Photography in Graveyard Etiquette

Ginge1969 said:
Hi all,
Just wondered about the etiquette for photographing in a graveyard?
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Don't disturb the occupants?

Seriously though, as long as it's not commercial, you don't annoy any other visitors, and are thoughtful and don't damage anything, you'll be fine. I was up in the St Nicholas Kirk graveyard the other day, it's full of stuff to photograph:)
 
I have been in a few local ones, where people have walked through, shortcut, walking the dog etc, and there never has been an issue, most point you towards interesting graves and some tales of the strange ocupants of some of the plots is good background history.
 
Two ladies walking through a village in Italy one said to the other "can you hear that kinda misic?" the other replied "I was wondering about that myself, it sounds like music but its not"
"I know what it is " said the first lady "It is Music but its being played backwards. I wonder where its comming from"

So the two ladies followed the sound and went into the country lane and heard the backward played music comming from the other side of a wall. When they looked over the wall they saw a graveyard and two gravediggers.
So they asked about the backwards playing music, and one of the grave diggers said yes it happens all the time because Motzaart was buried there and he was decomposing.

Realspeed

OK don't all groan at once
 
Just be polite, as for standing on graves, occasionally it is necessary and allowed, best thing is to go in as if you were photographing anything respectful and use your manners, if you are worried about superstitious nonsense, I'd imagine a graveyard is not the place for you. If you can, you will find Saturdays the quieter day, not a lot of chance of a funeral and less visitors to graves on a Saturday. If you see a grave open and the earth dug up besides it is covered in grass matting there is a very strong possibility of there being a funeral that day. The grass would not usually be left to be stolen or blown away. If the grave has earth next to it but un-covered, it is probably dug in preparation for burial next day or so.

There are some lovely ornaments of beauty in a graveyard so enjoy, its very rewarding....
 
I did a whole year of photographing Graves for a College Project I did last year. Mine was based around Victorian ones and I "haunted", Southern Cemetery, Weaste Cemetery and Crewe Cemetery.

You tend to find a few people photographing the older ones. I avoided the more modern ones as I find them uninteresting. Sometimes you have to stand or stick your kit on a grave stone, in my case I always said "you don't mind I hope" (superstion).

I would go to the locla libary and see if you can get a book called "The Victorian Celebrations Of Death", by James Stevens Curl.
 
It's an interesting discussion. We have Ian Fleming buried in a graveyard not far from us, plus UK churches.graveyards are very photogenic. Highgate cemetery for one.

It's different for the huge military cemetarys I guess. We went to the US one near the normandy beaches and that was a completely different feel. Light, airy, uniformly arranged headstones, but so quiet. No sounds of birds etc.

I didn't feel comfortable taking photos of named stones, but there were plenty of unknown markers:

105805042.jpg
 
Took these in Kanchanaburi, quite an unbelievable place which really leaves an impression on you

Kanchanaburi-War-Cemetery_c.jpg


This one kind of stood out as i walked past as it was the same birthday as mine, and i remember thinking what sort of terrible things this man had experienced in his short life, it made me think how lucky i was.

Headstone-2.jpg


And a memorial to all who died building the Death railway and the bridge over the Kwai.

War-names.jpg
 
When visiting a graveyard for photographic purposes I would never stand on a grave, move anything at all from a grave, or lean on any stones ... and I would only ever be quiet and respectful.

I think graveyards are very moody places, and that makes for great shots. Also I think there is something to be said for finding beauty in a place that speaks of nothing but death. Of all the funerals I have been to, before I really got serious about photography it terrified me to think of being buried when I die (thought not half as much as being burnt :eek:). But now I have a different attitude to it altogether ... it's a beautiful place, and so peaceful, I just think of it as 'being put to rest' now :)

For anyone living in or passing through Lincolnshire, Boston Cemetery has a wonderful old graveyard at the back of the current one. They have left it to its own devices. If trees fall they leave them, and all other foliage is left to grow I think. It's a wild over grown place with heaps of bird and wild life ... then when the sun shines thought the trees you see these beautifully carved stone and statues. There is a protest in place at the moment, because I think they are trying to change it, but everyone wants to keep it as a reserve. I believe there have also been a couple of megas (rare bird visitors) recorded there over the years.
 
Than you for all your wonderful replies to my original enquiry.

It is an emotive subject, wheather I can do it justice remains to be seen, I will post the results on here, for c & c.

Thank you all again.

Paul.
 
Kensal green cemetery in London was worth a look if your in that area. I seem to remember it's also near-ish Highgate cemetery as well. Wayne
 
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