One of my aerial targets on the recent trip down to Savannah was the Beaufort area. These images specifically cover the area of Port Royal and Parris Island. The sun was setting as we circled and the flooded marshes and creeks reflected the sky. What a privilege to live in the lowcountry!
We seem to be in a familiar pattern where after the intense heat of the day, summer storms form and unleash their energy in the late afternoons. This is always an opportunity for creating dramatic images, and this lightning strike was shot over the downtown Charleston skyline, under a canopy of broiling clouds.
My passion for a few years now has been aerial photography, and not using a drone but rather shooting from a helicopter. It is challenging and exhilarating all at the same time, and this trip was no exception. Having covered pretty much all of Charleston and the surrounding area, my plan was to extend my library of aerials to include our sister city, Savannah GA. It is a long way to fly in an R22 and the route had to be carefully planned around fuel stops and airspace rules. Holy City Helicopters came through magnificently and Kyle, my skilled and patient pilot was more than up to the task. It was a 3+ hour flight and we got back after dark. I have over 1,600 images to sort through and edit from Rockville, Seabrook, Edisto, Hunting Island, Pritchards Island, Hilton Head, Daufuskie Island, Tybee Island and then all the way back. It will take me awhile, but I will post more from time to time as I go.
Through most of the year, this small barrier island is just another one of many off the coast of the Carolinas, but during breeding and nesting season, it comes alive with activity. The diversity of shorebirds that crowd this space is nothing short of mind boggling, and the cacophony of squawking is carried on the wind for some distance. The smell also alerts you to your imminent arrival at the shores of the island. It is illegal to land, and really you should not get close enough that you change the natural behavior of the birds. These are a few images from our boat trip out there yesterday evening.
I have photographed this iconic lighthouse for years in and out of season, at night, at sunrise, in good and bad weather, but this was the first time I had seen it all lit up, doing what it was built to do. This beloved relic should be fully restored as a necessary and integral part of Charleston’s history. Support “Save the Light” at http://www.savethelight.org/
I took photos of this little guy before he was born when we did Mom’s maternity portraits, and now he has just turned one. How time flies. So much fun to watch families grow. Here are a few of my favorites from today’s shoot, all converted to black and white or sepia. I find that sometimes color can be a distraction, and monotones allow one to better focus on the expressions and personalities of the subjects.
Before moving on to other things, here are just a couple more memories from last weekend in the hills of Western North Carolina, one of my favorite “Happy Places”.
For me this area has become a magnet. Over the years I have visited the Brevard area many times through different seasons and have been seduced by its many beautiful attributes. This time, some friends and I rented a cabin in the woods of Connestee Falls. You don’t have to wander much beyond the borders to immerse yourself in scenic streams, cascades, lakes, forests, and mountains. Also, it is a sure refuge when the heat and humidity of Charleston become unbearable!
Every year the resident Canadian Geese at James Island County Park produce a batch of goslings, and every time I walk my exercise route around the lake, I count them to make sure none are missing. The parents are unbelievably vigilant and work as a team in teaching and tending their young. I have learned that these geese mate for life, and that they live around 10-25 years on average.
I spent last night out at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island, in search of darker skies, trying to avoid the pervasive light pollution that blankets the entire east coast. The few exceptions are wild life preserves and state parks where suburbia has been curtailed, at least for now. It was disappointing to see that Seabrook skies are not much darker than James Island’s, but nevertheless I was able to capture some images of the Milky Way and Jupiter, among other fascinating deep sky objects.
