Old Sheldon Church Ruins, Gardens Corner, South Carolina

What if they had torn this relic down? What if they had built a condo or a conveince store in its place? We would have lost a piece of history, a beautiful spot to stand and reflect on our country, our history, and the nature of beauty itself.

Grave detail, Old Sheldon Church, Garden Corners, SC

Age doesn't destroy but enhances. In the United States, we tear down or destroy everything that is old and replace it with something new, something not built to last, something with a built-in obsolescence. In Europe they live in buildings that are thousands of years old, repaired and repaired again, respected for the fact that they have endured. This gravestone is at least 140 years old, maybe older. It has not lost its beauty, age has enhanced it.

Peregrine Falcon, Raptor Center, Georgia Southern University, GA

In New York, there was a family of peregrine falcons that lived on the top of the Consolidated Edison Building on Irving Place, and there were peregrine falcons who hunted in Central Park. So obviously they can adapt to living just about anyplace. A small but fierce bird, this one kept staring at me as if he wanted to get at me for bothering him.

Grave Detail, Old Sheldon Church, Garden Corners, SC

Weather causes erosion and oxidation on stone, and erosion and oxidation create interesting patterns. As always, it is in the details.

Raptor Center, Georgia Southern University

If the eyes are the window to the soul than these birds have a very cold soul indeed. They seem to regard everything as possible prey or peril, and if you are neither they lose interest in you.

Old Sheldon Church Ruins, Gardens Corner, South Carolina

Old Sheldon Church was burned by British troops during the Revolutionary War and by Union troops during the Civil War. Yet despite its destruction, its beauty and elegance still remain.

Barn Owl, Raptor Center, Georgia Southern University

Is this a great face or what? How could you not fall in love with a face like this? Maybe if you were a mouse and it was zeroing in on you, but otherwise?

White Egret, Sun City, Bluffton, SC

The white egret struts
the pond is its hunting ground
quick strike means success

Pond Weeds, Sun City, Bluffton, SC

A simple composition, just some weeds in a lagoon in Sun City. Almost zen-like in its simplicity, nothing earth-shattering, nothing monumental, just some weeds in a pond. Yet it contains beauty just by its simplicity.

Heron, Sun City, Bluffton, SC

The heron watches
It's eyes on me it tenses
ready to escape

Croquet Match, Sun City, Bluffton, SC

How to catch the scintillating action of a croquet match, aim at their feet.

Sunset, Driessen Beach, Hilton Head, South Carolina

It's gotten cold down here or what passes for cold down here. Temperature in the mid-50's, but being from up north, this time of year the temperature is usually in the mid-30s. Still, I miss those mid 60 days. This sunset is a reminder of them.

Wall, Beaufort, South Carolina

A circle, a tree's shadow, and the pinkish color attracts the eye.

Abandoned Church, Beaufort County, South Carolina

What once was a place where people worshipped their god, is now a place to stand in awe of nature.

Flying Egret, Driessen Beach, Hilton Head, South Carolina

A magnificent bird, it's wing span is huge, amazing that it is so graceful in flight.

Window, Tombstone, Arizona

It's hard to get a picture in Tombstone that doesn't involve a fake cowboy or a t-shirt store, the town seems to exist solely to capitalize on its fame from the Old West, but if you look around, you can squeeze out a shot or two.

Sunset, Driessen Beach, Hilton Head, South Carolina

One of the few dreary gray days that occur around here, usually there isn't a cloud in the sky. Thought a little sunshine was in order.

Windows, Savannah Riverfront, Savannah, Georgia

Another example of the old being more interesting and having more character than anything new that could be put up.

Flag in Window, Bluffton, SC

A common sight down south and in most of America, an American flag in the window of a house.