Truly dead!

[sirhc55]

Three pics taken in the most rundown grave site in Sydney. This is the Gore Hill site next to the RNS hospital - worth a visit

Totally obscured details on this grave stone:

and this one:

This one is not too bad after 106 years

[Geoff]

I think the 3rd one is the standout here Chris, nice work and I like the (? slightly over) saturated effect of the last one. When did you take these?

[stubbsy]

Chris

A little different to your usual fare and I quite like the result. The texture and colours of #1 and the colours and composition of #3 work for me, but the second is a bit lifeless ( ) by comparison

[sirhc55]

Chris

A little different to your usual fare and I quite like the result. The texture and colours of #1 and the colours and composition of #3 work for me, but the second is a bit lifeless ( ) by comparison

[vikin70]

i'm not too sure about a photo outing taking tombstones... is it just some stone and etchings to you? coz that cheapens it abit... making 'art' using ppl's tombstones... doesnt seem right somehow or maybe it's juz me.

[sirhc55]

i'm not too sure about a photo outing taking tombstones... is it just some stone and etchings to you? coz that cheapens it abit... making 'art' using ppl's tombstones... doesnt seem right somehow or maybe it's juz me.

Actually it is taking iconic pics - not people. Think of shipwrecks, plane crashes, etc., etc. In many cases these are tombs for many people, not just one and because of what they are, they become iconic.

[Alpha_7]

i'm not too sure about a photo outing taking tombstones... is it just some stone and etchings to you? coz that cheapens it abit... making 'art' using ppl's tombstones... doesnt seem right somehow or maybe it's juz me.

And you just missed out Grave Yard shoot, perhaps check the Image Review section 2 or 3 pages back and you'll find some lovely images from the event, and group and images I think were respectful in there treatment of the place and the pictures taken there.

[Matt. K]

When I'm dead feel free to photograph my tombstone. Stay the night if you like and Ill try and communicate with you.

[mic]

That 3rd one touches you Chris.

How horrible to lose their 21 year old in 1900 at the turn of the last century, I wonder what Nellie would have become in life ?

Mic. RIP Nellie

[pippin88]

i'm not too sure about a photo outing taking tombstones... is it just some stone and etchings to you? coz that cheapens it abit... making 'art' using ppl's tombstones... doesnt seem right somehow or maybe it's juz me.

I disagree completely.

You take nothing when you capture a photo, but when that photo evokes an emotion in someone you have given or created something. Wouldn't you prefer that than a tombstone sitting there unappreciated?

[vikin70]

You take nothing when you capture a photo, but when that photo evokes an emotion in someone you have given or created something.

ok... let me try to understand, do you mean photography is merely the act of capturing chemically what happens to be in one geographical location then presenting it to the an audience and if it evokes a response, than you have created art? what if it doesnt evoke anything? what if it evokes painful memories like this case, a 21yr who died at the best yrs of life? you'll notice the initial critiques were about colors, saturation and composition and nothing about the actual content itself, so are we critiquing the 'art' before it becames art or are we merely critiquing photographic techniques at the expense of someone else' tombstone.

Wouldn't you prefer that than a tombstone sitting there unappreciated?

i'd prefer my tombstone to be visited n remembered by loved ones yes, but to be documented by strangers to talk about photographic technique and how the shadow of the sun reflecting of my grave could be done better seems a bit disrespectful. but thats my OPINION.... no offense intended ok

[Alex]

Chris,

I like the last one a lot. Very nice contrast between gray grave and the flowers and greens around it.

Alex

[pippin88]

You take nothing when you capture a photo, but when that photo evokes an emotion in someone you have given or created something.

ok... let me try to understand, do you mean photography is merely the act of capturing chemically what happens to be in one geographical location then presenting it to the an audience and if it evokes a response, than you have created art? what if it doesnt evoke anything? what if it evokes painful memories like this case, a 21yr who died at the best yrs of life? you'll notice the initial critiques were about colors, saturation and composition and nothing about the actual content itself, so are we critiquing the 'art' before it becames art or are we merely critiquing photographic techniques at the expense of someone else' tombstone.

Wouldn't you prefer that than a tombstone sitting there unappreciated?

i'd prefer my tombstone to be visited n remembered by loved ones yes, but to be documented by strangers to talk about photographic technique and how the shadow of the sun reflecting of my grave could be done better seems a bit disrespectful. but thats my OPINION.... no offense intended ok

I don't want to get into trying to define art, because that is a pointless and futile exercise. I intentionly did not mention the word in my post.

I think cemetaries are things of beauty. Monuments to those passed. By photographing them we can share that. I don't think they should be places for the dead to lie forgotten.

If an image evokes painful memories that is unfortunate. However, many images can do this. And should we avoid photographing things because they may be painful to others? Where should we draw the line? Should we not mention things because they may be painful to others?

What about war photography? Sharing of tragedy and hardship is, IMO, incredibly important and enriches rather than damages.

Do you think it disrespectful to comment on photos of living people?

I certainly don't intend any offense, and your post is certainly not offensive, it is merely your opinion (as mine is).

[mark]

Chris,
I like the 3rd picture here.

My wife and I recently took a walk around Bangalow cemetary. Reflecting on all of the stories that were there and I also took a few photos.

There was a family that in 1908 burried two sons aged 4 & 7 (drowning) then 4 years later burried their 4 month old. We could only imaging the impact this would have had on the parents lives as we stood there in reflection. The parents of the children lived on for a further 20 years or so. All this just from a visit to the cemetary and reading the headstones.

Then there was the couple buried side-by-side 6 days apart after being married for 61 years.

I might point out that some of the grave sites we stopped and gave attention too looked as if we were the first people to visit and pay respects for a very long time. I'm sure you would have had a similar experience yourself.

[meicw]

Nice shots, Chris. I actually prefer the first. It is interesting to wander around a cemetery and try to imagine the stories from the inscriptions.

Regards
meicw