Nomad's Notes from somewhere on the road: Charleston, SC

Chris and I took an incredible photo workshop in the Outer Banks a couple years ago with Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures (see December 2016). This spring we joined Margo and Arnie for another workshop, well, actually two, in Charleston.

I had never been to Charleston, so that was a draw. But the push Margo and Arnie gave me in the Outerbanks, even though I struggled mightily during that week, drew me to doing another session. This time they had a two day Lightroom instruction before the field workshop. Great idea although I confess I still think the downloading, filing system is unnecessarily cumbersome.

Yes, I learned a lot. But mostly I felt frustrated with the Lightroom sessions. However, the actual field workshop was challenging, but not the struggle of the one in the Outer Banks. I think I felt more relaxed which meant I was able to work better. It was challenging and challenging is good. Struggling is frustrating.

I am including some of the photos I took during the workshop in March, plus some views I took later. Chris had to leave early for a conference but I stayed to spend a little more time exploring Charleston, to take part in their March for Our Lives as I would have missed it in California had I traveled right after the workshop. And it was time to play tourist for a bit.

After dinner in Charleston. A grab shot, no tripod, but loved the reflections and uneven surfaces of the sidewalk.

An assignment was a sensual photo inside one of the gardens using the statuary. This was my photo of a boy sitting.

Another assignment was an environmental portrait. This is not something I am comfortable doing, but this woman, seamstress at the living history portion of the plantation, and I got into a lengthy discussion. The light from the window was great, I got down on my knees and was pleased with my result. And I was pleased that the reaction from classmates and the two instructors was also positive.

Early morning shooting. On the opposite side of the street were the wonderful pastel colored houses of "Rainbow Row." Everyone did photograph those, but here they are looking out over the water.

Evening beach scene

Morning at Magnolia Cemetery

Loved this reflection

Early morning shadows and wrought iron on a balcony. Charleston is known for the
wrought iron

Here and below are more reflections

Audubon Gardens. Nice swamp area with lots of wildlife, here and below. The egret caught not one but two fish in one attack.

Not one but two fish in a single catch.

These porch doors are common in Charleston. The narrow houses, also called Charleston Singles, have a door which leads not into the house but to a front porch. Several reasons include finding ways to increase the outdoor livability, greater cross ventilation (these houses a one room wide) and probably allowing more houses to fit on narrow streets. They are also known as hospitality doors. If this door was open, it meant the family was ready to receive guests. I also heard a story that with the door closed there was some privacy and a gentleman walking by never peered because the ladies might be cooling off by having their ankles exposed to the air.