2014 Commencment

Randolph Hall, College of Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)


Pictured here is Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston.
 Today, in front of this campus landmark, undergraduate students
 will commence to graduate after four long years of hard work...
 and fun!

Piece of the Puzzle

Shadows and Reflections, Gondolas, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



There are plenty of beautiful vistas to photograph in the incomparable city of Venice, Italy. But I am the kind of photographer that tends to hone in on details... impressions or abstractions that show an archetypal piece of the whole puzzle. This image shows the prows of two gondolas and their reflections in the waters of a canal, an unmistakably Venetian tableau.

Throwback Thursday - Point of View

Azaleas and Pedestrian Bridge, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC  (Film)



When my wife and I first moved to South Carolina back in the 1980's,
 I was fortunate to have worked at Magnolia Gardens for a couple of years.
 On my time off, I would walk the plantation paths, with camera in hand,
 and learn the tricks of garden photography. For this point of view,
 I climbed up a ladder to peer over the masses of blooming azaleas.
This gave me a clear view of the colors and the old pedestrian bridge
  that is a landmark of the gardens.

Ornate Fence Post

Fence Post, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok All Rights Reserved



A fence post in Charleston is never a dull affair.

Cool Path

Hiking Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A quiet path meanders up Mount Mitchell's forested slope.
 In summer, when the temperatures in the lowlands are unbearable,
 a quick trip to Mount Mitchell will surely cool your body
 as well as your temperament.

Photographer's Best Friend

Live Oak Branches and Reflections, Charles Towne Landing State Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Backlighting may be a photographer's best friend,
especially the way it can transform and highlight a subject,
such as this overhanging branch at Charles Towne Landing.

Above the Street

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



Charleston has plenty of fascinating views at eye level.
 But, above the street interesting sights also abound,
such as this finial detail atop a tall entry gate.
To get near enough for this shot, I climbed a step ladder...
then held out my camera to get even closer.
Luckily, there was enough oxygen
in the atmosphere at that height for me to breath!

Mailbox

Mailbox and Vines, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



It must be a pleasure for the postman to deposit letters
 in a mailbox like this one everyday... one bounded
 by luxuriant displays of verdant vines and purple blooms.

Painter in the Garden

Painter at Work, Middleton Place Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Spring not only brings out colorful blooms in the gardens,
but also the artists who paint them.




 

Throwback Thursday - Primeval Forest

Mountain Stream, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Film)



This is a photograph that I made back in the 1980's
 at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which protects
 one of the last stands of virgin forest in the
 Eastern United States.

Joyce Kilmer wrote a famous poem called "Trees",
which begins with the familiar lines...

"I think that I shall never see
a poem lovely as a tree... "

Arabesque

Lantern, Gate and Shadows, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A synthesis of iron, light and shadow form a complex tapestry of shapes
 in this image of an entry gate to a South Battery home.

Surreal But Real

Clouds and Dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The clouds hovering above these 700 foot high dunes appear a bit surreal,
 like a cut and paste addition to the image. But they are real nonetheless,
 helping to make a photograph rich in contrasting texture and form.

Waterfront Morning

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



A great way to begin your day is to enjoy a sunrise at Waterfront Park.
 Not only do you witness the warm hues of dawn suffusing the placid waters
 of Charleston Harbor, but you can then savor the colorful flowers surrounding
 the Pineapple Fountain, a symbol of Charleston's hospitality.

Door in the Rock

Natural Doorway, Monument Rocks, Western Kansas
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



An archway eroded in rock becomes a natural doorway
  to peek through to the other side.



 

Living Textures

Cypress Swamp, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Living textures abound throughout this cypress swamp garden,
 from new leaves and spring blooms to the detritus
 sprinkled across the sheen of the pond.

Vintage

Antique Ford, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



When walking the narrow streets and alleyways of Charleston,
I occasionally stumble upon a scene that transports me to times past...
such are the charms of the old city.

Summer Rockies

Forest Canyon Overlook, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A view of the Rocky Mountains from an elevation over 11,000 feet
 is impressive, even in summer when most of the snow has melted away,
 revealing the ancient igneous rock.

Multiple Uses?

Fence Detail, Sottile House, College of Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


This fence in the garden of the Sottile House
 is not only decorative, but may be the perfect tool
 to uncork your bottle of chardonnay!

Heron Garden

Heron Statue, Middleton Place Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



One of my favorite places to visit in Charleston during springtime is
Middleton Place Gardens. The special attractions here include beautiful landscaping amid colonial era buildings, hillsides of colorful azaleas,
and mini gardens within the larger gardens... like this heron garden
overlooking the Spring House and Mill Pond.




 

Misty Monday - Old Time Determination

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



Life still thrives even when drastically challenged.
 This old tree, in an Appalachian mountain meadow, 
sprouts branches and foliage in spite of its top being broken away.
 My, that's relentless determination!

Enter in Style

Architectural Details, Trinity Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The beautiful detailing on the portico
 of Trinity United Methodist Church welcomes
all those who enter. Happy Easter!




 

A Spot of Hope

Cloud over the Ocean, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)


Off the coast of Folly Beach one dreary morning,
 a little spotlight of sunlight manages to shine through
a dark cloud hovering over the sea.
Perhaps a sunny day is ahead after all.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Rhododendron Tunnel,  Craggy Gardens, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway is Craggy Gardens, a mountain ridge covered with a natural garden of rhododendron. A hike along Craggy Pinnacle Trail takes you through thickets of these shrubs which arch over the path to form a natural tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is a dramatic 360 degree view over the surrounding mountains.... kind of like heaven.

Creeping Shadows

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



As the evening sun sets on Kiawah Island, 
shadows slowly edge up the trunk and branches 
of a coastal live oak.

Tropical Zone

Sego Palm Courtyard, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Protected from the elements in a brick walled courtyard,
 a sego palm grows hardily among other tropical plants.

Narrow

A Narrow House, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



In Charleston you can discover a slice of the
city's charm in the narrowest of niches.

Hoodoo

Hikers, The Lighthouse, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The arrival at a hoodoo rock formation called The Lighthouse
 is the apex of a hot 6 mile hike through Palo Duro Canyon.

 It also puts a twist on an old bit of wisdom that goes something like this...
 It's not what do you know, but hoodoo you know.

Retreat in the Rockies

Chapel on the Rock, Allenspark, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A retreat in the mountains takes on another level of meaning at
 the Chapel on the Rock, where one may go to seek peace of mind
 amid the awe inspiring Rocky Mountains. Pope John Paul II
 visited here to pray and hike in the forest nearby.

Advance and Recede

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



Duel perspective adds interest to this image of a Folly Beach sunrise...
on one side of the photo the sun throws shadows toward you,
 while on the other side the pier recedes into the sea.

Beneath an Ancient Oak

Pedestrian Bridge and Live Oak, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A small footbridge passes beneath the arching branch
 of a large live oak at Magnolia Gardens.

The Apex of Spring

Wisteria and Church Steeples,  Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



As spring blooms fill every nook and cranny in Charleston,
 wisteria flowers are at their apex. This image was taken along
 Meeting Street, with the twin steeples of First Scots Church
 filling the background.

Away From It All

Beach Walker, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)



As this solitary soul walks Kiawah Island beach,
the strife and clamor of urban life no longer exists.

The Color of Calm

Japanese Maple, Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Green hues fill this photo of a tranquil spot
in Portland's Japanese Garden.
A stroll through this verdant paradise
is sure to calm the soul.

Misty Monday - A Stillness on the Creek

Shrimp Boats, James Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Dawn on a James Island tidal creek finds two shrimp boats
 reflected in calm morning waters.

Early Settlers

Homestead, Oconaluftee Mountain Farm, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



The Oconaluftee bottomlands were first settled by 
European/Americans in the 1790's,
just below Rattlesnake Mountain, seen in the distant mist.
 This exhibit of a mountain farm consists of reconstructed log structures
brought in to give visitors a sense of what it was like
 to live as early Appalachian homesteaders.

Numbers

Row of Dinghies, Charleston Harbor Marina, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



18, 17, 16, 15... these racing boats have their numbers,
 but one day they each hope to be number one.

Spring Delight

Wisteria Entry, Edmondston-Alston House, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A festoon of wisteria drapes the entry gate of an
antebellum mansion along Charleston's famous Battery.

Throwback Thursday - Charleston Color

Old Truck in a Garden, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Many years ago, there was a beloved garden nursery on Bowman Rd.,
in Mt. Pleasant, and this old truck was its calling card...
a local monument of sorts. I stopped to make this shot one day,
and it's a good thing I did. The photograph made the cover
of Charleston Magazine several years ago (August 2008)
when it ran a "Local Color" theme.
Some of my abstract color images were featured in an article inside.

Bridge Wednesday - Distance

Ravenel Bridge Tower and Moon, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The only thing separating this bridge tower and the moon
is about 240,000 miles... the distance it felt like we walked
up the bridge to get this shot.

Edge of America

Surfer on a Boardwalk, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved




While walking the boardwalk toward the beach,
this surfer gets an unparalleled view of the Edge of America
and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.

Garden Glow

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



Evening sun illuminates fresh green grass
 between long limbed oaks at White Point Gardens.

Stones of Venice

Marble Column, Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



If you like rocks, go to Venice. For example, a geologist would surely find the mineral composition of these architectural elements a fascinating study... in fact, the entire Basilica of Saint Mark's is a treasure trove of precious stones.

A Notably Low Tide

Fishing Boats at Low Tide, Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Low tide brings to rest a trio of weatherworn fishing boats on Campobello Island.  The nearby Bay of Fundy has the world's highest tidal range...
 nearly 50 vertical feet between high and low tides.

Dreaming at Day's End

Sunset Through My Window, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Curtains veil a sunset through my window,
evoking a tranquil moment of pleasant daydreaming.

Any Which Way

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



Go left, go right, or just stop and admire the evening light
 as it settles over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Whichever way you choose, the views are serene and awe inspiring.

Rocky Slope

Rocky Slope, Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado 
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



They are called the Rockies for a reason...
whether you look up or down, 
there are bits of the mountains everywhere!

Looking Ahead

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



By the time April arrives, colorful blooms such as these
 will spring upon Charleston and the Lowcountry.

Misty Monday - Monochromatic Morning

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



A soft misty morning is perfect
 for a monochromatic interpretation
 of the Folly Beach Fishing Pier.

An Eye for Natural Light

Oculus, Pantheon, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Velvia slide film.)



The natural way to light the Pantheon,
a temple of ancient Rome dedicated to all the gods,
is to let the sun shine through its oculus,
the great eye at the dome's center.

Swamp Palms

Palmetto Frond and Cypress Swamp, Middleton Place, Charleston, SC



Early spring at a bald cypress swamp...
 where native palms thrive even after a winter
 of ice storms and sub-freezing temperatures.