Misty Monday - To Shoot

Docked Boats, Northeast Harbor, Maine  © Doug Hickok


The question Hamlet asked was, "To be or not to be."
The question a writer asks is, "to write or not to write."
The question a painter asks is, "to paint or not to paint."
And, the question a photographer asks is, "to shoot or not to shoot."
Sometimes a subject is just too photogenic to pass-up and screams for attention. Such was the case for this naturally beautiful setting on the quiet misty waters of
Northeast Harbor, Maine.

I HAD to shoot!

Mixed Bag

Yardarms, Tall Ship, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sailors tying up sails on the yardarm of a tall ship.

Deck of Tall Ship, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Ropes on the deck of a Coast Guard tall ship docked in Charleston.

Red Barn, Rural Ohio  © Doug Hickok


An image from my days of roaming around the countryside in Ohio.
(shot on Kodachrome 64 slide film, 1986)

Reflections of Shrimp Boats, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


Homage to Jackson Pollack.

Faded Mural, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Answer to the mystery movie star on the mural (from Tuesday's post) -
Ingrid Bergman... painted on the side of the restaurant, Planet Follywood.

Birthday of a Photographer

A young Doug getting his legs in shape for those low POV shots.

I know Doug promised you a "mixed bag day with several promised images" but in honor of Doug's birthday, I, Becky, have made an executive decision to postpone the mixed bag for one day.  I hope you enjoy these images... even though they were not taken by a "real" photographer.

Reflection of a photographer.

Whatever it takes to get the shot.

See, those squats paid off!

Shadow of a photographer... or 2.

Capturing Krakow.

To shoot or not to shoot... that is the question.


Happy Birthday Doug ! ! !

Four Palms Friday

Four Palmetto Trees, Charleston Harbor, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok


This is a view through four Palmetto palms toward Charleston Harbor on a hazy summer morning. I liked the palm trunks in shadow when I first arrived on the scene. I next used a 300 mm telephoto lens to compress space, giving the image a more graphic appearance. The photo was made on Velvia RVP color slide film a few years ago, back in my pre-digital days. You can see a little grain from the 100 ASA film speed, quite different from the smooth look of the 100 ISO digital speed. Also, I thought I would continue the blue/green color theme from yesterday's post. Hope I didn't make you doze off with all the technical talk.

Tomorrow will be a mixed bag day, with several promised images included.
Hope you have a great weekend.


Quick take: May I leave you with an absolute ooh aah image to start your weekend? 
How about this stunner from Frans Lanting!

A Diamond in the Rough

Blue Restaurant Door, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


"In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject" 
Henri Cartier-Bressen

Folly Beach, a 30 minute drive from downtown Charleston (just 5 minutes as the Laughing Gull flies), is a great place to find color, color with character that is. This image shows a detail of a rough-looking door. It is the entrance to a popular restaurant in the island town. The weathered door is a gem in the making, having been chiseled over time into a precious specimen with dazzling blue and green hues. Add a bit of red and you have a little treasure.


And now, if you will please excuse me, I must clean my house.


Quick take: Here is a link to an extraordinary video called "The Decisive Moment", narrated by Henri Cartier-Bresson. In it the master photographer displays and discusses a selection of his most famous images. Priceless.

No Laughing Matter

Laughing Gull, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


There is not a dull gull on Folly Beach these days. Laughing gulls in particular are riotously noisy and seemingly ubiquitous. They frequent the pier, the beach, the parking lots, the areas behind restaurants, and of course, the skies. They are especially eager for handouts, as this handsome bird was. Although I had nothing to give, I tried making-up for my lack of charity by encouraging the gull to laugh at some of my jokes. I tried knock-knock jokes, rim shot one-liners, puns, and even tried my best blue-footed boobie imitation. Not surprisingly, all my attempts at jokes fell flat. The only response I got from the gull was a quiet, curious look, as if to say, "This guy is a looney bird".

Faded Glory

Faded Mural, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


On the side of a restaurant on Folly Beach is a fading mural of famous Hollywood stars from yesteryear. This image is a detail of its weathered wood surface showing the collar and shoulders of one of these famous stars. Who could this be? This weekend I'll reveal the whole picture of this person in case your curiosity has been piqued.

Castle Hill Secret Garden

Castle Hill, Budapest, Hungary  © Doug Hickok


When walking around Castle Hill of Budapest one morning, I was initially attracted to this scene by the warm yellow color of the old stone walls. But then I became intrigued with the open door, which allowed a glimpse through the dark corridor into a courtyard garden. It reminded me of Charleston and secret gardens hidden behind the facades of historic houses. And that made me think, you never know what's behind outward appearances.


Quick take: Here's a link to a short article about shooting street photography with a rangefinder camera. The article opens up an interesting commentary/discussion on the pros and cons of film vs digital photography.

Saint Philip's Sunday a la Pirates

Saint Philip's Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Saint Philip's Church steeple rises above the streets of the French Quarter in this starry night image from Charleston. The red lantern is part of the Pirate House, which dates from 1740, and is said to have lodged the visiting sea rover Blackbeard when it was an inn and gaming establishment (we had tourists even back then). A tunnel led from the Battery to the Pirate House and was used by buccaneers entering the city, apparently to keep a low profile. Pirates were not a welcome sight in those days, except in places they spent their hard fought booty.

Speaking of pirates, Captain Jack Sparrow makes his appearance in theaters this weekend in another entertaining installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. We are big fans of Johnny Depp and look forward to any fun new films of his.

( f5.6, 13 secs, ISO 400, tripod)

Lantern Shadow

Ironwork Scrolls and Lantern Shadow, South Carolina Society Hall,
Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Late afternoon sunlight casts the shadow of an ornate lantern onto a white stucco wall. Shown in the foreground are the ironwork scrolls of the lantern stand. The setting here is the South Carolina Society Hall (1804) which is a popular venue for weddings, cotillion, and other events. I'm sure over the years many debutantes have had their pictures taken next to this fancy lantern.


Quick take: In the course of all your thoughts and ruminations, have you ever wondered what a camera lens cut in half looks like?

Sam is More Than Abell

View of Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park, Oregon  © Doug Hickok

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved paging through National Geographic magazines. I was captivated by the pictures and maps of far away places that I found fascinating, places I wanted to learn about and visit one day. I was completely moved by the premise behind their motto, "Inspiring people to care about the planet." But it wasn't until I became interested in photography in my early 20's that I gained a true appreciation for just how amazing the photographers behind the photographs were. They worked unceasingly to find the most revealing vantage point, the most beautiful light, the most dramatic mood, the most telling human gesture or expression, or the most exciting wildlife behavior. They often worked in the most challenging and dangerous environments. Approaching their photography in a journalistic though artful manner, the emphasis was always on getting the image right in-camera. Over time I came to admire the work of many of these photographers.

So my pick for today's Favorite Photographer Friday is Sam Abell, one of many great NGS photographers whom I find inspiring. Quite unlike Ernst Haas and Pete Turner (previous FPF photographers), Sam Abell's color images are often quiet, understated, and sometimes almost monochromatic. His book The Photographic Life offers fascinating insight into what it was like to be a NGS photographer and even illustrates the processes he used to create some of his most iconic photographs. If you ever see his book in a library or used book store, scoop it up. You'll be fascinated. You can see some of his images here, and his website here.

Have a great weekend!

Throwback Thursday - Homage to Rothko

Weathered Window, Old House, near Chillicothe, Ohio  © Doug Hickok

I made this image on Kodachrome 64 slide film in 1986. Back then, I roamed the Ohio countryside in search of interesting subjects, and often discovered them in abandoned houses or barns. I recently found this transparency, 

in a sleeve of old Kodachromes, 

of a rustic window with squares of pealing yellow paint. It reminds me of a painting in the mode of Mark Rothko. He was a Russian-born American painter known for his colorful abstracts, influenced by among others, the Cubists and their simple geometric designs. He was at the peak of his career in the 1930's through the 1950's, as was this old house, it seems.

The Many Faces of Europa

The Tall Ship Europa, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Every few years, several tall ships from around the world sail into Charleston Harbor for the Maritime Festival. This beauty is the barque Europa, which hails from the Netherlands, and will be 100 years old this summer.

Europa is also the woman in Greek mythology after whom Europe was named.

Europa is the name of a princess from Tyre, who later became a girlfriend of Zeus.

Europa is one of the moons of Jupiter (aka Zeus).

Europa is a large asteroid in the asteroid belt.

Europa is the web portal for the EU.

And perhaps most importantly, Europa is a classic rock song by Santana, and one of the sweetest instrumentals ever!

The Hidden Gem of Acadia

Thuya Garden, Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine  © Doug Hickok


Amid the dramatic coastal and mountain scenery of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is the small, off-the-beaten-path gem called Thuya Garden. In the early morning, when golden sunlight begins to peak through the trees, and there is no sound but the soft calling of birds, this secluded garden is transformed into a magical haven from the notorious summer crowds of the island.
Like an enchanted scene from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, this garden experience is one not to be forgotten. Look there! You can see Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed. And look there, it's Robin Goodfellow! Ah, and there's that donkey-headed Bottom. He's such a silly fellow.
 "You there, Bottom, remove thyself, you're ruining the view!!!"



Quick take: Though I'm actually a quiet, low key person, some people think I'm a little quirky. Some have even called me eccentric. But apparently there are reasons for the things we do. Here is a short article on why creative people tend to be eccentric.

Misty Monday - Balsam Nature Trail

Balsam Nature Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Looping around a ridge just below the peak of Mount Mitchell, the Balsam Nature Trail guides you through a dense, dark subalpine forest of spruce and fir. The mountain is the highest in the eastern US at a modest elevation of 6,684 feet, but its prominent location above the surrounding Appalachian topography causes it to attract heavy weather. Cool even in summer months, this trail is often enveloped by clouds and mists. On this occasion, the mists began to clear just as the sun came out.
There is something about the atmosphere of this primeval forest that always reminds us of elves and dwarves and Tolkien tales. As a matter of fact, we once found Gandolf's wallet and car keys laying beside the trail. He must have dropped them on his way to saving Middle Earth.


Quick take: If you like dramatic landscape photography, take a moment to view California photographer Mitch Dobrowner's work.

Duomo Sunday

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok


Many travelers are probably familiar with the famous Cathedral (Duomo) of Florence, either having seen photographs of Brunelleschi's red brick dome towering above the city, or having visited the church when in Florence. Needless to say, the church is an impressive work of art, either from a distance, or up close. This view of the decorative exterior shows the intricate design work of the marble masonry. Whereas the dome took only 16 years to build, the facade took about five centuries to finish, being started in the 14th century and being completed finally in 1887. Talk about a titanic project, the construction of the Duomo is indeed a model of patience and persistence (not unlike the church of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona). These concepts are often difficult to fathom in the immediate gratification society we live in today.

Cinderella Night

Main Market Square, Old Town of Krakow, Poland  © Doug Hickok


Like a scene in a fairy tale, these ornate carriages in the Main Market Square of Krakow seem poised to rescue Cinderella from a ball, and rush her away into the cover of night. But, as of yet, there is no hint of the glass slipper.
This plaza (Rynek Glowny) dates from the 13th century, and is Europe's largest medieval town square. Surrounding it are historic churches, palaces, and townhouses, which help create the charming atmosphere of an era long past. Shown above are the illuminated Gothic towers of Saint Mary's Basilica.

Lost Time

18th Century Mansion, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


My original post for today was going to be a Favorite Photographer Friday post. But since our Blogger network went down Thursday and most of today, we seemed to have lost time. My Thursday post was bumped back into Wednesday, but is missing most of its comments. Thursday is missing altogether (where did it go?). And today's substitute post is very late and getting short changed. I'll try getting back on schedule tomorrow.
Thank you very much for all your visits.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Twilight on East Bay Street

Ornate Lantern, East Bay Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


As the sun goes down and the twilight settles in, a glowing lantern lights the way along East Bay Street. In the background is the Old Exchange Building, the last structure built in Charleston by the British before the start of the Revolutionary War. Years later, President George Washington was lavishly entertained here by Charleston high society who regarded the war hero as a celebrity.

Today, Eye See Red

Poster Detail, King Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


There was a time, some years ago, when one could walk down King Street and see large colorful poster art plastered on the sides of buildings, especially dilapidated buildings. But in recent years, the King Street shopping district has been extended, and these neglected areas have become gentrified. Most of the old run down places have upscale designer shops and restaurants in them today. This is terrific for business and ambiance, but I miss the random creativity that used to be on display.