Category Archives: What I Saw

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

Circular Church, 1681 – 1860 – 1890

July 27, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 3 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.

Charleston, Landscape, OM System, ON1, What I Saw

Colors Out Back

July 25, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 6 Comments

I must give all the credit to Ellen for the growing jungle between our house and the woods. Not only is it colorful, but the local critters like it too. Last night an Owl gave out a call and we both almost hit the porch ceiling. He was sitting in the ‘jungle’ a few yards away.

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Colors Out Back

Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-100 f4. Finished with ON1 Photo RAW, DxO Color Efex.

Charleston, Historical, Landscape, OM System, ON1, What I Saw

St. John The Baptist Cathedral 1821, Charleston

July 25, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 7 Comments

There are cathedrals and churches all through downtown Charleston. Being a small city you can walk through most all of them if the doors are open, or have a camera. Go inside any of them and you’ll have a hundred shots before you can leave.

Best viewed large.

Black And White Photography, Charleston, Historical, Landscape, Monochrome, OM System, Shooting A Grand Old House, What I Saw

Back Door Plantation House

July 22, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

In many of the old plantation houses there was little difference between back and front. Around Charleston the homes used the rivers for transportation and moving goods to market. People arrived on small boats.

They also had private roads leading in from the traditional dirt roads passing in front of their property. These roads were lined with old stately Oaks filled with Spanish Moss.

Photographed early yesterday morning as we passed by. This is the river side of Magnolia Plantation.

Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM 100-400 ll, Lightroom, Topaz, DxO Silver Efex.

Charleston, Historical, Landscape, OM System, What I Saw

Random Charleston Photographs

July 21, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 11 Comments

Charleston, South Carolina is the iconic southern city ( I just read that, sorry to my friends in Savannah and New Orleans). It is a tourist town filled with visitors, so carrying a camera I fit right in. I’m the guy standing around waiting for people to clear out so I can get my shot.

Below a few random shots from a walk about town.

The first photograph is one of my favorite houses. The streets here are narrow, most homes have small walls or old iron fences. The trees over this spot are pretty thick.

The tall stone carving is usually thought to be for tieing your horse carriage out front. Actually it was for your boat. Two hundred years ago this street was a creek. Most of the east side of town was.

Next is a quick shot down one of the many alleys connecting various streets together. Many alleys have private homes. These were originally carriage house that have now been renovated.

Last image is a street, I don’t remember which one, that just looks like a picture book ‘Americana’ scene. All these streets and the homes are part of the National Historic Registry.

Random photos of Charleston, South Carolina.

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, Egret, Marsh, OM System, Swamp, What I Saw, Wildlife

Caught In The Act – Great Egret

July 18, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

I didn’t realize I had caught the Great Egret in the act of stealing sticks for her own nest.

This is pretty common in busy rookeries. All the birds are crowded together and sooner or later a nest is left unguarded. Wait a few minutes and the neighbors dismantle it.

This one just happened while I was watching. 😁

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Caught In The Act – Great Egret

Historical, Landscape, OM System, What I Saw

Small Town Church

July 15, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 3 Comments

A scene that is on just about every cross roads in South Carolina. Many, like this one, are from the mid 1800’s yet and are still in use every Sunday.

There’s a pretty little old Church on a back road in the ACE Basin that is usually empty on Sunday. But it’s still in use by someone. I looked up information of that one (big surprise) and discovered it was moved to its current location from the hill by the old hunting lodge we walk while photographing the big marshes.

I joke at times how we have more Churches than people in South Carolina. But it might actually be true.

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