JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) -- When Jack Gescheidt started taking photographs of nude men and women at Angel Oak on Saturday, he didn't mean to cause a scene.
"My intent is not to offend anyone. And, for someone who is really offended by what I do I mean, there's not much I can say," said Gescheidt, a California photographer.
Instead of an opportunity of peaceful artistic expression, Gescheidt was shut down by the Charleston City Police.
"I'm risking arrest and fines and possibly incarceration. And, I think the reason, I've never been arrested doing this is because people sense my genuine integrity," Gescheidt said. "Even if they disagree with how I'm doing it."
Charleston City Council recently agreed to buy 6.5 acres of land around Angel Oak. Gescheidt worries if that land is developed, Angel Oak will loose its sacredness.
"It's like the desecration of a site and I believe it will shorten the life of the Angel Oak. And, she deserves our respect. She's been there hundreds and hundreds of years," Gescheidt said.
No arrests were made during the police intervention.
(WCIV contributed to this report.)
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