Hidden in a Secret Garden

Statue, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



A vine-shouldered statue stands hidden in a secret garden,
 one of the many pleasant tableaux awaiting discovery
 when strolling through Charleston's historic district.

Mirror to the Sky

Dawn on the Kiawah River, Kiawah Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Velvia slide film.)



At dawn, when the tide is high and the waters still,
Lowcountry rivers reflect and hold the hues of the expansive sky...
to one's eye, it is a timeless scene, and a perfectly peaceful way
 to begin the day.

Scoot and Park

Green Scooter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A quick way to scoot around the narrow confines of Charleston
 is on a Vespa... and best of all it's easy to park.

Light for an Evening Stroll

Lantern and Steeple, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
 (Velvia slide film.)



An overhead lantern shines light into the twilight
 to assist with your stroll in the French Quarter.

Beach Geology

Sea Stacks, Cannon Beach, Oregon
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Film photography)



A view of Cannon Beach's iconic Haystack Rock (middle left)
 shows several other sea stacks as well. These geological
 formations provide perfect nesting habitat for sea birds
 and are protected as wilderness areas.

Art Galley Window

Art Galley Window, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)




I found this art gallery window while wandering around
Charleston's French Quarter. I was attracted by the flowers,
 and also by the painting framed in the window and the colorful
 house reflected in the glass. In all, there was a wide range of hues
contained in this little scene.

Piazza Moon

Moon Setting, South Battery Piazza, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)



A setting moon is framed by a South Battery piazza
 as evening fades to night.

Undulation

Curving Sand Dunes, Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park, Oregon
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Various natural forces coincide to shape sand dunes
 into undulating forms, creating S's that wiggle down this Oregon beach.

Out to Sea

Surfer, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)



A surfer paddles out to sea through
early morning waves at Folly Beach.

Cat in a Courtyard

Courtyard Cat, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)



A cat poses for a portrait amid its courtyard surroundings.

Design Connection

James Island Connector, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



An S-curve in the James Island Connector
 makes an eye-catching design,
 highlighted here by the colors of the setting sun.

Now and Then

Saint Michael's Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



The steeple of Saint Michael's Church
 glows against the dawn sky,
as it must have done when it first
opened its doors in 1761.

Distances

View From Atop Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A view from atop the tallest peak in the Eastern U.S.
 takes in the ridges of the Southern Appalachians,
and a distant valley where a small lake shimmers softly in the haze.

Grand Design

Moorish Arches, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, UAE  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A walk past rows of Moorish arches
 offers a sense of the rhythm, symmetry and scale
 in the design of Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Rustic Way

Live Oaks, Botany Bay Road, Edisto Island, SC
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film. Click on image for larger view.)



The way to Botany Bay is bordered by live oaks
 whose branches overhang the rustic rural road.

Seen in the French Quarter

Flower Box, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A charming mix of red and green enhances
 this window scene in Charleston's French Quarter.

Golden Fount

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



Spotlights highlight fountain spray
in a Charleston garden at twilight.

Misty Monday - Night Lamps

Lamps at Night, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)



A misty night along Charleston harbor
 softens the glow of street lamps at Waterfront Park.

A Foul Weather Light

Yaquina Head Light, Newport, Oregon  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Yaquina Head Light is Oregon's tallest lighthouse, perched on a
basaltic peninsula at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. In the late 1800's,
it was know as the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse... a more colorful name
in my opinion, one perfectly describing a beacon that guides ships
 to safe harbor in the worst of maritime conditions.

Charleston Front Yards

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



Charleston's French Quarter is a place where one's front yard
 may be a cobblestone street.

Behind the Scrolls

Garden Gate, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Behind this ornate gate is a lush, semi-tropical landscape
 surrounding a white gazebo. Not far from The Battery,
 it is one of Charleston's prettiest gardens.

Early Snow

Snow Clouds Over Mt. Celo, near Burnsville, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Dark clouds hover over Mt. Celo, sprinkling its peak
 with a light dusting of autumn snow.

Hey Look!

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



Hey look! Over there in the harbor, it's Fort Sumter!
 And some dolphins too!

Back in Time

Saint Michael's Alley, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A walk down Saint Michael's Alley
 is like stepping back in time.

A Farewell to Summer

Maples, Fernbank Park, Cincinnati, Ohio  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A cluster of summer maples shades a spot at Fernbank Park, near the Ohio River in Cincinnati. As September arrives, I bid a farewell to the long summer months... months I remember fondly now, when I was a kid playing in the grassy parks of Ohio, so very long ago. Those were such blissful, innocent days.

Victim of Progress

Walls, The Old Plex, North Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Bold color set against a blue sky makes a graphic image. 
This former landmark no longer stands, 
being a victim of growth and progress in the area.

One Million!

Garden Gate and Cherry Trees, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



This past week, Doug's Photo Blog surpassed one million page views.
So thank you all for your visits! I hope you continue to enjoy the beauty
I so love to share with you.

Porch View

Porch and Chairs, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Film photography.)



Time to relax, sit a spell, and enjoy the view.
Have a stress free weekend.

Echos From the Past

Entry to Pirate's Courtyard, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



It has been nearly 300 years since pirates were last seen in Charleston.
But the entry to Pirate's Courtyard may invite your imagination to wonder if,
at the end of this narrow passageway, you might hear the echos
of a "yo ho ho", or a "shiver me timbers".

Date Palm Oasis

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



When is a desert not a desert?...
when there is a subterranean water source beneath the sand,
and date palms grow thick as weeds.

Color, Texture, Order, Chaos

Colorful Rope, Tall Ships, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



Interest abounds in this detailed image of nautical rope
 found on a Tall Ship anchored at the Port of Charleston.

Flag Tree

Flag Tree, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



In Rocky Mountain National Park, the fringe between the subalpine 
and alpine life zones is the kruppelholz or krummholz 
(German for crooked or bent wood). 
This area is where spruce and fir trees are stunted and shaped 
by fierce winds, creating elfin trees or in this case, a flag tree.
You can tell the predominant direction of the winds by the pointing limbs.

Old Bridge

The Old Foot Bridge, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Spanning a colorfully landscaped cypress swamp is
an old 19th century foot bridge, which has become an
iconic landmark at Magnolia Gardens over the years.

Night Hues

Night Gate, near Rainbow Row, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



By day Charleston has its unique charms...
by night it takes on an entirely different hue.

Anticipation

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



My wife and I have noticed the slightest hint of autumn recently.
Although our afternoons are dreadfully hot, early mornings have
the look and feel of an approaching fall season... a lower angle
of sunlight and the quality of air are getting our attention,
and inspiring our anticipation.

Retro

Basilica of Saint Mark, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Film photography)



A photograph of Saint Mark's Basilica made 150 years ago might
 have resembled this image, which features the sepia tone of old film.
But thanks to a little post-processing of one of my Fuji Velvia slides,
a vintage rendition of modern photography is possible.

Theatrics

Entry, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



A bit of architectural theatrics introduces visitors to the
Dock Street Theatre as they enter the front doors...
the ornamentation overhead is quite dramatic!

Summer Peaks

View From Million Dollar Highway, Molas Pass, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



In the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, near the Million Dollar Highway,
rocky peaks hold snow fields in spite of the warm summer sun.

Misty Monday - Last Roll

Palmetto Trees and Pond, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



Soft light from morning sea fog adds a mysterious mood to this row of palmetto trees reflected in a pond on Kiawah Island. This image is from the last roll of film that I ever shot, back in 2009. I was a late comer to digital photography, but since then it has been all digital. I even shoot occasionally with a tablet nowadays... never saw that coming 5 years ago.



 

Sanctuary

Cherub Statue, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



I love walking through gardens. They feel like sanctuaries
of quiet and beauty amid a world of chaos and woe.
Magnolia Gardens, near Charleston, is the perfect place to find such sanctuary.
It features miles of meandering paths surrounded by a mix
of old world informality and deep south lushness...
an ideal little Eden for one's peace of mind.



 

Clearing Ridges

Misty Ridges, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)


Fog begins to clear along the high ridges of Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. But soon they'll be veiled again by mist
as it creeps up from thickly forested valleys.

Narrow Spaces

Alleyway Gate, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A narrow alleyway leads to a courtyard gate in the Historic District. 
Charleston homes are set close together on the small peninsula. 
Minimal space has been maximized for greatest use. 
Tight alleyways and narrow streets are common, 
and often graced with lush gardens and decorative ironwork.

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.