Passing by slowly, keeping an eye on us.
Taken in an old rice field, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Black And White Portrait, Alligator
Tag Archives: Black and White
Old Grave Site, Black And White
An above ground burial vault had a few items piled top. This being an old cemetery there were many obstacles around making it difficult to get a closer look. Of course the obvious thing was to take a shot, which I did.
What I discovered was an old hand made brick from the original plantation, remnants of an old American Flag, and some other cloth.
The photograph actually turned out to be interesting both for the content and the crypt itself.
Note; the brick is one of the old rough and uneven bricks common around Charleston. When you find one it’s important to take a close look. Some still have the finger impression from the person who removed the still warm brick from a kiln. Most likely an enslaved worker from the local plantation.
Rust And Ruin
Found on a cemetery walk.
Broken stones and rusting iron fencing.
This is normal in these old cemeteries. I myself find it more beautiful than sterile rows of white slabs.
Marsh View, Black And White
Yesterday I upgraded my NIK Silver Efex to the latest version. Of course I needed a test right away. Why not pick something hard…so a foggy morning landscape fit the bill.
Nothing dramatic, no film noir’s, or blown out high keys. All of which I’m a big fan. Something with details and different shading for the first test. I like it 🙂.
In case you don’t do many monochrome or B&W photographs NIK Silver Efex is the standard third party conversion software. It’s much more than conversion though. All aspects of shading, structure, and light/dark management are available. The color filters are very good.
NIK is a collection of programs primarily used as add ons to photo editing systems. The parent company DxO is well known for providing both consumer and camera manufacturers technical software.
Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia
These photographs are from the Cypress Methodist Campgrounds in South Carolina. Yearly revival meetings have been held here since 1794, I don’t think a year has ever been missed. That means earthquakes, pandemics, and even civil war has not been enough to cancel the meetings.
Circuit Riders (ministers / preachers) made the rounds in the beginning however tents ultimately were replaced by cabins and a local Methodist Church administered to the parish.
There are 5 – 6 different campgrounds around South Carolina though we have only been able to reach 3 so far.
Outside parts of rural America few people know of their existence. I’ve talk to many and they had never heard of them. Searching on line I have sites mentioned in other areas, even New York State.
The cabins, still called tents, are family owned and passed down through generations. This is private property however we have been fortunate enough to have visited inside tents, it’s a snap shot of a time long gone.
From the photo above you can see there’s no water, there are privies for each tent. Electricity has been run to tents.
To view additional Campgrounds select ‘Camp’ from the list of tags on the web site, or just search on ‘Camp’. If I were ever to create a documentary photobook this would be the subject.
Cypress Methodist Campground, South Carolina.
Sepia Gator
Contrast and light worked out here for something other than the typical gator shot.
Alligator in a swamp.
Sleeping Beauty, In Black And White
An Alligator doing the usual Alligator thing… sleeping. Great fun to photograph though.
Monochrome Yellowlegs
One of those small shorebirds that just go about their business and are easy to miss. In the Lowcountry I find them more in the marshes than at the actual shore.
Greater Yellowlegs, ACE Basin, South Carolina.