Photography in Graveyard Etiquette

Ginge1969

Ginge1969

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Paul
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Hi all,
Just wondered about the etiquette for photographing in a graveyard?

The place I have in mind is old so no new burials there, obviously avoiding any families visiting relatives.

Is there anything else I should do/not do?

Thanks in advance.

Paul
 
Watch where you stand, keep your voice down and generally be respectful. At the first sign of relatives put the camera down...

I reckon if you keep to the above (which is mostly obvious I guess) then you should be okay.

I shall, one day, recount the tale of how I nearly started a fight in a graveyard with some ass who was constantly answering his mobile.

Cheers,
James
 
fabs said:
Don't make lots of noise (Don't know why you would though) and definitely don't stand on the graves. Generally be respectful and you should have any problems.
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:agree: and if you move anything eg flower pots and urns, that make for bad composition, put it back where you found it, unless its litter then chuck it the bin
 
Thank you very much Gentlemen, yep keeping quiet was an un-thought obvious one (if you know what I mean)

I walked through the cemetery today and wished I'd had my camera with me, so I might go back tomorrow.
 
Kerioak said:
I would also add do not photograph recent (last 25 years or so? ) graves that show names or those that obviously have visitors when they will be published or shown anywhere as it could cause distress the families if they ever come across the images.
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Quite right too Kerrioak, I dont want to photograph the names on the headstones and I dont want to overly identify the graves to surviving relatives.
 
Ginge1969 said:
Yes come on spill the beans and i'll tell you how I had an 80 year old square up to me today.....
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Oh go on then...

Long story short I was in a rather famous Graveyard and some 50+ chino-wearing gimp was chatting loudly on his phone. I saw him hang up and then 2 minutes later the ringtone goes again and he answers to be shortly followed by some very loud talking about the minutae of his personal life. Sadly, after a minute or so (and noticing some people nearby visiting graves), I walked up to him and mentioned that it would probably be in his best interests if he were to hang up and turn it off before I did something I regretted. I'm not proud as I'm sure I was quite threatening, but I feel strongly that places like this should be respected and he quite frankly should have known better. It was only because I didn't back down that he dissapeared very shortly afterwards.

Prat.

Cheers,
James
 
Im sure for that there is some kind of data infringement act sort of thing for graves under a certain age. Although the graves are in public domain, there may be a problem recording the data.:shrug:
Dean:)
 
Good for you
Here is mine then...
We went for a 20 week scan at the hospital today, my partner is pregnant, afterwards we went to the cafe and Catrin got a call on her mobile, she took it and walked over to the window (which was already open) to avoid annoying people, when the old bas**** next to me says to his wife in a very loud voice 'I wish SHE would shut the bloody window' to which I replied If you ask her nicely I'm sure she will', 'who the hell are you talking to he says to me, to cut a very long story short, I remained very firmly seated very polite ( i am concious of my size 6ft6) and he squared up to me, he was about 2 inches taller than me at his full height. His very long suffering wife apologised, saying he is always an arrogant bast*** when they go out, then she promptly left without him.
 
Moos3h said:
Oh go on then...

Long story short I was in a rather famous Graveyard and some 50+ chino-wearing gimp was chatting loudly on his phone. I saw him hang up and then 2 minutes later the ringtone goes again and he answers to be shortly followed by some very loud talking about the minutae of his personal life. Sadly, after a minute or so (and noticing some people nearby visiting graves), I walked up to him and mentioned that it would probably be in his best interests if he were to hang up and turn it off before I did something I regretted. I'm not proud as I'm sure I was quite threatening, but I feel strongly that places like this should be respected and he quite frankly should have known better. It was only because I didn't back down that he dissapeared very shortly afterwards.

Prat.

Cheers,
James
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Sounds like a right *****! It's bad enough when people talk loudly on their mobiles anywhere, let alon a graveyard!
 
Ginge1969 said:
Good for you
Here is mine then...
We went for a 20 week scan at the hospital today, my partner is pregnant, afterwards we went to the cafe and Catrin got a call on her mobile, she took it and walked over to the window (which was already open) to avoid annoying people, when the old bas**** next to me says to his wife in a very loud voice 'I wish SHE would shut the bloody window' to which I replied If you ask her nicely I'm sure she will', 'who the hell are you talking to he says to me, to cut a very long story short, I remained very firmly seated very polite ( i am concious of my size 6ft6) and he squared up to me, he was about 2 inches taller than me at his full height. His very long suffering wife apologised, saying he is always an arrogant bast*** when they go out, then she promptly left without him.
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Another *****, but at least you got an apology from his missus!
 
Apparently, according to the local news, today is statistically the most depressing day of the year - your friend the Bast**** obviously feels it more than most!

Great thread in a morbid sort of way :shrug: some useful thing mentioned, especially about the infrigement stuff about graves under a certain age
 
Dino f said:
Im sure for that there is some kind of data infringement act sort of thing for graves under a certain age. Although the graves are in public domain, there may be a problem recording the data.:shrug:
Dean:)
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Is there? any idea what age?

I will have a chat to the local Vicar and ask her views on it and if she knows what the law is.
 
To be honest modern gravestones aren't that interesting anyway.
 
I love graveyards the older the better. It constantly annoys my missus when even on holiday abroad I disappear into a graveyard or church.
I always try to show respect whilst photographing in graveyards, I tend not to use the camera whilst other people are around.......it's a judgement call.
 
Should be interesting Ginge. I'm doing a cemetery series, got some in my 365 but there are some beautiful shapes and shadows to be found, and luckily, the light in our local graveyard is amazing and there is so much of it to choose from, and depending on which corner you're at is completely different! (goes from around 1800 - present day and holds over 10,000 graves).
 
Personally , I wouldn't touch, walk on or rest my camera on any headstones, memorials etc for the sake of respect. Plus, old stones are often unstable and I wouldn't fancy accidentally giving one a nudge. Having seen one fall, they go with quite a slam.
 
oh, and be sure to post some results here. I have an odd attraction to cemeteries for some reason and I'd love to see what you get.
 
I did some graveyard shots that I thought I might use for my 52, and not really sure of the protocol I kept the camera out of the way until I found a shot I wanted to take and luckily it was pretty empty.
I needed to use the tripod for one shot and I can say I wasn't comfortable using it in a graveyard.
 
Ginge1969 said:
Is there? any idea what age?

I will have a chat to the local Vicar and ask her views on it and if she knows what the law is.
Click to expand...

There is a 100 years rule in Scotland on usage of any personal details (hence we don't get the 1911 census for another two years!) from written records, I'd imagine you wouldn't get into any bother using a four generation rule-of-thumb for grave/memorial details in a photograph. No real idea though!
 
Ginge1969 said:
Hi all,
Just wondered about the etiquette for photographing in a graveyard?

The place I have in mind is old so no new burials there, obviously avoiding any families visiting relatives.

Is there anything else I should do/not do?

Thanks in advance.

Paul
Click to expand...

My great uncle was a grave digger so here is a bit of graveyard lore.

1) Wipe your feet before entering and leaving.
2) If your hat blows off and lands on a grave, leave it where it is.
3) Dont jump over a grave, but if you do you must jump over them all.
3) If you sneeze whilst tending a grave, clap your hands 3 times.
4) Never clean only part of a headstone.
5) Do not approach any grave that has a bird on it.
6) Dont whistle or spit.
7) Dont write a letter to anyone or anyones name (I guess this might count for texting)
8) If there are dogs without owners in the graveyard, leave immediately.

I cant remember the rest but i'm sure it's just superstition.
 
Huujuu said:
My great uncle was a grave digger so here is a bit of graveyard lore.

1) Wipe your feet before entering and leaving.
2) If your hat blows off and lands on a grave, leave it where it is.
3) Dont jump over a grave, but if you do you must jump over them all.
3) If you sneeze whilst tending a grave, clap your hands 3 times.
4) Never clean only part of a headstone.
5) Do not approach any grave that has a bird on it.
6) Dont whistle or spit.
7) Dont write a letter to anyone or anyones name (I guess this might count for texting)
8) If there are dogs without owners in the graveyard, leave immediately.

I cant remember the rest but i'm sure it's just superstition.
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Wow! I like those a lot, would love to know the origins of them.
 
Barlines said:
Apparently, according to the local news, today is statistically the most depressing day of the year - your friend the Bast**** obviously feels it more than most!

Great thread in a morbid sort of way :shrug: some useful thing mentioned, especially about the infrigement stuff about graves under a certain age
Click to expand...

I wonder why today is the most depressing? I would have thought Christmas or maybe Valenties day myself. Wayne
 
Huujuu said:
My great uncle was a grave digger so here is a bit of graveyard lore.

1) Wipe your feet before entering and leaving.
2) If your hat blows off and lands on a grave, leave it where it is.
3) Dont jump over a grave, but if you do you must jump over them all.
3) If you sneeze whilst tending a grave, clap your hands 3 times.
4) Never clean only part of a headstone.
5) Do not approach any grave that has a bird on it.
6) Dont whistle or spit.
7) Dont write a letter to anyone or anyones name (I guess this might count for texting)
8) If there are dogs without owners in the graveyard, leave immediately.

I cant remember the rest but i'm sure it's just superstition.
Click to expand...

I have heard the whistling one before, thats considered bad form on board ship for some reason. Wayne
 
swanseamale47 said:
I wonder why today is the most depressing? I would have thought Christmas or maybe Valenties day myself. Wayne
Click to expand...


its my birthday....:(, i wasn't depressed before.... now i'm begining to think maybe i should be...could be that titantic joke though;)
 
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