Beaufort Images

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These first eleven images represent typical scenes found throughout Beaufort and the Low Country. Each depicts the common beauty found among the Sea Islands. It is no wonder that Beaufort has been selected as the filming site for several major films (The Great Santini, Forrest Gump, The Prince of Tides and the Big Chill – to name a few). These prints, each representing a part of Beaufort County, explore the historic visual influence our environment has on each of us.

“Fog Bank” captures the early morning fog lifting from the north shore of the Coosaw River which is also part of the ACE Basin Sanctuary. After the Civil War, the local commerce moved from long staple cotton plantations to phosphate mining. The abandoned, open pit mines can be found among and in front of this distant tree line.

“Palmetto Pond” is an image of a flooded phosphate mine 150 years after it was abandoned.

“Pasture Bloom” is an open field in this same area which is now used as a cattle farm. I was captivated by the subtle violet-blue hue of the wild flowers.

Scattered throughout the salt creeks and marshes are many shrimp docks that have supported the wild shrimp industry for the last 80 years. “Eddings Point Dock” is typical of these aging “tie ups.”

“Plantation Dock” is the remnant of an old dock accessing Conch Creek on Conch Plantation which belongs to local artist, Nancy and William Rhett (http://www.rhettgallery.com).

These wonderful views of our marshes “Palmetto Spring” and

“Window to the Salt Marsh” can be found wherever the salt water meets the “hill.”

“Kissing Oaks” is a powerful image of the massive strength of the Southern Live Oak. These trees are one of the few things that can withstand the winds of a Sea Island hurricane.

Poison ivy is cultivated in European gardens so as to be enjoyed for its scarlet fall colors. “Tall Pines and Poison Ivy” depicts this natural beauty in our southern forest.

Twice burned. Once by the English in the Revolutionary War – rebuilt only to be burned again at the hands of Sherman’s army at the end of the Civil War. “Old Sheldon Church” stands today as a reminder of those who came before us. This is an often painted and photographed historic site sitting besides a country road. Originally an Anglican Church now owned by the St. Helena’s Episcopal Church.

“Ripes.” Beaufort County no longer grows long staple cotton. It’s tomatoes today (for the New York City Market) and here they are in all their scarlet glory.