WHEN: October 30, 2010
WHERE: Charleston, SC
It has been another gorgeous fall weekend here in Charleston. The skies a royal blue, the piercing sunlight retaining just enough chlorophyll to keep the fall colors at bay, the mornings crisp and fresh, and the afternoons comfortably warm. Our October weekends have not disappointed.
I told myself this past week that I would venture out Saturday to enjoy the beautiful weather and take my camera along to capture the beauty I found. That's often my ambition but not always the result. I could find entertainment in photographing trash in a dumpster, so a beautiful day out in God's creation or a picturesque cityscape presents near endless opportunities for me. The struggle to get out and photograph is not because I don't find interest in the opportunity but that I am too often overcome with substitute laziness or a conflicting agenda. These are lame excuses, yes; especially since we have no children or pressing extracurricular schedules to maintain. Nevertheless, apathy and agendas still find ways to consistently win in the fight to recreationally photograph.
Not this weekend!
This weekend I wasted no time or opportunity. Yesterday was my last day alone before Stacie returned home from her week in Iowa and Minnesota and the weather could not have been more ideal here. While I could go out even if she was here, I hate to leave her alone at home for hours when we already spend a majority of our week apart at work. I would also have a challenge on my hands if I was to convince Stacie to drive around with me at will, hoping (without promise) to find something worth photographing. No, it's just easier if I am alone and if she is not left at home on a beautiful weekend. I couldn't enjoy my experience like that.
Yesterday, I spent 4 hours and drove 75 miles around town photographing anything that caught my eye. It was tiring, at times dangerous, and ate up time I could have spent on other things at home. But that's always my excuse, often with little to no justification. It's not hard to find an excuse when it comes to one's time (especially on weekends). I'm glad I did go and I got some great shots while seeing parts of the city I had not yet been to. Most importantly, I went to the beach for the first time since we've lived here. Can you believe that? This, coming from Mr. Beach! In fact, it was only the second time I have ever been to a beach in South Carolina; the first time being in August when my dad & I walked down to the beach while the girls were shopping. Both then and yesterday, unfortunately, it was only for a couple minutes. I stopped at the beach at the end of my 'journey' yesterday and there was nowhere to park. Between fatigue and my illegal parking job, my stay at the beach was again short-lived. I'm glad I went and happy that my camera's batteries didn't die on me. We'll see what the weekends in November have in store. They have a lot to live up to!
WHERE: Charleston, SC
It has been another gorgeous fall weekend here in Charleston. The skies a royal blue, the piercing sunlight retaining just enough chlorophyll to keep the fall colors at bay, the mornings crisp and fresh, and the afternoons comfortably warm. Our October weekends have not disappointed.
I told myself this past week that I would venture out Saturday to enjoy the beautiful weather and take my camera along to capture the beauty I found. That's often my ambition but not always the result. I could find entertainment in photographing trash in a dumpster, so a beautiful day out in God's creation or a picturesque cityscape presents near endless opportunities for me. The struggle to get out and photograph is not because I don't find interest in the opportunity but that I am too often overcome with substitute laziness or a conflicting agenda. These are lame excuses, yes; especially since we have no children or pressing extracurricular schedules to maintain. Nevertheless, apathy and agendas still find ways to consistently win in the fight to recreationally photograph.
Not this weekend!
This weekend I wasted no time or opportunity. Yesterday was my last day alone before Stacie returned home from her week in Iowa and Minnesota and the weather could not have been more ideal here. While I could go out even if she was here, I hate to leave her alone at home for hours when we already spend a majority of our week apart at work. I would also have a challenge on my hands if I was to convince Stacie to drive around with me at will, hoping (without promise) to find something worth photographing. No, it's just easier if I am alone and if she is not left at home on a beautiful weekend. I couldn't enjoy my experience like that.
Yesterday, I spent 4 hours and drove 75 miles around town photographing anything that caught my eye. It was tiring, at times dangerous, and ate up time I could have spent on other things at home. But that's always my excuse, often with little to no justification. It's not hard to find an excuse when it comes to one's time (especially on weekends). I'm glad I did go and I got some great shots while seeing parts of the city I had not yet been to. Most importantly, I went to the beach for the first time since we've lived here. Can you believe that? This, coming from Mr. Beach! In fact, it was only the second time I have ever been to a beach in South Carolina; the first time being in August when my dad & I walked down to the beach while the girls were shopping. Both then and yesterday, unfortunately, it was only for a couple minutes. I stopped at the beach at the end of my 'journey' yesterday and there was nowhere to park. Between fatigue and my illegal parking job, my stay at the beach was again short-lived. I'm glad I went and happy that my camera's batteries didn't die on me. We'll see what the weekends in November have in store. They have a lot to live up to!
The Ravenel Bridge
The bridge is 2.5 miles long, with two main support towers (each 575 feet tall), and rises 186 feet above the Cooper River below to accompany the container and naval ships that pass underneath it. It is the largest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
The main support towers are only 50 feet shorter than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
The USS Yorktown (CV-10) and Old Glory.
My first stop was the Charleston Harbor Marina, adjacent to the USS Yorktown at Patriot's Point.
Carnival Cruiseline's Fantasy (left) and Hoegh Autoliner's Kyoto (right) were in port in Charleston yesterday and created a more dramatic backdrop at the marina.
The College of Charleston's Sailing Team's facilities.
And some of their boats
Breach Inlet, from Sullivan's Island
Sandpiper
Proportionally, these have to be the fastest birds on foot! You'd have to sprint to even think of keeping up with them (and their legs are only three inches long)! It's quite comical to watch them. This was the only shot I got that wasn't blurry or that the bird had not run out of the frame by the time I hit the button.
Ahh, the beautiful southern architecture and landscape of Charleston.
My final stop was the Isle of Palms. I took a few dozen pictures of the homes there but I will spare you and limit them to some of my favorite. It was hard to get good shots when people were driving behind me or residents were in their yards.
Surfer X-ing
Driving down Palm Blvd. on the Isle of Palms
This one has a pool above the garage and a hot tub on the roof.
For some stunning fly-over videos of the Isle of Palms, see the links at the bottom of this post. I know I can get "link-happy" in my posts (the current one, for example), but these links are worth visiting I think!
The great Atlantic Ocean - oh, how I've missed you!
Heading over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway on the Isle of Palms Causeway bridge...
...and over the marshes, back to the mainland.
Evergreen's Ever Result (968ft. long) at the North Charleston Terminal. I remember seeing this vessel several times in port while in Norfolk.
Heading down the Don Holt Bridge into North Charleston. The fall colors are trying their hardest to take over but as this panoramic illustrates, they are still struggling. Maybe in November? When they do, I hope to be out on my next quest, enjoying a beautiful November weekend.
(This one is definitely on the cheesy side but there are some great views throughout.)
