Hi everyone.
So I have been thinking about taking some photos in a graveyard but not sure if it is disrespectful or not.
Where I live there are a number of old graveyards that are beautifully landscaped and I'm wondering if it would be disrespectful or not. I wasn't planning on getting just 1 grave marker, just the whole area. I really like the landscaping and patterns. Just wondering about your thoughts.
Any and all feedback would be appreciated, good or bad.
Thanks in advance
Mike
I think as long as it is done respectively and no names are revealed they can be very beautiful... just keep in mind the families and put yourself in their position... and no resent graves...
How thoughtful of you to reach out for an opinion on this - my vote is... YES you are are a very good photographer and should be able to come up with some extremely cool, moody, abstract, poignant and yes,albeit respectful shots. Go for it :) PS one of my FAV shots of my brother and sister ever was taken in a graveyard last spring.
I think it's absolutely fine, as long as you're respectful of the site - they can make incredible subjects for photos and we've been to one of our local ones a number of times. the people that were there working or visiting were quite welcoming and friendly, so I personally don't see a problem with it at all.
I think it is fine if you are respectful of where you are. Also just a thought, but check out findagrave.com and search for the graveyard you are planning on going to. Sometimes there will be a photo request for one of the markers, usually a family member doing genealogy who is too far away to go, and that way you could get your project done plus turn it into a way to help someone.
As others have said, be respectful and if you want an extra project the website findagrave.com often has photo requests for gravestones. Look up the cemetery you are visiting and see if there are any.
Also try to get permission from owners of the cemetery. Many have theri photography guidelines on their website. I never include names on the stones. I am more interested in the shape and texture. There are usually always flowers. Cemeteries are great phot locations.
I love photographing in cemeteries. So much lovely stone sculpture and iconography.I chose to photograph in long abandoned sites in state parks or on trails.Or in famous graveyards (like this collage from Artists Ridge.)I prefer these places because it is less likely that I will intrude on folks visiting relatives.
Good question, I never did except for this one picture:
It's the grave of my great grandma which I posted on the day she would've turned 100 to especially show off the decoration... :)
I think it's generally fine, but I would also tend not to show names when you didn't know them :)
I think it is fine to take photos in Graveyards. I do it all the time. As long as you are respectful, and don't walk on the graves, it is fine. For a lot of the graves, you might be the only visitor they have had in a long long time. I find myself talking to the people there, I say 'excuse me' when I need to lean on one of them, or 'sorry if I accidentally step where I think I shouldn't have.
I think it is actually positively respectful. In the graveyard I pass each day these stones are long forgotten, but thinking about the place as a beautiful subject for a photo caused me to also think about the lives of the long gone people the stones commemorate, even if the inscriptions are weathered away.
Graveyards/Cemetaries are so beautiful and peaceful. I think photographing them is actually showing a lot of respect for the people resting there because we are drawn in by the beauty of where they chose to have their final resting place and want to share it.
First of all thank you all very much for taking the time to give me your opinions. I really appreciate it and it looks like I'll be off to photograph a grave site sometime in the near future. When I do I'll post on this thread so all of you kind folks can see my photos.
I also really want to thank you all for the advice and adding your photos. You have given me some great ideas as how to do this properly and remain respectful at the same time. So once again thanks.
Cheers everyone !! :)l
@HopeDJennings, I love those shots. Some of those gravestones were really works of art. I do enjoy walking in historical cemeteries, especially when the gravestones reveal how the person died. And I have a fascination for seeing the graves of well-known historical people. Westminster Abbey gave me the chills.
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at some point the only thing left will be photos of a past life.. if you don't take photos to preserve the past , who will??
I went in the evening and there were not a lot of people there.
Anyways, just be respectful and cognizant of the people who may be mourning for loved ones.
It's the grave of my great grandma which I posted on the day she would've turned 100 to especially show off the decoration... :)
I think it's generally fine, but I would also tend not to show names when you didn't know them :)
I took this in Crete, it's from the German Cemetery. Disrespectful?
First of all thank you all very much for taking the time to give me your opinions. I really appreciate it and it looks like I'll be off to photograph a grave site sometime in the near future. When I do I'll post on this thread so all of you kind folks can see my photos.
I also really want to thank you all for the advice and adding your photos. You have given me some great ideas as how to do this properly and remain respectful at the same time. So once again thanks.
Cheers everyone !! :)l