Old Sheldon Church Photo Tips & Guide

I’d never had the chance to really get to know Charleston but since it was on the way to a photo shoot in the Smokies, I decided to invest a couple of days and see what there was to see.

Now, before we talk about Charleston itself, let me tell you a few photo tips  about a killer location about an hour from the city that you really need to see:  The Ruins of Old Sheldon Church.

This place is a dream for a photographer.  The skeleton of this church is hauntingly beautiful, especially near the end of the day when shadows stream thru the columns.  Shots early in the day with the site shrouded in fog would be worth the trip too. If you like black and white photography, you could have a field day here!   In addition, there are bits and pieces of an old graveyard around the church.  This particular tombstone caught my eye:

The church has an incredible history…burnt twice, once during the Revolution and then again by Sherman’s troops nearly a century later.  It sits on a nicely maintained site and is free to visit.  It is a peaceful place with very few visitors.

The address is 919 Old Sheldon Church Rd. Yemassee, SC 29945.  To get there from I-95 take Exit 33 (U.S. Highway 17 north) towards Beaufort.  Follow U.S. 17 north for about 3 miles (5 km).  Turn left onto Cotton Hall Road (S-7-48).  After 2.5 miles (4 km), the road will come to an angled intersection with Old Sheldon Church Road. Make a slight right turn onto Old Sheldon Church Road and follow it for just under one mile (1.5 km).  The ruins are located on the left. Parking is available along the curb of the road or in a small gravel lot across the street…just be careful of all the trees, I managed to back into one on my way out:(

	32°37′6.7″N 80°46′49.7″W / 32.618528°N 80.780472°W / 32.618528; -80.780472:

I had done a lot of on-line research before this trip looking for photo sites in Charleston, but Old Sheldon Church wasn’t on my radar.  If it wasn’t for a great tour guide in Savannah (Bobby Davis http://www.exploresavannah.com/)  I would have driven right by it without a clue.  I think this is a truly unappreciated photo op that doesn’t seem to be well known to anyone but the locals.   Don’t miss it!

Next, on to Charleston.

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