One of my clients needs a shot of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge and this evening was the first time in awhile that the skies have not been a dismal gray.  I have seen a lot better and brighter from this location but I did like this.  I will be back again in a couple of days for another shot (pardon the pun), but tomorrow is calling for more rain … again.

So yesterday I decided to take off on a mini road trip and drive some of the back roads in the tobacco and cotton growing areas of Berkeley and Williamsburg counties.  I got off to a rocky start when I drove into a ditch doing a u-turn to photograph an pair of old gas pumps by the side of the road, but AAA got me going again within an hour and no harm done.  The most difficult part was trying to explain to AAA where I was. Thank goodness for smartphones and GPS 🙂

Sometimes I feel a little sorry for my kids.  Having a photographer for a mother, it would maybe make them feel awkward to ask to be photographed through life’s big moments by someone else. Anyway, that doesn’t really bother me and it takes a lot to beat free insofar as the kids are concerned, so this weekend it was Matt and Christine in the spotlight.  Congratulations, you make an awesome looking couple, and I’m so excited to gain another daughter 🙂

I got to spend a little one on one time with my precious granddaughter this afternoon.  We went to the park where she happily pottered around, climbing on and off things, scratching in the dirt, and generally having fun.  She loves to swing!  Yes I’m a little biased, but she is the most adorable child 🙂  She’s even very tolerant of me pointing a camera at her all the time.

Some very talented designers and artists have been overhauling and redecorating the downtown Vendue Boutique Hotel with an emphasis on art.  The end result is quite exquisite.  I was there earlier today to photograph some of the chef’s creative brunch dishes that will be offered on a new menu coming out soon.  They looked and smelled delicious!

This evening I was invited for dinner by some friends who live over on the other side of the bridge 🙂 Now I know that this is really not such a long way from West Ashley, but somehow that Ravenel Bridge symbolizes a journey of greater import than the reality.  Anyhow, I thought I would leave a little early and check out the activity at Shem Creek.  Actually there was very little activity, at least on the board walks of Shem Creek Park.  The main reason was that it was cold, and the wind was whipping across the marsh and water at a very brisk pace.  I do hope they won’t ruin this wonderful piece of the lowcountry with ugly over-development.

The sun sets quietly over the Stono River, breaking through the fog briefly.  It’s a far cry from the summer sun in the Cape, but this just goes to show that it’s all about the light. Light is magic, and it’s almost mischievous the way it plays with the landscape.  One minute everything is monotone, dull and devoid of interest, and the next it looks like this – but just for a minute.  Suddenly it is all gone away, and you are left wondering if it really happened; except that you have it captured with the camera 🙂

Earlier in our travels we had lunch under in the garden at La Motte, but weren’t able to experience the wine tasting because it was a Sunday and they were closed.  We made a reservation for lunch in the more formal restaurant at the wine estate for a few days hence, and arrived early to enjoy the tasting in the cellar.  A truly beautiful place, so tasteful, with great food and wine.  Here are a few of the photos I took.  I particularly like the one of my sister Judy in the wine cellar checking out some of the oak barrels.

Starting to wind down my visit.  Can’t believe I am heading home in a couple of days.  These images were taken at the Franschhoek Motor Museum (very impressive collection of very special cars), in Stellenbosch (historic college town in the Cape and huge wine growing area), and then at my sister and brother-in-law’s home where the family cooked up a storm for dinner.

We drove back from the Ceres area to Cape Town so here are a few more scenes from the road.  Today it’s back to the Franschhoek Valley for a couple of nights.