Upstate Light

🌄 Upstate Light

Visual Love Letters to the Upstate

The Upstate Light series begins with photographs I captured of familiar places across the South Carolina Upstate, each transformed into a soft, glowing reminder of home.

These images are also available as Gathered Light suncatchers and Night Lights (coming soon), bringing the same scenes to life in different ways.

Poinsett Bridge — Landrum, SC

Tucked into the woods near Landrum, Poinsett Bridge was built in 1820 and is believed to be the oldest surviving stone bridge in South Carolina. Its graceful Gothic arch spans Little Gap Creek and has become one of the most photographed historic landmarks in the Upstate.

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Campbell’s Covered Bridge — Landrum, SC

Built in 1909, Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the last remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. Crossing Beaverdam Creek just outside Landrum, it stands as a quiet reminder of a time when covered bridges once dotted the countryside.

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Reedy River Falls — Falls Park, Greenville, SC

The waterfalls of the Reedy River flow through the heart of downtown Greenville and have become one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. For decades the falls were hidden beneath a roadway and surrounded by industry, until the bridge was removed and the area was transformed into Falls Park. Today the cascading water and surrounding gardens form the centerpiece of Greenville’s vibrant downtown.

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The Medusa Tree — Falls Park, Greenville, SC

Known locally as the “Medusa Tree,” this remarkable American beech is famous for its twisting, exposed roots that spill down the hillside like flowing hair. Planted in the early 1930s as part of the former Furman University arboretum, it has become one of Falls Park’s most photographed natural features.

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Carrick Creek — Table Rock State Park, SC

Carrick Creek winds through Table Rock State Park, tumbling over rocks and small waterfalls along one of the park’s most scenic trails. The park itself was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and remains one of the Upstate’s most beloved mountain destinations.

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Caesars Head State Park - Pickens, SC

Located along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Caesars Head State Park offers some of the most breathtaking views in South Carolina. The overlook provides a sweeping panorama of the mountains and valleys below, making it a favorite destination for hikers, photographers, and leaf-peepers alike.

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Pretty Place - F.W. Symmes Chapel - Cleveland, SC

Perched on the edge of the mountains at YMCA Camp Greenville, Fred W. Symmes Chapel—known as “Pretty Place”—is famous for its open-air sanctuary and stunning sunrise views. The simple stone cross overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains has made it one of the most iconic and photographed spots in the Upstate.

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