They are predicted to hit every day, every afternoon.
Some days they do, some days they don’t.
Even when they show up it can be over fast.
No sense staying inside.
Landscape Photography
They are predicted to hit every day, every afternoon.
Some days they do, some days they don’t.
Even when they show up it can be over fast.
No sense staying inside.
If you had come up river from Charleston to the earliest plantations this is the scene that would have greeted you. The old Coming’s entrance. Stone and clay gates.
There is no river entrance now, we came through the back roads which were never around in the early 1700’s.
The original land owner was named Coming, and land grant he was given was at the ‘T’ of the Cooper River. Hence the name.
We are talking of a land / rice plantation from a few hundred years ago meaning there have been multiple generations, and owners here. Currently the state of South Carolina owns this as a wildlife management area. Unlike others here this area is primarily for hunting.
The plantation is ruins now. It has been repaired and even new bricks added in the past. However, this is a remote location last owned by a paper company for logging. The old story of hurricanes, earthquakes, and fire have had it’s way here.
From a photography point of view monochrome shooting is hard here. Everything is very ‘busy’ and emphasizing details difficult.
A color version of the above has appeared / published in various places, I prefer this black and white myself. The overgrowth and hand made bricks work well together.
For a few shots I fell back to the composition basics of framing. A hole in a wall, and sunlight on ruins is a text book example. It actually worked here well. Anything ‘text book’ is sure to go badly with me.
Overall these images came together better than I had thought. A few I relied on heavy contrasts, others almost flat monochrome.
The photographs here were processed in Lightroom, then DxO Silver Efex.
This plantation is also known as ComingTee.
I have previously published an image from the chamber, these are a bit more detailed in this historical time capsule.
These meeting rooms and offices are located on the second floor of what was the (click to open) Bank Of The United States. The only government chambers older is in New York City.
An original portrait of Andrew Jackson, 7th US President and South Carolina native, stands over the main meeting room. Jackson is famous and infamous. He was a triumphant general in New Orleans during the 1812 war, also served in the US congress, kept South Carolina from leaving the union, was a large slave holder, and caused the relocation and death of many native american tribes. Click here for a long list of, well let’s say details, of Andrew Jackson.
The walls and upper gallery are filled with portraits of well known South Carolinian’s. The paintings date back to the Revolutionary War era up until the current mayor of Charleston (who recently performed with the Pink Martini orchestra out of Portland, OR.).
A back meeting room is just as impressive as the chamber. Again portraits by many of the famous early american painters such as John Trumbull. One of the walls has the most famous Trumbull portrait, George Washington. And of course Washington was here, but somehow the man was everywhere in the US at some point.
Above is the view as seen by anyone addressing the Charleston Council. In a previous life I did address groups, in (perhaps) prestigious locations, but really… look at this place. Talk about home court advantage!
All I can say in closing is, if ever in Charleston just walk into City Hall. They will be happy to let you visit. Gotta love this town.
The only map I have found that has most of the historical buildings and sights of Charleston is Google Maps. I think it can only be online due to the huge number. I need it at times to identify what the heck I’m looking at. Pity the poor tourist.
This is a South Carolina Historical organization. I have walked by numerous times but it gets lost with all the others around it.
Above is why I even noticed it. This is the side entrance to their building, and across from the back of City Hall.
Another old building to gain access to and shoot.
This is an image that I think tells a story rather than a being a great photograph.
I spied the Alligator cruising at a decent speed along the edge of this marsh. He did look to be headed some place in particular. On a mission.
I never did see where he was heading. A moment later he slipped under water.
In the alley.
I was unable to find any Private Johnson information for this regiment.
The 1st Artillery Battery is another unit that was primarily used to protect. Charleston.
This is the first article where I was unable to find very much information to support the photograph.
Taken at Soldiers Ground, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston.
A few days ago I stopped in the Dock Street Theater with a friend. He is a ‘well seasoned’ landscape/traveler photographer who has recently made Charleston area his new home.
An unscheduled walk through these buildings with a knowledgeable photographer is a treat.
I still find it amazing to be able to walk around town and have the ability to ‘pop into’ a piece of history and photograph scenes like these.