Boundaries of photography

KryptoNeo

KryptoNeo

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Stephen
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My job involves a lot of driving and whilst driving around recently I have been spotting locations that I can photograph in the future. But one kind of location that really intrigues me is cemeteries. I like looking at sculptures and also would like to photograph them.

I personally think it would be ok to enter a cemetery and take some pictures but I can also see how some people might find it distasteful.

Is it even allowed legally as I'm not sure of the laws as I'm a beginner to most of it.

Obviously if doing so I would be very respectful and make sure not step on any of the graves and not cause any damage to headstones.

Also what other areas are off limits as far as locations go.
 
No where is off limits really unless its a privately owned establishment or security sensitive.

Ive taken hundreds of photos in graveyards without any issues.
 
munch said:
Cemeteries are part of our social history, just have a look on the web.

This one for example: http://www.undercliffecemetery.co.uk/undercliffegallery.html
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Thank you for that link. That is exactly the type of thing I am hoping to achieve by doing this. I just wasn't sure if it was a big no no.
There are a lot of beautiful looking cemeteries around my area some with really old angel statues and such.
I think I will be venturing off to one of these in the week.
 
As long as you are respectful of the surrounding and do nothing that would likely appear insensitive to a relative of any of the deceased there should be no issue - personally if the church is open I would pop in and see if there was anyone there to explain what you are doing.
 
Not so much "new" cemeteries, but i've done church grounds graveyards (with the really old gravestones).
These have usually been moved about a fair bit in the past 100+ years, so you can be pretty sure your not walking around stepping over anyone's grave. I much prefer these to modern cemeteries.
 
If it's sculptures and statues you are after, the Victorian public cemeteries offer the best....with the likes of Highgate being the pinnacle.

Church graveyards, although fascinating in their own right, often contain older less ornate graves. It was the Victorian ideal of death and mourning that saw the funeral as an indication of status and wealth. Hence the huge statues and mausoleums typical of the late Victorian era.

As stated above Undercliffe is a perfect example of such a cememtery.

Many cities that expanded in the Victorian era built these cemeteries as the church graveyards were full. If you are interested in these cemeteries, then there are many to choose from, but if you only ever visit one.....please make it Highgate...you wont be disappointed.
 
munch said:
Cemeteries are part of our social history, just have a look on the web.

This one for example: http://www.undercliffecemetery.co.uk/undercliffegallery.html
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Since I have re kindled my interest in photography I have come to appreciate just how rich our own small country is. "back in the day" there was no platform for sharing information other than libraries and researching articles etc but the internet and knowledgable people here have opened up a whole new medium.
I love taking photo's of churches and if a cemetry is there that is interesting then so much the better, I have no qualms about this. Thank you for the link, so now i have got another location in my notebook to visit, so many places so little time.

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Lindsay D said:
I'm dead certain my local vicar would throw me off if I were to photograph the headstones. He is fairly emphatic about the church only being open to those who attend services regularly.
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Which is why it will be converted to flats in 50 years time.
 
Steve said:
Which is why it will be converted to flats in 50 years time.
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Quite!

On a slightly different topic, it always amazes me that so many members of the clergy are unwelcoming to parishioners who are hoping to hold their wedding or christening at the church - I know quite a few people who have been sent packing by their local vicar, because the families concerned have not attended enough church services in the past. Given that the public pay quite high fees (at some localities) for weddings, christenings, church bells etc, you would think the church would be grateful for the trade. And you would think that they would see welcoming such people as a potential opportunity to gain additional favour or support within the community.
 
Lindsay D said:
Quite!

On a slightly different topic, it always amazes me that so many members of the clergy are unwelcoming to parishioners who are hoping to hold their wedding or christening at the church - I know quite a few people who have been sent packing by their local vicar, because the families concerned have not attended enough church services in the past. Given that the public pay quite high fees (at some localities) for weddings, christenings, church bells etc, you would think the church would be grateful for the trade. And you would think that they would see welcoming such people as a potential opportunity to gain additional favour or support within the community.
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I wish the vicar at the church I got married in all those years ago had refused "she who drops cameras" and I from the place.......

Been trying to photograph an abandoned dishevilled graveyard, recommended on here, a few times.

Every time a planned day appeared work, weather or hospital appointment would spoil it.

Now will have to wait till dusk and then will hide my speedlites (on rc603s) around features and hope to see what eeriness will show up in my pictures!.

Steve
 
Lindsay D said:
Quite!

On a slightly different topic, it always amazes me that so many members of the clergy are unwelcoming to parishioners who are hoping to hold their wedding or christening at the church - I know quite a few people who have been sent packing by their local vicar, because the families concerned have not attended enough church services in the past. Given that the public pay quite high fees (at some localities) for weddings, christenings, church bells etc, you would think the church would be grateful for the trade. And you would think that they would see welcoming such people as a potential opportunity to gain additional favour or support within the community.
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The vicar cannot refuse to marry you in your parish church you are also entitled to get married in any church your parents or grandparents attended regularly or got married in. Beyond that a vicar is not even allowed to discuss a wedding for you until you have attended his/her church for 6 months although most will enter into conversation after 3 or 4. These are the rules of the Church of England not individual vicars, finally please remember that to a person of faith a wedding or christening is not an opportunity to drum up trade it is a meaningful spiritual and important moment in their lives.
 
However the church is declining and needs to adjust some of it's 'rules' if it's to survive well into the 21st century! Individual vicars appear to be incredibly flexible in other areas however ....

Edit: I think the church does need to try and drum up 'trade' considering that so many collection boxes remain largely empty.
 
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You can get married in a church outside your parish without attending if you get a licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury - we had to do this to get married in the chapel at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, as it was then.
 
I think you'd be alright in a graveyard. There's hardly anyone around in them most of the time.

As someone else as also alluded to, a lot of the more interesting things to photograph are very old and i doubt there are many living relatives who visit and could complain.

As a beginner, one of the big things to get over, is thinking that everyone is watching you because you are taking a photo.
 
Lindsay D said:
However the church is declining and needs to adjust some of it's 'rules' if it's to survive well into the 21st century! Individual vicars appear to be incredibly flexible in other areas however ....

Edit: I think the church does need to try and drum up 'trade' considering that so many collection boxes remain largely empty.
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The church isn't about making money or filling collection boxes it's about spreading the word of god and it while many churches may close that would be vastly preferable to the church turning weddings into a business.
 
MadWoman said:
You can get married in a church outside your parish without attending if you get a licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury - we had to do this to get married in the chapel at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, as it was then.
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I missed that exception! I'm not thinking he's say yes if you wrote a nice letter saying you wanted to get married in a pretty country church for the nice pictures :-)
 
Clearly my experiences of the church (and its methods of doing 'business' and spreading the word) have been different to yours.

I don't think you've understood my point. If the church entirely fails to acknowledge why it is in decline and why it has fallen into disfavour, and if it entirely fails to adjust accordingly then of course it will continue to go down the pan.
 
a1ex2001 said:
I missed that exception! I'm not thinking he's say yes if you wrote a nice letter saying you wanted to get married in a pretty country church for the nice pictures :-)
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Oh come on. This is the 21st century. It's about time the church understood the importance of welcoming those who appreciate the formality and tradition of a church wedding, who likely have some beliefs but who are not devout, or those who lack the luxury of free time to attend church services. Well you clearly think the church can afford to take this line, when every shred of evidence says otherwise.
 
Lindsay D said:
Clearly my experiences of the church (and its methods of doing 'business' and spreading the word) have been different to yours.

I don't think you've understood my point. If the church entirely fails to acknowledge why it is in decline and why it has fallen into disfavour, and if it entirely fails to adjust accordingly then of course it will continue to go down the pan.
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So true.
 
Lindsay D said:
Oh come on. This is the 21st century. It's about time the church understood the importance of welcoming those who appreciate the formality and tradition of a church wedding, who likely have some beliefs but who are not devout, or those who lack the luxury of free time to attend church services. Well you clearly think the church can afford to take this line, when every shred of evidence says otherwise.
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You are welcome to get married in your parish church without ever attending or that of any parish you have ever lived in for 6 months, as stated above you are also welcome to get married in any church you have a family connection to or that the arch bishop of Canterbury will authorise. What you can't do is just pick a church because it's pretty or convenient unless you are willing to attend. That's a huge amount of flexibility that allows anyone who really wants a church wedding for the right reasons to have one. The survival of the Church of England isn't a financial question or even one of numbers it is one of belief, yes it would be lovely if churches were full every Sunday but regardless the faith will live on.

I also really don't think offering carte Blanche to anyone to get married at any church they choose is actually going to increase the number of believers or those who attend Sunday service all it will do is increase the number of people who attend a church purely for a wedding service for the tradition and the nice pictures. Which might fill the bank but it will never spread the word and belief.
 
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Alex, I understand the church has rules, that is not under dispute. But I think you are wrong in suggesting that the survival of the church (as you have known it) is not a financial matter. The church is going to quite desperate lengths to raise funds for church building repair, and are mostly failing. It is absolutely and irrefutably about numbers and finances.

A matter of belief? That is no longer working. From what I've seen the parishes who survive those who take a more modern and inventive approach, and one which is less intent on exclusion.

But you raise an interesting point about the manner in which your faith will evolve - my view is that you should not be required to attend church services in order to be considered a Christian (if you are one) since there are other often more positive forms of expression. But Church attendance is mostly about gaining coins in the collection box, which is understandable, and this is no longer the revenue stream it used to be.

I will also say that I know plenty of people who have most certainly NOT been welcome to get married in their parish church, despite long-standing family connections.
 
Steve said:
If it's sculptures and statues you are after, the Victorian public cemeteries offer the best....with the likes of Highgate being the pinnacle.
...
Many cities that expanded in the Victorian era built these cemeteries as the church graveyards were full. If you are interested in these cemeteries, then there are many to choose from, but if you only ever visit one.....please make it Highgate...you wont be disappointed.
Click to expand...

Probably worth noting that the UK's biggest Victorian cemetery The London Necropolis (aka Brookwood Cemetery) require you to obtain a permit for which a donation of £10 is recommended.
 
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