A Canopy of Flags

Flags of the World, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Flags from around the world
 represent participants in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Do you see your flag?

Japanese Maple

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



A low growing maple adds fine texture to one of Portland's star attractions,
 its beautiful Japanese Gardens.

Throwback Thursday - Abandoned Battery

Detail of Concrete Wall, 19th Century Military Battery, Sullivan's Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Kodachrome slide)



About 25 years ago, I made this Kodachrome image of an abandoned military battery wall. I was fascinated by the odd weathering patterns of streaking and corrosion, part of which resembles the moon.

Edgar Allen Poe was stationed at a fort near this old battery in 1827.

A Tree Grows in Charleston

Chinese Tallow Tree, Sarcophagus at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A tree, a shrub, a vine, a fern...
anything that will take root
in tiny cracks and crevasses will grow
 in the moist climate of the lowcountry.

Ponte Vecchio

Reflection of the Ponte Vecchio, Arno River, Florence, Italy
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film)



Not the usual take on Florence Italy's famous Medieval bridge,
 but I like the bit of mystery evoked by not showing the whole structure.

The Ponte Vecchio was constructed in 1345, replacing a series of older bridges that dated back to the Roman era. It still has several levels of bustling shops, as it has had throughout its history. You can see some of the tourists in the open archways reflected in the Arno.

French Quarter Single House

Single House, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The side entrance to a Charleston single house
 quietly faces a narrow courtyard in the French Quarter.

Cherohala Sunset

Sunset, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.)



A view from Cherohala Skyway offers a tranquil sunset over layers of ridges in the Appalachian Mountains. Cherohala Skyway is like a shorter version of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is often overlooked because it is off-the-beaten path.

Kiawah Marsh Egret

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



Warm morning backlighting gives an edge of color to this Great Egret.
 A Kiawah marsh adds the blue backdrop.

A Little Privacy, Please

Garden Gate Hung with Privacy Cloth, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



For a little privacy, a garden gate is adorned with a printed cloth of hydrangea flowers. This gate belongs to a walled garden along one of Charleston's many narrow alleyways frequently explored by tourists.

Throwback Thrusday - Fishing at a Folly Jetty

Fisherman on a Jetty, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view. Kodachrome slide film)



I recently found this image, a fisherman at Folly Beach, while going through my old Kodachrome files. I shot it around the time we first moved to Charleston. The aqua tint is likely from aging (the slide is about 25 years old), and because of that the image has the look of Instagram photos.

Cataloochee Valley

Mountain Road, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
 North Carolina  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



Cataloochee Valley is a hidden gem in the Smoky Mountains. Not nearly as crowded as Cades Cove, the valley is less traveled because of its more remote access. But the natural beauty is self evident. Even during the busy visitation which the park receives in autumn, Cataloochee can feel quiet and secluded.

Goat Head

Goat head Door Knocker, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Knock to enter... but only if you are a goatherd
dressed in goatskin while sporting a goatee,
and have a firm belief in scapegoatism.

Cobbles and Wobbles

Bike on Gillon Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film)



How do you beat Charleston's heavy traffic?...
ride your bike to work and park it near a cobblestone street.

Except, stay off the cobbles,
otherwise you and your bike will get the wobbles.

Ghostly Moon

Saint Philip's Chruch, French Quarter, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



A moonlit night in Charleston's French Quater
 is perfect for joining a stroll with one of the city's ghost tours.

Little Free Library

Little Free Library, Logan Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



One of the best ideas humans have ever had is the library!
After all, who doesn't like free books to read!
Here is a little example of free books in Charleston.

Some of my favorite library reads of 2013 include The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, Round House by Louise Erdrich, Revelation by C. J. Sansom, The Snowman by Joe Nesbo, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell, A Time of Angels by Karen Hesse, and Decartes' Bones by Russell Short.

Texas Backwater

Sun and Cypress, McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, Texas
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Sunlight filtering through trees shines on a backwater creek at
 McKinney Falls State Park, Austin. Prehistoric reptiles swam in 
shallow seas which once covered much of Texas in the 
Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 million years ago).

Baptistery of Saint John

Baptistery, Florence, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved  (Velvia slide film)



The facade of the Baptistery of Saint John stands in the Piazza del Duomo of Florence. The bronze doors were created by Lorenzo Ghiberti and are known as the Gates of Paradise. They are the main feature of the Baptistry which is considered one of the oldest buildings in Florence (11th century).

Colonial Lake Dawn

Colonial Lake, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



A blue dawn brings to light Colonial Lake,
a resevoir surrounded by a promenade, park benches
 and Charleston homes.

Crepes in Charleston

Crepe Myrtle, Tradd St., Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Crepe myrtles add vibrant color to Charleston throughout the warm months. 
This one makes a charming addition 
to a cobblestone street in the historic district.
But another kind of crepe sounds good to me...
 a strawberry crepe with whipped cream!

Misty Monday - Hunting for Stones

Hunter Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Hunting for colorful stones is not a problem at Hunter Beach. 
Finding a good pizza joint though, is another story.