The Lotus Eaters

Red Lotus, Old Farm House Pond, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


If you recall your Greek mythology and the story of Homer's Odyssey, the Lotus Eaters were a people inhabiting an island near North Africa who feasted on the Lotus flower and fruit. The plant was said to have a narcotic effect. According to Odysseus, when his ship ran aground on this island, his men munched upon the delicious Lotus plants. They soon felt carefree, being completely apathetic about ever leaving the land of the Lotus Eaters and returning home.

Though we did not partake of the fruit or flower of the lotus, we felt the same way about our family and their farmhouse in Lewisburg.

The Next Newest Thing

Pulleys, Old Style Harvester, The Old Depot, Village Of Lewisburg, OH  © Doug Hickok


It was not so very long ago that farmers had to harvest crops by manually removing the grain from the rest of the plant. By the 19th century, machines were invented to do this mechanically, but they were ponderously drawn by horses or mules. By the early 20th century, self-propelled harvesters like this one made the work much easier and efficient. Now antiques, they are put aside to rust in weedy patches of fields, all but forgotten. These relics of by gone eras are reminders of man's ability to constantly improve upon an idea.

 Today, technology advances with such speed that new inventions are rapidly replaced by the next newest thing, in seemingly just a matter of months.

Mysterious Monday - Not What You Think

Window and Sky, The Old Depot, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


You might think this is a photograph of a cloud reflected in the pane of a window. But on closer inspection it appears to be an open window to the sky.

Or is it?

This visual riddle exemplifies the aphorism, "Life is an illusion".

Red-Eyed Gargoyle

Gargoyle Statue, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


We associate gargoyles with towering medieval cathedrals in Europe. These stone sculptures were designed as waterspouts to transfer rainwater away from buildings, or used sometimes as grotesques to scare away evil spirits.

So it was a little surprising to find, on our second, most recent road trip to Ohio, a pair of tall gargoyles guarding the entrance to an old Victorian home in the little town of Lewisburg. These two ferocious lions came equipped with glowing red eyes as well. Perhaps this is an intimidating sign to neighbors to beware of trespassing, or simply another version of local mid-American kitsch.

With my commitment to unadulterated journalistic reportage, I decided not to use the red eye function on my camera.

Irene Passes by Charleston

Storm Walker, South Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Fortunately, Charleston was only brushed by the outer bands of Hurricane Irene as she passed up the Atlantic coast last evening.


 Today, our thoughts are with everyone in the path of this destructive force of nature.

Blue Cleat

Blue Cleat, Union Pier, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Large cleats such as this one help hold massive container ships to the piers at Charleston's various marine terminals. Vessels from around the globe arrive to load and unload cargos of all sorts. If only good will traveled as easily...


Hope your weekend isn't as stormy as ours is predicted to be!

Window Boxes

Flowers in Window Boxes, Tradd St., Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok



An assortment of blooming flowers adorn the front of an 18th century house along Tradd Street. Charleston has a 12 month growing season, so it is not uncommon to find beautiful surprises like these window boxes almost any time of year.

Cruise Ship Dilemma

Cruise Ship, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


A large cruise ship is docked along a pier in Charleston Harbor. The recent frequency of cruise ship visits has elevated tourism in Charleston, but a debate now rages over the pros and cons of their presence. 


On the one hand, a fortune of tourist dollars is generated by the ships, but on the other hand the environmental impact of large boats in the harbor degrades flora and fauna, and the traffic generated around the waterfront disturbs local residents. 


The Charleston Board of Architectural Review is working hard to find a solution to the problem, the ever elusive balance between quality of life and profit.

Color in the Least Likely Place

Corner, Archdale Parking Garage, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes nice color is found in the least likely places, like the top floor of this parking garage in Charleston.

Fiery Light

Iron Gate Knobs, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Door knobs glow in the light of a setting sun along the Battery in Charleston. Ornate ironwork is part of the charm of our fair city, and can be seen throughout the neighborhoods on the peninsula. 


As the warm sunlight illuminates each curve of iron, the ornate design of the gate is traced in fiery colors. Annie Griffiths Belt, a well known National Geographic photographer, once said that a successful image communicates a sense of the light. And since photography is by definition about light, her remark makes perfect sense.

Chapel of Ease

Strawberry Chapel, Moncks Corner, SC  © Doug Hickok

Strawberry Chapel dates from 1725. It is a chapel of ease, which means it was built so citizens in the outlying parts of the parish could attend services without having to travel long distances to the main parish church.


It has been well preserved over the years and as with many old historic churches in rural areas, reports of strange happenings at night have given birth to ghost stories. These have sadly led to vandalism resulting in the property being made off limits to visitors. 

Running After the Rain

Runner, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


What better way to enjoy a morning than running in Charleston's Waterfront Park after a cooling rain shower. Well, maybe there is a better way, but I can not think of one at the moment. 


Oh, wait, maybe bowling. 
Or tiddlywinks.

Congratulations Sarah (8) & Mike on your Wedding Day!

West Ashley Sunset

Sunset, West Ashley, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Sometimes, the view from our front yard is absolutely stunning!

Have an equally stunning weekend!


HAPPY  HAWAII  50  NAMAHANA !!!!

One Hull of a Reflection

Shrimp Boat, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok

Bridge Wednesday - Memorial Park

Memorial Park, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok



Mount Pleasant's Memorial Park, as seen in this dawn image, sits at the base of the Ravenel Bridge. The public space offers a long fishing pier that extends into the Cooper River, a large expanse of lawn for outdoor events, a restaurant, and a colorful playground for children (and parents).

Abstract Angles

The PLEX, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  © Doug Hickok


These are the colorful stuccoed walls of a movie theater that was later used as a boxing venue. It has been demolished since I made this image on slide film about a decade ago. I miss the ability of good slide film to render color and textures in bright light without having to enhance these qualities in post-processing. The above image is a nice example of this. Raw digital images would need a bit of work to get them to look like this.

A Day at the Beach

Clouds and Beach, Kiawah Island, SC  © Doug Hickok


Summer clouds reflect in glistening shallows along a beautiful stretch of beach at Kiawah Island. This barrier island offers the most pristine beach along the South Carolina coast. On the horizon you can see a thin line of sand dunes where clusters of sea oat colonies thrive. 


A day at the beach like this is ideal for flying kites, hunting for sand dollars, or bowling. 
Or maybe even tiddlywinks.

Twining Vines from Historical Times

Ornate Cross, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Carved flowering vines climb this stone cross at Magnolia Cemetery. The large 19th century graveyard is the resting place of many Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War, including the crew of the Hunley. The Hunley is an early prototype submarine which sank off the coast of Sullivan's Island during a mission to torpedo a Union blockade ship. 


The Hunley was pulled out of the sea several years ago, and is on display at the old navy base, where research continues on this archeological gem from a distant era.

Rendition of a Jetty

Jetty at Sunrise, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


This painterly interpretation of a Folly Beach jetty at sunrise is a departure in style for me. I don't usually play around with Photoshop settings, but I couldn't resist a little experimentation with this old slide that I found in my archives. It seemed a suitable subject for an artistic rendering.

Caw Caw

Southern Wetlands, Caw Caw County Park, Ravenel, SC  © Doug Hickok


From the cool misty coasts of Maine to the hot humid climes of a Southern swampland, this weeks posts offer a variety of natural environments for you to enjoy.


Today's image shows swampy wetlands from a former rice plantation, which was converted in recent times to a wildlife refuge and nature education center. This park is called Caw Caw, just like the sound of wild crows.


Hope you have a wonderful weekend, 
and if you gotta... crow!