One of the newer churches in Charleston. Built of Connecticut, USA, brownstone. From an old quarry we lived near for 30+ years. Everything is connected somehow.
On our way to lunch in town the other day we passed by and went in for a few quick shots. I only grabbed some from the back since the church was not empty. Respectful photographers get asked back.
Behind the Charleston Unitarian Church is an alley with a centuries old graveyard. The stones, trees, and brush are in a tangle. Maintained exactly for that comfortable look and feel.
This is one of several found in the yard.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Old Magnolia Cemetery.
Like many in these places the story is forgotten.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Soldiers Ground, on the front edge of Magnolia, was created because there was a pressing need for burial space. The cemetery was already here, however this land was still part of the Magnolia Umbra plantation.
While it was primarily for Confederate States military you will find Federal troops around, down the lane outside the CSA boundry is a commandant of West Point. A place of honor here was also set aside for a beloved ‘laundress’ with a southern brigade.
This is still private property, run by a preservation trust.
In Soldiers Ground
This is a very quiet and private place. The entire cemetery is large, but there are not many people around. Chances are the ones you do see have a camera.
A scene taken in the old Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, SC.
Best viewed large.
The wealth of old Charleston is represented in this tree covered corner.
There is a little of everything in this shot. A key focal point here is an earthen mausoleum in the background. This one spot has a history starting with the first settlers in northern Rhode Island, multiple revolutionary war and civil war commanders.
A small touch of red by the closer monument is an old South Carolina state flag from the 1860’s. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the front sections of the cemetery are old military graves, thousands, from the various civil war units of Charleston.
Originally this land, and the remaining buildings, were the Umbra Magnolia rice plantation. Behind this location are marshes backing up to the city of Charleston.
Flags of all styles, periods, and various stages of decay are in this old civil war era cemetery.
This US flag was tied by threads to some wrought iron fencing.
Not sure, but I think this needs to hang somewhere.
Here is a 4 AM project.
The logical thing to do at that hour is pack a bag, a little coffee, and head out for sunrise and early marsh shoots. Today, it was 74 (F) degrees all night, this afternoon around 100(F).
DxO Filmpack software has a few features I wanted to try so I’m staying right here. Most people use NIK SilverEfex for B&W work, I do too. However Filmpack is owned by the same company and has similar tools.
These are from a Charleston 1800’s planters home. The perfect place for B&W.
I guess these are the happy home owners from 200 years ago.
At some point this should be viewed full screen, a large screen.
This is in Four Holes Swamp, a blackwater creek system. It is 18,000 acres of Bald Cypress and Tupelo Trees. Some over 1,000 years old.
The description swamp is really a general term, there are all types, even in the Lowcountry. However, if you grew up thinking of those dark, muddy, wet, places where you lost all sense of direction… this is the place.
Even Hollywood finds spots here for scenes with the stereotypical swamp. Think Mel Gibson in the Patriot, hiding from the British in swamps. Not only did they shoot those scenes in Four Holes Swamp, the real ‘swamp fox’ that the story was based on did live and hide inside here.
Plenty of wildlife lives here. Getting photographs is a different story.
Yesterday was a perfect, and rare cool day to walk around in this swamp.
Beidler Forest, Four Hole Swamp, South Carolina.
