Category Archives: Ocean Shore

Dolphin, Landscape, Ocean Shore, What I Saw, Wildlife

Sunset off Bulls Island

August 21, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 8 Comments

Bulls island is an uninhabited barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. It’s part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife preserve. We were lucky enough to spend a few nights there several years ago. The area is among the cleanest waters in North America and has a huge diverse wildlife population. Not many people get a chance at this type of adventure, and earlier today I stumbled on a few photographs.

This shot was taken at sunset out in the bay. Chris from Coastal Expeditions has a boat made specifically for these types of waters. He was determined to get a shot of a Dolphin as the sun went down. We circled for a good while but they were too quick. Just as we decided to head back to the island I was able to catch this, and only this.

Specs; Canon 7d2, Sigma 150-600, Lightroom.

Best viewed large.

Birds, Ocean Shore, OM System, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Shore Birds – Brown Pelicans

August 5, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

A bit of a change in subjects and environment.

Along the coast of South Carolina are a string of barrier islands. Some are fairly large, others almost sand bars, and a few nestled so close it’s hard to tell they are actually islands.

Each spring and summer on the deserted ones shore birds nest. Below we drifted in the surf with the high tide to watch the Pelicans. There’s no better way to photograph these amazing birds, you get right down low at their level.

Shore Birds - Brown Pelicans — Shore Birds – Brown Pelicans

Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM100-400. Finished in ON1, DxO Filmpack.

Charleston, Historical, Landscape, Ocean Shore, ON1, What I Saw

Circular Church, 1681 – 1860 – 1890

July 27, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 6 Comments

Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most historic towns/cities in the US. The Circular Church was at the start, and in middle of just about every event that has happened here. The title here has three dates, time and history has not been kind to the congregations.

The first church was built 100 years before the founding of the US. The congregation was known as the ‘church of the dessenters’.

The first formal building was damaged by the British Siege of Charleston. It was hit by cannons from the blockade war ships.

Circular Church, 1681 - 1860 - 1890 — Circular Church, 1681 – 1860 – 1890

Over time there were hurricanes and fires. Ultimately the US Civil War almost destroyed the entire area. The church was just a shell. After the war Charleston was hit with the largest recorded earthquake in the US (the epicenter almost runs through my backyard 😳).

The current building is similar to the pre-civil war structure and is built with the salvaged materials and brick from the 1860 design, completed in 1890.

Inside the walls has seen many famous events also. The iconic hymn ‘Saving Grace’ was written in the sanctuary. The church is known for its civic responsibilities. They founded the American Bible Association helping to standardize the structure, run a hospice, is an Amnesty International site, the list goes on…

The church is only open for Sunday services and special events. We attended one prior to moving here and learned a tremendous amount of the local history.

Circular Church, Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina.

Birds, Heron, Landscape, Marsh, Ocean Shore, OM System, Wildlife

Tricolor, Salt Marsh

July 20, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

I usually think of Tricolored Herons associated with the large open fresh water marshes, like the ACE Basin.

The bird below was found walking the tidal marsh near the Charleston Harbor. It’s interesting how the salt marsh coloring fits well with the Tricolor. They seem to be able to blend in almost anywhere.

Birds, Charleston, Egret, Ocean Shore, OM System, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Around The Shrimp Pier

July 20, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

A few random shots that were taken at a Charleston shrimp boat pier. These were all taken around the time I was first moving to OM Systems gear.

I have gone into files looking for unpublished images that I can use as a test / practice while learning the ON1 Photo RAW editor. I still think Lightroom is the gold standard, but the speed and stability of ON1 can’t be ignored.

First here is a typical scene. One of the locals, an Egret, boarding shrimp boat looking to steal a snack.

Brown Pelicans follow the boats back to the piers. As the shrimp catch is sorted out plenty of scraps are pushed overboard. I specifically wanted a shot like this to see how the masking worked when selecting the ‘back ground’ function. Glare on the water is always problem. The result was OK.

Last was a white bird against the sky. A ‘subject’ mask. Actually that was better than expected. This was a mediocre shot that should have been deleted. ON1 easily found the bird, the normal sliders worked just fine.

None of the images above had anything difficult done to them. That was the point. These are shots I would take on any given day. ON1 did what was needed, quickly, and easily once you knew your way around the program a little. Editing software is never simple 😆.

Landscape, Ocean Shore, OM System, What I Saw

Botany Bay, South Carolina

July 19, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 8 Comments

The ACE Basin is usually shown here with the large marshes and swamps that has made the area home to an enormous amount of wildlife. However the rivers and marshes that make up the basin feed into the Atlantic Ocean through thousands of inlets.

Botany Bay started out as three different plantations, they eventually became one, and finally a state owned preserve as part of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Low tide in the bay opens the paths to one of the states most beautiful ‘bone yards’. A shore of old trees only accessible for a few hours each day.

These photographs were taken at sunrise in the ‘bone yard’. It requires a quick hike but this is what you find at the end of a snady trail.

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Botany Bay, South Carolina

Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-40 f2.8. Finished in ON1 Photo RAW, DxO Color Efex, Topaz DeNoise.

Birds, Charleston, Marsh, Ocean Shore, OM System, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Merganser, Salt Marsh Inlets

July 11, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 7 Comments

Hooded Merganser can be found around the coastal salt marshes each summer. There are inlets everywhere so there’s a good chance you can find them. They are also quick to leave when they spot you.

The Shem Creek inlets around the shrimp boat piers are my go to place to photograph these birds. They will swim around the creeks, slip by piers and sit near any boat boardwalks. Patience is the key.

Charleston, Ocean Shore, OM System, What I Saw

Canon At A Pier

July 10, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

Ellen down at a commercial shrimp boat pier. We had two different camera systems in use that day.

I see one of the Canon L lenses in her hand. Long before OM Systems started building a white lens Canon had their pro series L lenses in an off white color.

This was a bright hot day and I decided to try an OM antique filter for the first time. I found a folder of images that had never been touched. This was one of them.

Spec; OM-1 (1), OM 12-200. Using one of the OM color filters in jpg format.