A crane at a construction site near Dubai is framed by two flower walls. Cranes are no uncommon sight in the UAE. In spite of the country's small size, it had the largest percentage of construction cranes in use in the world. The cranes are indicative of the Arabian Gulf State's rapid growth and vigorous economy.

But the Miracle Garden, where these flowers grow, is an improbable sight.
Thriving in the desert outside of Dubai, plenty of water is piped in
to keep the plants alive in the searing heat.

Foothills Hike

Pinyon Pine, Foothills of Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Bordering the Great Sand Dunes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are foothills covered with Pinyon pine and Rocky Mountain juniper. Becky and I hiked a trail here one morning doing one of our favorite outdoor activities... birdwatching.

 A twitter here, a twitter there, a little brown bird flitting in the brush... well, the morning was tranquil and beautiful, but the birds were elusive.

Still it was great to be outdoors.

Colossal

Caesar Augustus, Belvedere Courtyard, Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



An ancient sculptured head of Caesar Augustus is not only massive in size,
 but also suggests the ruler's colossal impact on the course of
 western civilization as the founder of the Roman Empire.

Carolina Days

Sunset, White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Click on image for larger view.)



Another clear winter day in the Carolinas comes to a close
 with a sunset at Charleston's White Point Gardens.

Ridge and Valley

Sunlight on Mountain Ridges, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



A setting sun warmly illuminates ridgeline trees
while valleys are blanketed with cool autumn shadows
in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Masonry Frame

Arches and Cross, Mission San Jose, San Antonio, Texas
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved 
(Velvia slide film.)



An open archway at Mission San Jose provides
 a natural frame for its humble cross.

Seaward Winds

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



A copse of coastal live oaks is shaped by the constant force of seaward winds, much like the hair on my head is shaped by the force of the hairstylist's blow dryer.

The Magnetism of Donuts

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain and wishing for a return visit to Rome actually works. We've been back to Rome several times. And I think I know why.

There is a scientific cause and effect explanation for everything that occurs. So I surmise that these Baroque sculptures contain incredibly powerful magnets which pull humans back to them, even from distant corners of the planet.

 This would also explain why hoards of people swarm around the fountain, like ants swarm around donuts at a picnic. Wait, that would mean the fountain is made of donuts. Ok, let me rethink my supposition.

Waiting

Great Blue Heron, West Ashley Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A quiet mist envelopes a statuesque heron waiting for the decisive moment
to strike its prey. Camouflage, calm and patience are the way of life for such
a ninja hunter as this one.

Festive Lights

Holiday Lights, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A dazzling arrangement of tree limbs and holiday lights
adds a festive touch to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

Staying Respectable

Fence Line, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



While hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, on a trail bordered by an old fence, light from the setting sun made everything golden.

This rustic fence line caught my eye. I thought a low point of view would simplify the scene, separating it from the background of mountains.

So as the light began to fade, I stooped low and grabbed the shot. Luckily, for the sake of my respectable reputation, I did not stoop too low.

Pink Flamingo

Pink Flamingo, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The strangest sights are seen on Folly Beach. I stumbled upon this pink flamingo, which alighted in a planter and stood perfectly still against a turquoise wall.
 I could not help but trip the shutter.

Gingerbread House?

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



Though this house is clearly not made of gingerbread, there is a bakery near by. Perhaps the delicious aromas wafting through the air enticed me to photograph this visual treat.

Old Mine

Abandoned Mine, near Red Mountain Pass, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The mountains in Colorado are rich in mineral deposits. Mining is a prevalent part of the state's economy, but many old mines sit abandoned, symbols of the industry's boom and bust tendency.

Shapes and Shadows

Shapes and Shadows, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An interesting play of shapes and shadows creates
 a visual attraction at the Fairmont Hotel in Abu Dhabi.