Why People Love to Visit Charleston in the Spring

Foggy mornings and overcast skies didn’t stop us from capturing the picturesque beauty of Charleston and the stunning gardens close by. With tripods over our shoulders, the handful of photographers pictured at the end of this story covered a lot of ground with expert guides. We spent two and a half days, sunrise to sunset, with Kate Silvia and Kenneth McKeithan, and along the way, we discovered why people love to visit Charleston in the spring.

Live oaks and azaleas at Magnolia Gardens

People love to visit Magnolia Cemetary for many reasons. Ghost tour enthusiasts go there for the “Spirits of Magnolia Cemetary Tour.” History buffs go there to see the magnificent tombstones of notable interments. Others go there to contemplate the elegant surroundings. But photographers go there for beautiful compositions.

Azalea and camellia blossoms complement wrought iron fences and tombstones. Magnolia Cemetery is why people love to visit Charleston in the spring.

Folly Beach is stunning, even with clouds rolling in. We captured the pastel colors of overcast skies reflected on the ocean at sunrise and sunset.

Folly Beach at sunrise is why people love to visit Charleston in the spring.

Folly Beach at sunset is another reason people love visiting Charleston in the spring.

Waterfront Park is enchanting and mysterious on mornings when sea fog blankets the area.

Shrouded in mist, Waterfront Park is another reason people love to visit Charleston in the spring.

When the fog lifts, Charleston displays iconic springtime glory.

Wisteria bursting through fences, morning carriage rides, cobblestone streets, dappled sunlight around every corner—well, you get the picture, no pun intended!

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Visitors and locals love walking and biking along Wonder’s Way, the 2.7-mile bike and pedestrian path on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. On clear days, the views reach from Folly Beach to the Isle of Palms. It’s every photographer’s dream to capture twilight from the bridge. The rays of sunlight from below the horizon paint the whole sky in magnificent shades of lapis lazuli. But the day we were there, overcast skies returned, and we focused our cameras on the bridge’s beautiful contours and cable-stayed sails from the ground.

Kate and Kenny provided invaluable guidance concerning composition, settings, post-processing of the images, and the importance of using a tripod so that there are no more blurry photos! After leading field trips together for years, they form a dynamic team. They know where to go and how to capture the best pictures. In addition, they provide lessons on how to use Adobe editing tools.

About Kenny McKeithan

Almost entirely self-taught, Kenny McKeithan has 30 years of experience in photography and photo finishing and possesses. His passion for photography began as a child when his parents bought him his first box camera. As a teen, he started working for local photo retailers and eventually left there to teach others. Eager to share his knowledge, Kenny provides hands-on workshops in the field. He trains locally and in 4 to 5-day outings in North Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. He is an award-winning nature photographer with favorite aviation, fashion, glamour, and portraiture photos. His images have appeared in Charleston Magazine, Art Mag, Camera in the Wild, Where Magazine. Kenny owns The Charleston Center for Photography. A native to the Lowcountry, he grew up on James Island and currently lives in Summerville, S.C.

“My greatest fear is that, when I die, my wife will sell all of my camera gear for what I told her it cost!” – Kenny McKeithan.

About Kate Silvia

Kate Silvia is a professional landscape photographer, author, videographer, field guide, and instructor based in Charleston, S.C. Her field trips, educational blog, and YouTube tutorials are popular among aspiring photographers at all levels. Kate’s accomplishments are numerous. She has images published in Landscape Photographer, Nature Photographers Network, Aquarium Fish, Nature Photographer, Camera in the Wild, and NANPA’s Expressions. She’s produced streaming video workshops for NIK Software, Photoshop, and Creative Post Processing. Her E-Books include “Composition For The Landscape Photographer” and “The Nature Photographer’s Guide to Greater Charleston.” Kate writes regularly for the Visual Wilderness blog and produces full-length educational videos for all aspects of landscape photography.

“It’s all about helping others become better photographers.” – Kate Silvia

Equipment

Sony a7III and Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 lens for a few shots of the mansions along E. Bay Street. Really Right Stuff TVC-34L, carbon fiber tripod, very light until I attached the BH-55 ball head. This ball head is a little heavy but very stable with a heavy lens, even on windy days.

Lodging

The Francis Marion Hotel is a legend named after famed Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox) and designated in Historic Hotels of America. It’s where I enjoyed short respites in between photography sessions and dinner at the Swamp Fox Restaurant. Fried Okra with Fresno Chili Oil and Chèvre Goat cheese is my favorite appetizer on their extensive menu of classic southern cuisine.

Go to my Gallery to see more alluring images of Charleston in the spring.

For another of my stories about Charleston, see Checking Up on Downtown Charleston.

If you’re interested in thrilling Charleston ghost tours that originate from the history of Charleston, visit Charleston Terrors and experience Charleston’s Most Haunted Ghost Tours.

One of the joys of photography is spending time with talented people, each with their creative interpretations. Thank you all for enhancing my knowledge of photography.

Contributions from members of the group.

Travel Notes

Learning photography with the experts is a great way to learn quickly and share information with fellow photographers. With photography experts Kate Silvia and Kenny McKeithan, we covered a lot of ground in two and a half days. Whew! It was a fast pace, but we were learning the whole way.

You never know what the weather will do, and this tour was no exception. We were lined up for sunrises and sunsets, especially on the beach, Ravenel Bridge, and Shem Creek Park. Cloud cover dogged us on every occasion. Nevertheless, as travelers and photographers, we continued our journey and adjusted as needed. For photographers, it’s helpful to avoid the harsh sunlight of midday. We arrived at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens when it opened at 9:00 am, beating the harsh sun and the crowds. Our guides arranged the perfect schedule, all the reasons why people love Charleston in the Spring.     

• Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
• Magnolia Cemetary
• Folly Beach
• Waterfront Park
• Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
• Shem Creek Park in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
• Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, S.C.

About Marie Goff