How to Photograph a Cemetery

Cemeteries are are windows into past cultures, a study of the “haves” and “have-nots.” Despite the perceived morbidity, cemeteries are peaceful and poetic places.Respect is important when photographing cemeteries. Remember that families are there along with their monuments. But you can take stunning photographs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Digital or film camera
• Memory card or film
• Fill-flash
• Electronic flash
• Adobe Photoshop or other photo-manipulation software

1. 
   Three old gravestones show the wear of years.

   Old gravestones tend to be more elaborate, more ornate. Old cemeteries also often provide elderly trees, shade and contrasts in light and dark.

2. 
   Some grave monuments are art in themselves.

   Get out of the car and walk. Cemeteries have roads through them, but they were designed to make it easy to visit family graves. Walking will help you see the photos that present themselves. Famous photographer Ansel Adams largely is known for his photos of Yosemite National Park. Adams was very good, but it is hard to take a bad photo in Yosemite. The same is true for older cemeteries.

3. 
   This tiny old gravestones sits in pieces, worn by weather over many years.

   Look for poor people’s gravestones, as well as those of the rich. The rich tended to make giant monolithic monuments to themselves, and their gravestones tend to be ornate and grand. They are the easiest to spot and to photograph well. The gravestones for poor people, however, are better representatives of real life. Gravestones are sad, but they tell a story.

4. 
   The sky was altered to give a stormy look for this masoleum.

   Shoot in color, but convert to black and white or sepia tone in Photoshop for digital or film. The reason is color often won’t reveal the full beauty of the cemetery unless there are bright flowers or patriotic flags. Don’t just convert the photos to grayscale, either. Use Desaturate because it gives you far more flexibility when toning the photos. For a really stark black-and-white image, use Equalize. For a softer tone, use Diffuse Glow in the Filter Gallery. For really old gravestones, try sepia toning. With the image desaturated, go to Variations under Adjustments. Mixing Yellow and Red in Variations will give a soft, old-fashioned sepia brown look to the photos.

5. 
   The rich and the poor lie near each other in this cemetery.

   Look around for more cemeteries that aren’t major affairs. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many families — especially those who were farmers — tended to bury their family members in small lots. They may be along a road or in the middle of a field. Also look at hilltops. Most old cemeteries were placed on hills because the land couldn’t be farmed.

Tips & Warnings

• Caretakers of cemeteries generally won’t mind you photographing the stones. If they ask you what you’re doing, be polite. Most often, they will have no problem.
• Look near old trees. Broken old gravestones often are leaned against them.
• Don’t just look at the front of the stones. Sometimes those with cracks have been repaired many years ago with iron braces. The backs of stones can make interesting photos, too.
• Most of the older and smaller cemeteries don't have websites. They can be found in local neighborhoods by driving or walking around.

Resources

• Local, county and state historians.

[Redcat99]

on 9/18/2008 You are the best writer I know. I love you darling.