CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

My wife and I are planning about a week in Charleston, SC in mid June. She has been there once and I have never been. Looking for suggestions for photo opportunities, historical sites, breath taking scenery, etc.

Best sections of town to stay in for both quality of life and safety if we wander out, especially at night....

Interested in history of area both nautical and land based and photographing same. My experience with tour buses in other places is that I don't get good shooting opportunities--people in the way and the buses go too fast!

Walking tours ok if not too long. She is late 60's and I am 70 and it will be hot there so walking cannot be terribly far in the heat.

Wondering if horse drawn carriage rides would be good or if they are too crowded. Slower and smaller group I would hope than a bus, etc.

Also wondering about places to simply drive the rental car to and from, etc.

Suggestions as to what not to miss as well as any tourist traps to avoid would be most appreciated.

Primary interest is photographing the historical sites, landscapes, seascapes, etc.

Am planning to take my Canon 5DIII and three lenses: a 16-35 f4L, a 24-105 f4L and a 70-300 f4-5.6L. Probably throw in my f1.8 nifty-fifty for night time and a monopod. Is this overkill? If so which lenses to take and which to leave at home? All will be carried in quality Lowe Pro back pack with hip straps to transfer weight to my hips and off my shoulders. Will also likely take my Sony RX10 III (f2.5-4, 24mm-600mm) and as over all backup. Would not be carrying both cameras at the same time though. That way if the Canon gets too heavy, I could always fall back on the Sony.

I realize this has become long. If you are still with me, please give me your thoughts and the benefits of your experiences. Thanks to all!

Tom

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The ships at Patriots Point are neat.
When I was there I had free reign of looking through the aircraft carrier.
https://www.patriotspoint.org/

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

Thanks Longshadow. Any recommended lenses for shots there?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Mostly wide, maybe a 50 also. Tight quarters. MAYBE a small zoom/telephoto for some shots, depending on what you want to shoot.
Of yours, the 16-35 and 24-105.
Maybe the monopod, no room for a tripod below deck on the ships (Maybe not be allowed?) I didn't have either with me when I went.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

From a few weeks ago: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-591479-1.html

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

Here maybe some good places to start: Hope you enjoy !

https://www.meetingstreetinn.com/en-us
http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/
https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm

wsa111 Loc: Goose Creek, South Carolina

Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Charleston chamber of commerce

retiredsgt Loc: Red Lion Pa.

Charlestown is a Great , Laid Back City. You can walk all over the city. Been there twice. Once when I was a YOUNG 70, and later as a Young 72. Wife, and Brother and Sister in Laws, all about the same age, did it. Fort Sumpter, is an easy visit. A LOT of great watering holes and scenery. I carried a Nikon Coolpix P7000 and a Coolpix P900. ENJOY!!!

gaknott

Visit Angel Oak on John's Island. It is the oldest/largest live oak tree in the Eastern US. You will need a very wide angle lens and proper position on the property to capture the entire tree. I had a 18-270 zoom and had to use the 18mm end to capture the entire tree. You can also get nice shots from segments of the tree, limbs, vertical from underneath, etc. There will be people but the tree dwarfs them and do not affect the shot too badly. Parking will scare you when you come down the road, but keep going to the main gate; someone has always left and opened a spot near the gate.

Bobby123

I visited Charleston a few months ago and a friend recommended visiting the nearby Angel Oak Tree. If you decide to visit it, do not dream of taking photographs. The attendant in the gift store came out shouting at me from a distance twice. The first time was for parking incorrectly (I was parked next to 4 other cars) and the second time was for using a tripod. There were no signs addressing either issue and I thought shouting at me in public was completely offensive. She told me where I could use my tripod but that was behind other trees so I simply packed up and left with no photos. Photographer friends of mine have recently told me that this woman is well known for this sort of behavior so behave accordingly. The ships at Patriots Point are pretty good, though, if you're into that.

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

Thanks for the input Longshadow!

satorifarm Loc: Stedman, NC

What we used to do is park at the visitors center and buy a trolley pass. You can get on and off the trolley at will all day and not have to worry about parking. Be aware that if the heat is extreme the carriage horses will not be out. Do yourself a favor and go see the Aiken-Rhett house. It is preserved, not restored. The plantations just outside the city are worth seeing also. At the visitors center you can also buy a bundle of passes for historic houses and the plantations if you want to. And the churches are fabulous. Have fun. Stay hydrated!! The 18-140 (Nikon) works well there.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Skip the 70-300 for sure! I think the 24-xxx, nifty 50, plus the Sony is all you need. Don’t burden yourself with a lot of gear.

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

Thank you Paul. Great information there!

Tom