Sheltered

Early Morning, Saint Philip's Churchyard, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A walk through Charleston's French Quarter may lead you to
 Saint Philip's churchyard, which has many historic gravestones
 sheltered by the arms of ancient oaks.

The Caribbean in Charleston

Tropical Garden, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



Charleston yards often have the look of
 tropical gardens found in the Caribbean.

Echos of Ancient Egypt

Pyramid Mausoleum, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Echos of ancient Egypt reverberate at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery
where a pyramid-shaped mausoleum stands at the edge of a reflecting pond.
But, as you know from your history lessons, it is not likely any mummified pharaohs were entombed here.



 

Flourish

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



Well-worn double doors show a flourish of ornamentation
 characteristic of Charleston's old world ambiance.

Darkness Looming

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



A dark sky looms over the sea
 on a moody morning at Folly Beach.

Lofty

Peaks and Clouds, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The view from Trail Ridge Road overlooking the peaks and valleys of Rocky Mountain National Park is a lofty experience, especially when the clouds in the sky seem so close you could touch them. The road is one of the highest in the U.S., surpassing an elevation of 12,000 feet at its apex.

Survivor

Old Corinthian Capital, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



In 1823 a fire almost completely destroyed Saint Paul Outside the Walls, 
an ancient Roman Catholic basilica which dated back to the 10th century. Architectural fragments that survived the fire, such as this corinthian capital, 
were put on display in the original cloister, adjacent to the modern day basilica 
of the same name.

Twin Lanterns

Large Lanterns, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A pair of lanterns provides soft light as well as charming ambiance
for this courtyard entry in the Historic District.

Oaken Tentacles

Live Oak, Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



The legendary Angel Oak on John's Island isn't the only
live oak in the Lowcountry with crazy limbs.
This old oak in Hampton Park has twisting arms too,
like a wildly tentacled octopus made of bark.

Resting

Bicycle Against a Lamp Post, Saint Michael's Alley, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



When your bicycle is tired of riding around town all day,
just lean it against a lamp post, and let it rest for awhile.
Lamp posts are strategically located across the city for just such a purpose.

Beloved

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



A heart for my beloved.

Western Oasis

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



A row of cottonwood trees borders Medano Creek, which
meanders through Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.
The trees seem like a desert oasis compared to the of towering
mounds of sand gathered at the base of the Sangre De Cristo
Mountains. You would almost expect to see camels.

Relic

Twilight along Longitude Lane, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Longitude Lane is a stony relic of 17th century Charleston,
when the way to get around town
was either by walking or riding a horse.

Same Old Thing

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



Here is yet another row of old cadillacs
buried in a field at an angle, and painted with graffiti...
my goodness, you see them just about everywhere these days.
 Some things never go out of style.

Boardwalk Sunset

Boardwalk, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Right Reserved



A splendid way to end the day is a stroll
 along the boardwalk at Shem Creek.

Afternoon Etching

Gate Shadow, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



Afternoon sunlight "etches" an ornate pattern on the pavement,
 thanks to a nearby courtyard gate.




 

Vast

Paddle Surfer, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A lone surfer seems humbled by the vastness of the sea
on a cloudy morning at Folly Beach.

Way of the Crane

Crane Statue and Pond, Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A garden sculpture cranes its neck as if to meet the morning light...
or perhaps nab an airborne insect.
In either case, it alit amid a peaceful setting
 to strike its pose.

A Tangled Frame

Boneyard Beach, Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A tangle of old trees frames the boneyard beach
 on Pockoy Island at Botany Bay Plantation.

Summer Rainbow

Near Rainbow Row, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



These colorful houses near Rainbow Row are a
 cool sight, even in the heat of summer time.

Tradd Street

Row of Homes, Tradd Street, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Soft morning light greets a row of homes along Tradd Street,
one of the oldest streets in Charleston.
Tradd Street dates back to the late 17th century,
and some of the present day houses were built in the Colonial era.

They Gave Me Vinegar to Drink

Angel Sculpture, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)


This sponge wielding angel was designed by Italian sculptor Antonio Giorgetti, and is one of ten marble angels on the Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome.
Each holds an instrument used during the Passion, and is inscribed with
Latin phrases referencing the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion. 

Night Path

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



For those who are in the mood to stroll, Charleston's Gateway Walk 
offers an off-the-beaten-path adventure. Along the way you will encounter 
intimate charms that make this city unique.

Twinkle

Garden Door and Twinkle Lights, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A garden door can't hide the beauty of
a flourishing cherry tree strung with twinkle lights.

Misty Monday - Painterly

West Quoddy Head Light, Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A lighthouse stands vigil at the edge of a misty sea, 
a subject that is perhaps worthy of an Edward Hopper painting.

Rhythm of the Pier

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



A pattern of pilings at dusk makes a fascinating graphic 
enhanced by the glassy sheen of the beach.

Morning Garden

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



Morning light graces a garden 
tucked away behind scrolling ironwork.

Tidelands at Dusk

Palmettos and Tidal Marsh, Daniel Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Palmetto fronds are silhouetted at dusk 
beside a tranquil tidal marsh on Daniel Island.

Sun Watching

Pelican at Sunrise, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A brown pelican has the perfect perch for watching the sun 
peek over a boardwalk on Charleston Harbor.

Lighting the Night

Lantern at Dusk, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



A glowing lantern offers warm light as twilight fades to night.

Streets of Gold

Cobblestone Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



A cobblestone street looks as though 
it was touched by the hand of Midas.

Number One, Still

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



Charleston was recently named the top city in North America as a travel destination by Travel and Leisure magazine... and number two world wide. 
The city continues its run as one of the best travel experiences anywhere.
And it's a fun place to photograph!

Autumn in the Cove

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



Autumn in Cades Cove accentuates 
the rustic and idyllic nature 
of this Appalachian scene.

Elongated

Lamp Shadow, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Film photography)



Sunset transforms a street lamp into an elongated shadow 
down the narrow alleyway of Elliott Street.

Garden

Garden Gate with Flowering Vines, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Stepping through this garden gate
 envelopes you with the fragrance of flowering vines.

Adam, may your birthday be a sunlit garden
full of peace and joy... and an awesome futbol pitch.




 

Waiting for the Rush

Tables, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Before the midday rush, empty tables quietly await the arrival 
of customers at a restaurant in Saint Mark's Square.

Fenced In

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




Fences placed strategically along the beach
 keep unruly sand from roving around too much.

Snow Mountain

Mt. Snefells Wilderness, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Freshness fills this Colorado scene both in verdant flora and invigorating mountain air. Mt. Snefells derives its name from the Nordic word snaefell,
which means "snow mountain".... clearly an appropriate appellation
for even in summer the high peak holds ribbons of snow.

Battery Balconies

Balconies on the East Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Sunrise suffuses the balconies of a Greek Revival mansion on 
Charleston's East Battery. In 1865, evacuating Confederate 
troops demolished their cannons along the Battery by blowing 
them up. A 500 pound piece of cannon landed atop this house 
and is still lodged in the attic. 

Paradise Found

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



If you're looking for paradise this summer,
you'll find it at the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon.

High Above

Canyon, Colorado National Monument, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



I like heights. Whether it's being up in the Burj Khalifa overlooking Dubai and
the Arabian Desert, being on a mountain top in Yosemite overlooking
the Sierra Nevada ranges, or flying at 30,000 feet above Earth and
seeing its amazing topography. So, it was exciting to visit Colorado National Monument, where Rim Rock Drive offered dramatic views of canyons and
the Colorado River valley in the distance.

Independence

Single House Entry on a Cobblestone Street, Charleston, SC
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Happy 4th of July from Charleston,
where Edward Rutledge and Arthur Middleton,
two signers of the Declaration of Independence,
were born and raised.

Throwbaack Thursday - Not a Photo App

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




Before the invention of photo apps that were made to look like film photography, there was film photography. This image of a sand dune fence at Folly Beach was made on 35mm Kodachrome back in the 1980's. I pulled the slide from my files recently and scanned it. It shows a bit of aging, yet is mostly in good condition. 
If I had my choice of photo apps, I'd go for the old Kodachrome look. 
But there's nothing like the original.

Finding an Angle

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




The long fishing pier at Folly Beach is a frequently photographed subject along the South Carolina coast. I like photographing it too. It has a certain rustic architectural handsomeness. On this occasion, I sought to portray it with evening light and color. But I wanted a different perspective than the usual. Eventually I found an angle that emphasizes the pier's height... a sensation further enhanced by its reflection mirrored in wet sand.

Dawn Chorus

Oak Tree at Dawn, Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, ACE Basin, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



The dawn chorus refers to the stirring of bird life at twilight,
when their songs and calls come together as one,
and take to the cool morning air.
Add to this arrangement vociferous crickets and frogs
and you have quite an ensemble!

South of Broad

Gate and Door, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A beautiful decorative gate contrasts with a rustic brick wall that hosts soft mosses and ferns. Beyond the gate is a Georgian style house that dates from the 18th century. It exemplifies an old city charm often found in the area called South of Broad, where some of Charleston's earliest neighborhoods remain. 

Revisiting

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




Occasionally I like to revisit "old friends", such as Crabtree Falls, 
high in the lush folds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 
This old friend is a cool, refreshing spot away from the madding crowd, 
in a thickly wooded ravine where tranquil water blows cool moist breezes. 
In essence, it is a natural air conditioner, perfect for hot summer relief.

Beached

Old Tree Trunk, Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island SC 
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Unlike the long smooth beaches of South Carolina's resorts, the 
sea island beach at Botany Bay is wild and chaotic. It is strewn with the remains of an old maritime forest. The relentless forces of the sea whittle away at the forest's edge. Trees topple onto the sand where they lie beached and bleached by sun and salt.

Broad Street Blues

Broad Street at Sunrise, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok. All Rights Reserved 
(Click on image for larger view)



A look down Broad Street shows a variety of architectural styles indicative of Charleston's long history, from the colonial era to the 19th century. The blues in the shadows reflect the sky's color temperature on a cloudless morning... 
infused with the sway of Miles Davis notes running through my head.

Anthropomorphism?

Electrical Box, Maritime Center, Charleston, SC  © Doug  Hickok. All Rights Reserved 
(Click on image for larger view)




People have excelled over the millennia at projecting human characteristics on to non-human objects. Very often the comparisons require genuine suspension of disbelief or at least a stretch of the imagination. A case in point is this electrical box at a Charleston marina which has anthropomorphic qualities, 
looking a bit like a fantastical face... or not.