The Saint Mary of the Bay Cemetery in Warren is registered as Warren Historical Cemetery #10. Internments date back to the mid-19th century. The setting for today's photo was chosen for its contrast and scenery, however, not for any significance associated with the stones in this shot. Many of the cemeteries in Rhode Island include birch trees in the landscaping. In mid-winter, against a deep blue sky, the bare birch is exceptionally photogenic. Add the mottled white of the birch tree to the weathered brilliant white of the 19th century tombstone, and toss in a blanket of white snow, and you have all the ingredients for an interesting black and white scene.
Post processing started with a neutral greyscale filter in Topaz B&W FX. I adjusted color sensitivity sliders followed by adaptive exposure, boost black, boost white, and protect highlights. A brightness / contrast adjustment and a levels adjustment were added in PSE. A sepia photo filter topped the layers.
