Charleston SC Film Photography

I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend alone in the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina. Of course I wanted to fill it with as much sight seeing and photography as possible. Like always, instead of digital when traveling I used my 35mm film camera and again, like always, I love the results. 

For my trip I stayed in a hotel in Point Pleasant, SC, just across the water from downtown historic Charleston. I didn't visit on this trip but the Patriots Point Navel Museum is also right there and a must see if you've never had the chance. I also have to mention that if you are in the Point Pleasant area to check out the Italian restaurant La Pizzeria. It was so good I got take out for dinner twice while I was staying there. 

The Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge crosses the Copper River and makes travel possible from Charleston to Point Pleasant. On my first night there I had arrived just before sunset and decided to take advantage of the beautiful March day and join the dozens of other people out that evening for a walk across the bridge. My hotel had easy access for walking and although the bridge was WAY longer than I anticipated while walking it was an enjoyable evening watching the sun set over Charleston and the water. 

I am not naturally someone who gets up willingly before sunrise but for this trip I really wanted to go to Shem Creek to watch the fishing boats get ready for the day and head out during sunrise. I wasn't disappointed. Even though it was a weekend there were very few visitors at the boardwalk at that time of day so it was a very peaceful morning. There is plenty of parking and also a bathroom at the park with a long boardwalk down to the docks. The surrounding historic district is also worth a drive through. 

Everyone knows downtown historic Charleston is filled with beautiful old homes and although I had been before I had never been as a photographer in Charleston. There are so many tiny amazingly crafted details in doors, paths, mailboxes and even driveways. Although my morning at Shem Creek was bereft of tourists my afternoon in Downtown Charleston was not. The weather was lovely and crowds filled the popular areas of Rainbow Row, Historic City Market, The Battery and shopping districts. Since I prefer to stay off the beaten path if possible I focused walking in the residential streets just overwhelmed with the architecture surrounding me. 

I went in some small shops and art galleries and had a delicious lunch at Le Chambertin, a cute little French cafe and bakery in the French Quarter. On my second day in downtown I chose to take a carriage ride which was the best money I spent all weekend. It was a great way to see a part of the city that I hadn't been able to walk to and learn facts and stories I would otherwise not have. The neat thing about the carriage tours is that they are randomly assigned an area each time you go out so you never know what ground you'll cover. I am definitely going to do one again next time I'm in town. 

As an ardent lover of both old houses and history I had to stop some type of historic site on my way back to NC. I chose to visit Drayton Hall, a former plantation on the Ashley River. Drayton Hall exists to educate and does not host weddings and portrait sessions nor does it glorify southern plantation life. The museum was informative and I especially liked the audio tour. Drayton Hall has not been remodeled or restored. It is kept in a state of preservation that allows you to see what it was like in the past while only doing necessary construction to preserve the integrity of the structure. Because of that you see beautifully worn paint, scuffed floors and cracked plaster. There are no furnishings inside the house but they do have rotating items in the on site museum.