Back in mid-winter (oh, maybe January 2014), I started a
Facebook Group Page called “Snow in Cemeteries.” The 2013-14 winter saw snow in
49 of the 50 United States – Florida being the only state in which it did not
snow! Due mainly to the exuberant response (there were postings from all over
the world – Germany, Canada, Brasil, Great Britain, Poland, even Texas!), it
occurred to me to make this post:
“Ok, here's a question for everyone: Why do you photograph
cemeteries? (People would ask me this, and for years, I did not have an answer.)”
Let’s take a look at why some people make photographs in
cemeteries. I believe I had about 75 responses, almost immediately. I wanted to
share some with my Cemetery Traveler readers. You may be surprised by some,
amazed at others. In all, they are quite inspiring! (I’ve added my own
photographs to break up the text.)
Denise MacL. – “As a child, I loved listening to the elderly
people telling stories of days gone past...and then I liked to see where these
people were buried. After a while, I started visiting cemeteries to read the
stones and piece together the history. Then I began to notice the art within
and photography became a way for me to capture the beauty found. As well, it
fills my 'cup of happiness' to spend a day in such a tranquil place filled with
heartwarming 'stories', sentiments and beauty. It is my form of meditation and
oddly, I find it exhilarating. I feel more alive after spending the day there.”
Kim P-S: “I began visiting cemeteries with my grandmother
when I was a teenager. We mainly went because she shared so much of our family
history and visited their graves because these are what remains (seriously no
pun intended) of their lives. Their existence is literally written in stone. In
the ensuing years as I got older and began soul-searching, I needed to feel as
though I belonged in this world, and would visit my ancestors' graves on a
regular basis to help me feel grounded. I am not trying to sound cliché by
using these words. I mean it very literally. So when digital photography became
popular and mainstream, it was just a natural and amazing way for me to carry
these images with me. And then I began just visiting cemeteries I encountered
wherever I went for the simple peace and beauty of them. I love discovering all
the people that have come before me. And I take photos regularly for Find A
Grave, and have been able to fill photo requests for people researching their
family who do not live near where their ancestors are buried. I derive great
joy from "reuniting" family members. It is free and brings me joy and
knowledge. I could go on and on, but in a nutshell, that's why I love
photographing cemeteries.”
Denise M. – “ It is a passion and an obsession...”
Alexandra M. - “My
interest in photographing --and writing about--cemeteries developed from my
career as a funeral director. I must say that I far prefer spending time in
cemeteries in an artistic capacity.”
Dave W. -
“For me it began
as a genealogical quest. Placing me in cemeteries, recording the information on
tombstones. Then taking photos (35mm) for the addition to my charts. All this
bringing me to a large cemetery in the town I grew up in. Thus taking me back
to redo the photos with my first Polaroid digital camera. Seeing one of my
family plots with the grass over grown, I began to take my mower with me to do
these plots. In this process I met the board president of the cemetery, he
thanked me, told me the struggles of a non-profit cemetery and since having
family in the cemetery I could participate at the board meetings so I went. I
continued to take photos of family members in cemeteries, but while in this one
I began to see carvings, unique t/stones and began taking more. Sometimes just
sitting in the peaceful area and reflecting. Then names of others became
interesting. So I starting writing down their histories, which led to a
Historical Tour held in October each year, which led to a fundraiser. Placing
me in cemeteries more and more, particularly in this one. … So due to the peace
of the cemetery, the excitement of a new find, to the beauty of nature and the
artistic tombstones, I became, a cemetery junkie! … You did show me the art in
it. I like the art, and often place my mind into the chipping and cutting to
create. However in my mind it is impossible, lol... Peeling was a local carver
here, his forte' was lambs, I just cannot imagine creating such art from stone.
Now that is what I look for...... Oh a name once in a while too, but never as
before!”
(spiritualist)
John O'B. -
“History
written in stone.”
Tina DeM. – “It’s a unique canvas of interesting photos and
stories waiting to be told.”
Cheryl F. – “My dad would take me to his family cemeteries
in VA when I was a child. He was a photographer and had a darkroom in our
basement so I became fascinated with the process. He was more into
documentation/genealogy, I was more into the art/landscape in the cemeteries. I
began photographing cemetery art when I was in high school and picked it up
again when I started teaching pinhole camera design to my sophomore chem
students. Now I've published a coffee table book of my cemetery photos so I've
really gone over to the darkside LOL.”
Julie E. - “I started doing it back in the 80's when I was
taking photography classes. The teacher was horrified by it. But --- it made
good black and whites and if I did something I didn't like or didn't get what I
wanted I could always go back because those folks -------- weren't going
anywhere. They would always be in the same place --- so I could redo till I got
what I needed. Unfortunately, I never could have imagined that my life would go
the road it did -- and I did not save those photos or negatives. I think maybe
only two or three photos survive out of hundreds. Imagine ----- the
photographic record I would have had for myself in that cemetery. When it came
time for me to show Megan how to work the manual camera - that's where I took
her ----- the cemetery.”
Denise J. - “Because they have a beauty, all their own. Time
stands still there.”
Andrea W. - “Because I love it.”
James V. – “For some strange reason I've always been
attracted to Cemeteries regardless of where I've been. From my hometown in
Wisconsin to the one across from my grandmother’s house in Colorado. San Diego
to Hollywood to Alexandria Virginia. Always respectful always curious. From the
statues and artwork to the names and lives they've lived. I personally found
photography late in life. Wish I had then. When I finally came up to
Philadelphia from VA, the Forest Hills/Shalom was down the street which I
ventured. It wasn't until I moved in Mayfair where I found a person who had
similar interests in Cemeteries. I found out she was into photography and would
photograph cemeteries and certain stones of interest. She showed me Laurel Hill
East and West and we would go there taking photos, she with her camera me with
my phone, that is until my wonderful wife bought me the best Christmas gift
EVER! A D5100 Nikon with 2 lenses. Now I had a real camera, but a lot to learn.
As you know, Ed, when we first met at Laurel Hill on photography night was my
first night shoots. I've taught myself much since then yet Cemeteries and
Tombstones are still my favorite and always will be!”
“I was up in Easton with a friend,
we had spare time and I saw the Easton Cemetery and wanted to stop in and check
it out. He was driving and he gave me a look like I was insanely joking and
kept driving. I will get up there again one day. … have not had the opportunity
to truly investigate it because I'm usually with my family and when I mention
stopping in I get the usual uninterested sigh of, ‘Omg, no, please don't make us dad.’ From my family. Lol”
Jacqueline T. - "I've been there [Vandegrift Cemetery] and
shot as much as I could because a lot of the stones are unreadable. It's very
small and the people at the fire house across the street were looking at me
funny lol...they just wouldn't understand lol..."
Patricia K. – “Because there is nobody around to look at me
strange when I take 3000 photos of the same object.”
Debra H. - “I Don't Photograph At All. I Don't Even Own A
Camera, Unless You Count The One In My IPad, Or My Old Polaroid- I Don't Even
Know Where That Is. Anyway - I Really Am Captivated By This Genre. Even The
Post-Mortem Photography Is Interesting To Me. I Very Much Enjoy All Of Your
Contributions. Thank You For What You Do!”
Tammy G. - “When I was a kid I used to go with my parents to
two cemeteries to care for graves of our loved ones. While my parents were busy
cutting grass and such my brother and I would wander around the cemetery. I
loved doing it, looking at the stones, being careful not to walk on any graves.
Later on as a teen we would drive to various cemeteries and talk about local
legends. (Every town has them.) (Which inspired me to write my book.) So now, I
love the peace, the art and history. I wonder about those buried. I love being
able to share and to see what others have to share. That's some of the reasons.
… I think my parents did a fine job but what I didn't mention is when we went
to cemeteries as teens, we were partying. Even still...we were always
respectful.”
Dee M. – “I started photographing cemeteries as an off-shoot
of my genealogy. The more time I spent in cemeteries checking out the graves of
my ancestors, the more I noticed how peaceful and beautiful they are. I don't
think there is anywhere else in this world that you can find such heartfelt,
artistic beauty as in a cemetery.”
Joe G. - “Good question, Ed, it made me think.
1) Most cemeteries
are beautiful places, by design, and the landscapes, the architecture, the
sculptures all make such wonderful subjects, photographically.
2) I'm intrigued
by the iconography of funereal sculpture and architecture.
3) The sense of
history can be so strong, from the micro level of individual and inter-family
relationships and life stories written on the headstones, up to the macro level
of our own national history as you visit the graves of historical figures.
4) Cemeteries are
such peaceful places to walk, meditate, see nature, and think about the human
condition.”
Susan S. – “I can remember always being afraid of cemeteries
as a young girl. I don't know why, but I would hold my breath whenever we drove
past a grave yard. Now I find myself drawn to them, finding peace and solace as
I walk through those hollowed grounds. As many of you have stated, I too find
myself thinking about the lives that once were, and are no more on this earth.
Thus bringing to the forefront of my being, my own mortality. The difference
between my childhood fears of death and all things related to it, and my peace and
serenity of the same, is due to the eventuality of an acceptance of my own
mortality. The knowing, in my own soul, that all is not finished when our lives
on earth are done. There is more, much more ahead, just over yonder.....”
Anthony S. – “I photograph cemeteries as a form of Memento
Mori.”
Teresa R. - “There’s so much peace there, and the beauty of
them I feel calm when I’m there and a closeness to my family.”
John O'B. – “In 2005 I went to England. I went to many
places including the British museum. To save weight I brought many memory cards
instead of a computer. I toured the entire museum and took over 300 pictures.
When I finally got home and looked at what I took I found. Gravestones,
mummies, tombs and lot of funeral related stuff. So my tastes have been
predetermined. I like graveyards and photograph them. Because I like it!”
Johanna C. – “As a kid (Youngest of 8) Cemeteries were my
secret hiding spot from my family. Became fascinated by the statuary and the
fact that someone took the time to handcarve/etch each one. I'd bring a drawing
pad and a thermos of juice with me each day as I rode my bike to the nearest
one. As an adult, I still visited the families stones that seemed abandoned and
would tidy them up/plant flowers. Many years later I found out about
findagrave.com and jumped right into it. They still are my favorite secret
solitude away from home.”
Katie K. – “ Simple answer? Even at a young age I
appreciated architecture and sculpture, but there is SO much of it. When I
opened my eyes, as a teenager, to the sculpture in cemeteries, I discovered a
way to narrow the field down and focus on a small subset examples, which
represented so many styles. Upon first learning about funerary symbolism, I
knew I had found my niche. So, in essence, it was a matter of simply paring
down my interests to what interested me the most. That, and, well, cemeteries
are reflective of the communities they serve so it's a great way to get a quick
local history lesson. … I didn't realize that was my process, Ed, until you
asked the question and I really thought long and hard about it. So.... thanks
for posing the question!”
Dawn H. – “Visiting a cemetery is like therapy to calm me. I
have been doing it since I was a child. Photography came later after I
discovered all the treasures that are held within them. I have never been to a
cemetery that I didn't find something that was beautiful.”
