From the publisher, Everything Goes Media, LLC:
“In Chicago Eternal, the Windy City’s rich history springs
to life through illuminating photographs of gravestones and monuments. This
full-color, hardcover book explores thirty-two Chicago cemeteries, shedding
light on the famous, notorious, and long-forgotten. Each image is accompanied
by text detailing the deceased’s cultural contributions. Chicago Eternal is a
must have for professional and hobby genealogists, tombstone tourists, history
buffs, and photography lovers. All author proceeds are donated to the Chicago
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Disabled and Access Living.”
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| 3D image from Chicago Eternal |
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| My daughter enjoying 3D glasses |
About the Photography
As a photographer, I realize that it is challenging to make
an artistic, aesthetically pleasing photo of a cemetery monument. Most such
images are either clichéd or what I call "snap shoddy," a snap shot
that really is nothing more than a post card photo at best. So I may hold up
cemetery photography books to a more rigorous standard than do most people ‒ the
photos have to do more for me than provide documentation. The funerary
architecture and stunning Victorian-era mourning art sculpture in Chicago’s
cemeteries are worthy of documentation for sure, partly because time and the
elements wear down these unique objets d'art. I am happy to say that the
majority of Broutman’s intriguing images are successful photographs themselves,
while providing visual accompaniment to the text. As my tastes run more toward
black and white photographs, color work has to really stand out to get my
attention ‒ and these images stand out.
Why do Broutman’s images stand out, you may ask. Well, for me two of the most appealing atmospheric conditions under which to photograph cemetery statuary are in the snow, and under cloudy skies before a storm. Oddly, many of Broutman’s images were made under just these conditions. To my eye, this makes the subject ‒ the architecture and statuary ‒ that much more interesting. Shooting under these conditions is unusual. I would like to know what kind of cameras Broutman uses, how he made some of these images, and WHY he chose to make many of the photographs while there was snow on the ground (I assume the winters are longer in Chicago, so he may not have had a choice!). I would think a short essay explaining such technicalities would have been enjoyable to read. His discerning use of depth of field and limited use of HDR make the images quite pleasing to the eye. Possibly because the color images are so striking and the print quality so high, the few black and white images in the book seem to have less punch. It’s unusual for me to say such a thing, because I do prefer black and white to color.
Celebrity
Like many people, I am intrigued by celebrities. Visiting
the Chicago grave of Howlin’ Wolf or Jesse Owens makes us feel closer to the person,
physically, than we ever could have in real life. Visiting Al Capone’s or ‘Big
Jim’ Colosimo’s grave is certainly safer than it would have been to visit the actual people when they
were alive! Many of the people in Broutman's book were players in Chicago’s colorful past,
people we learned about in history books, such as Mayor Daley, Jack Ruby, and Detective
Allan Pinkerton. Standing at their graves makes history more tangible. Broutman
provides informational text and supplemental historic photographs to flesh out
his stories, making them that much more interesting. Who knew that Oscar Mayer
(buried in Chicago’s Rosehill Cemetery) patented sliced bacon?
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| Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago |
Never having been to Chicago, there is the mystique of novelty here, for me. My guess, though, is that even if you HAVE been to these Chicago area cemeteries, you will get even more from Broutman’s book than I have. Such nationally historic events are marked in Chicago’s grand graveyards, for example, the Showmen’s Rest railway disaster at Woodlawn, the Haymarket Riot in Forest Home, and the Irving Park graves of the victims of 1929’s St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Broutman puts flesh on the bone with his images and text, bringing history to life in ways that a simple history book cannot. It was truly inspiring to see the grave of Emma Goldman (Forest Home Cemetery), the Jewish political activist whose memorial bears the engraving, “Liberty will not descend to a people, a people must raise themselves to liberty.”
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| Grave of Christopher Manual, 3D image from Chicago Eternal |
The design and layout of Chicago Eternal are simply stunning. The front and back covers do what covers are supposed to do – make you want to buy the book! If you are so inclined, the publisher has graciously offered a discount code to readers of The Cemetery Traveler:
Your exclusive coupon code is CEMTOURS10 which will give readers $10 off at Everything Goes Media (https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-eternal)
Acknowledgement
Photographs in this article are used by permission of the publisher, Everything Goes Media, LLC.
About the Author
Photographs in this article are used by permission of the publisher, Everything Goes Media, LLC.
About the Author
Author Larry Broutman donates all of his profits from
Chicago Eternal and his two other coffee table books of photography, Chicago
Monumental and Chicago Unleashed, as well as his soon-to-be-released children’s
book, Chicago Treasure, to The Chicago Lighthouse and Access Living.
The Chicago Lighthouse
The Chicago Lighthouse is a world-renowned social service
organization serving the blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veteran
communities. Recognized as a pioneer in innovation since 1906, The Chicago
Lighthouse provides vision rehabilitation services, education, employment
opportunities and assistive technology for people of all ages. Larry Broutman is a Lighthouse Board Member. His upcoming
book, Chicago Treasure, features photographs of students from the Judy and Ray
McCaskey Preschool at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually
Disabled.
Find more information about The Chicago Lighthouse at:
Access Living
Established in 1980, Access Living is a change agent
committed to fostering an inclusive society that enables Chicagoans with
disabilities to live fully–engaged and self–directed lives. Nationally
recognized as a leading force in the disability advocacy community, Access
Living challenges stereotypes, protects civil rights and champions social
reform. Their staff and volunteers combine knowledge and personal experience to
deliver programs and services that equip people with disabilities to advocate
for themselves.
Find more information about Access Living at
