In the early morning I pass this tree on the way out of my community. On a sunny day, the sun just illuminates the tree, making it look almost two dimensional–but only in the morning. By the afternoon, it is just the one shade. I decided to capture this beautiful transformation one day, waking up early just to get the light just right. It is amazing the things you see by paying attention. This composition captures the serene beauty of a natural landscape.
Redcliffe Plantation
One late afternoon in January, my friend and I decided to take a trip to an old Southern plantation called Redcliffe Plantation located in Beech Island, S.C. It was a beautiful winter day in January. It is a very historic site, completed in 1859. It was once the home of James Henry Hammond and three generations of his descendants as well as numerous enslaved African-American families. Since it was winter this gorgeous oak tree was bare, but due to the lateness of the day, the sun was beginning to go down and the deep shadows of the branches extended across the grass. The white family mansion can be seen overlooking the enslaved quarters. This was a Southern plantation, after all, and there were slaves. Rays of sunlight filtered through the tree branches creating a magical look.
