Night of a Thousand Candles – Photography in Pearls

Photo Challenge – Lens-Artists: And Here Comes the Holiday Season

One of the special things we do for the holidays is a trip to Brookgreen Gardens for the Night of a Thousand Candles. Brookgreen Gardens is a beautiful sculpture garden and I visit there often. There’s always something in bloom and I always have my camera with me.

The gardens are transformed each December for Night of a Thousand Candles. Lights are placed throughout the gardens and it is transformed into a magical place. It started a week early this year so some of our family visiting for Thanksgiving were still here and able to see it for the first time, Three of our four grandchildren were with us and it was very special to me to see it through their eyes.

My father passed away on Christmas day 2014 so the holiday season has been tough since then. We now have grandchildren though and we make the rounds to visit them so Christmas is magical for me again.

You can see responses from other bloggers here: https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2020/12/18/lens-artists-challenge-128-and-here-comes-the-holiday-season/

You can see more of my photography here: http://photographyinpearls.photoshelter.com

December 23, 2020 by Gina Categories: Photo Challenge, PhotographyTags: Brookgreen Gardens, Christmas, Christmas Lights, Night of a Thousand Candles, Sculpture 5 Comments

Photo Challenge – Lens-Artists: Abstract

This week Patti has asked that we go “abstract” so our viewers can use their imagination.

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My photos this week are of Christmas lights at Brookgreen Gardens. Each year Brookgreen presents “Night of a Thousand Candles”. The paths throughout the sculpture gardens are lined with candles and lights as well as carolers and there’s even a bagpipe group that strolls throughout the gardens. There are entertainment tents with choirs and bands, a characterization of Scrooge and a presentation of the Gullah language.

Because there are candles in the fountain pools as well as the reflection from the lights in the pools, it’s hard to tell where the actual lights end and the reflections begin.

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The sculptures are surrounded by lights also. The Fountain of the Muses is my favorite spot in the gardens and I believe the lights here are the most awe inspiring. The lights are placed above but they reflect into the pool below so that it looks as if the pool is a bottomless abyss.

Needless to say, I already have my tickets for opening night.

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You can see responses from other bloggers here: https://pilotfishblog.com/2019/11/30/lens-artists-photo-challenge-74-abstract/

You can see more of my photography here: photographyinpearls.photoshelter.com

December 4, 2019December 3, 2019 by Gina Categories: Photo ChallengeTags: Abstract, Brookgreen Gardens, Christmas Lights, Fountain of the Muses, Lens-Artists, Night of a Thousand Candles, Photography 16 Comments

Photo Challenge: Lens-Artists – Splash

This week Patti has asked us to share the magical quality of water.

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Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden down the road in Murrells Inlet. Many of the pieces are in fountains so I decided to use these in my post. We have a family membership (only $100) which allows us to visit as many times as we want during the year – and considering how many times I visit, it’s a fantastic bargain for me.

This sculpture was done by Anna Hyatt Huntington as are many of the pieces in the gardens. A former rice plantation, Mrs Huntington and her husband, Archer Huntington purchased the property and it was Mrs Huntington’s vision that built the gardens.

The Fighting Stallions piece is located at the entrance of the gardens. This view is of the back of the piece as it’s rather difficult to take a photo of the front due to the traffic conditions.

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The Fountain of the Muses by Carl Milles is my absolute favorite. The figures represent the arts – architecture, music, poetry, sculpture and painting. It’s so peaceful and beautiful and the sound of the tiny splashes of water are soothing.

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The picture above was taken a couple of years ago during the Night of a Thousand Candles. The reflection of the lights above into the pool gives it the feel of a bottomless abyss. This year’s event starts next week and I’m excited to see what they do this year.

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The Tortoise Fountain is by Janet Scudder. It’s in a small, quiet section named “Anne’s Garden”.

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Another favorite of mine is Diana by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It adjoins The Fountain of the Muses. I often sit on the wall and watch the reactions of others as they walk by. The plantings are changed out regularly and I’ve gotten a lot of my butterfly and bee captures here also.

I often post pictures of the gardens so check back often to see more.

You can see responses from other bloggers here: https://pilotfishblog.com/2018/11/24/lens-artists-photo-challenge-21-splash/

More of my photography can be seen here: photographyinpearls.photoshelter.com

December 2, 2018 by Gina Categories: Photo ChallengeTags: Brookgreen Gardens, Diana, Fountain of the Muses, Fountains, Night of a Thousand Candles, Splash, Tortoise Fountain 3 Comments

Photo Challenge – Lens-Artists: Magical Lights

This week Amy has chosen “magical lights” as our prompt and it’s come at a most appropriate time as we just purchased our tickets for Night of a Thousand Candles.

Each year Brookgreen Gardens hosts the event. There are lights through out the gardens along with carolers, story-tellers, bagpipes, food, drink and more. Thousands of people attend each year. It’s amazing and it wouldn’t be Christmas without a stroll though the gardens.