Piece of the Puzzle

Shadows and Reflections, Gondolas, Venice, Italy  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



There are plenty of beautiful vistas to photograph in the incomparable city of Venice, Italy. But I am the kind of photographer that tends to hone in on details... impressions or abstractions that show an archetypal piece of the whole puzzle. This image shows the prows of two gondolas and their reflections in the waters of a canal, an unmistakably Venetian tableau.

Throwback Thursday - Point of View

Azaleas and Pedestrian Bridge, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC  (Film)



When my wife and I first moved to South Carolina back in the 1980's,
 I was fortunate to have worked at Magnolia Gardens for a couple of years.
 On my time off, I would walk the plantation paths, with camera in hand,
 and learn the tricks of garden photography. For this point of view,
 I climbed up a ladder to peer over the masses of blooming azaleas.
This gave me a clear view of the colors and the old pedestrian bridge
  that is a landmark of the gardens.

Ornate Fence Post

Fence Post, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok All Rights Reserved



A fence post in Charleston is never a dull affair.

Cool Path

Hiking Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A quiet path meanders up Mount Mitchell's forested slope.
 In summer, when the temperatures in the lowlands are unbearable,
 a quick trip to Mount Mitchell will surely cool your body
 as well as your temperament.

Photographer's Best Friend

Live Oak Branches and Reflections, Charles Towne Landing State Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Backlighting may be a photographer's best friend,
especially the way it can transform and highlight a subject,
such as this overhanging branch at Charles Towne Landing.

Above the Street

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



Charleston has plenty of fascinating views at eye level.
 But, above the street interesting sights also abound,
such as this finial detail atop a tall entry gate.
To get near enough for this shot, I climbed a step ladder...
then held out my camera to get even closer.
Luckily, there was enough oxygen
in the atmosphere at that height for me to breath!

Mailbox

Mailbox and Vines, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



It must be a pleasure for the postman to deposit letters
 in a mailbox like this one everyday... one bounded
 by luxuriant displays of verdant vines and purple blooms.

Painter in the Garden

Painter at Work, Middleton Place Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Spring not only brings out colorful blooms in the gardens,
but also the artists who paint them.




 

Throwback Thursday - Primeval Forest

Mountain Stream, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, North Carolina
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved (Film)



This is a photograph that I made back in the 1980's
 at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which protects
 one of the last stands of virgin forest in the
 Eastern United States.

Joyce Kilmer wrote a famous poem called "Trees",
which begins with the familiar lines...

"I think that I shall never see
a poem lovely as a tree... "

Arabesque

Lantern, Gate and Shadows, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A synthesis of iron, light and shadow form a complex tapestry of shapes
 in this image of an entry gate to a South Battery home.

Surreal But Real

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



The clouds hovering above these 700 foot high dunes appear a bit surreal,
 like a cut and paste addition to the image. But they are real nonetheless,
 helping to make a photograph rich in contrasting texture and form.

Waterfront Morning

Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A great way to begin your day is to enjoy a sunrise at Waterfront Park.
 Not only do you witness the warm hues of dawn suffusing the placid waters
 of Charleston Harbor, but you can then savor the colorful flowers surrounding
 the Pineapple Fountain, a symbol of Charleston's hospitality.

Door in the Rock

Natural Doorway, Monument Rocks, Western Kansas
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



An archway eroded in rock becomes a natural doorway
  to peek through to the other side.



 

Living Textures

Cypress Swamp, Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Living textures abound throughout this cypress swamp garden,
 from new leaves and spring blooms to the detritus
 sprinkled across the sheen of the pond.

Vintage

Antique Ford, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



When walking the narrow streets and alleyways of Charleston,
I occasionally stumble upon a scene that transports me to times past...
such are the charms of the old city.

Summer Rockies

Forest Canyon Overlook, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A view of the Rocky Mountains from an elevation over 11,000 feet
 is impressive, even in summer when most of the snow has melted away,
 revealing the ancient igneous rock.

Multiple Uses?

Fence Detail, Sottile House, College of Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


This fence in the garden of the Sottile House
 is not only decorative, but may be the perfect tool
 to uncork your bottle of chardonnay!

Heron Garden

Heron Statue, Middleton Place Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



One of my favorite places to visit in Charleston during springtime is
Middleton Place Gardens. The special attractions here include beautiful landscaping amid colonial era buildings, hillsides of colorful azaleas,
and mini gardens within the larger gardens... like this heron garden
overlooking the Spring House and Mill Pond.




 

Misty Monday - Old Time Determination

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



Life still thrives even when drastically challenged.
 This old tree, in an Appalachian mountain meadow, 
sprouts branches and foliage in spite of its top being broken away.
 My, that's relentless determination!

Enter in Style

Architectural Details, Trinity Church, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The beautiful detailing on the portico
 of Trinity United Methodist Church welcomes
all those who enter. Happy Easter!