E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Note:

I meant no disrespect when I commented that children might enjoy a more festive or happy place to discover photography.

It is certainly true that graveyards and cemeteries hold lots of history and family heritage that young people should learn and be aware of- perhaps at a more mature stage of life.

In my own case, I have to confess, that I spent a little too much time in cemeteries, attending funerals, participating in burials, and memorializing the dead.

My grandmother, along with 3 of her 13 siblings emigrated from Poland. All of her remaingn family perished in the Holocaust. Hardly a month went by without burng memorial candles and reciting prayers fothe dead. My mother passed away, at the age of 39 when I was 13 years old. Many older relatives were dying. I had, and still have a morbid sense of humor- as a coping mechanism. I completed that I should set up camp in the cemetery so I could save on gas or bus fare.

During my 2 tours in Vietnam, I escorted 9 of my FRIENDS to the Graves Identification Unit (now known as Graves Registration Service). Back home I was a pallbearer at 4 military funerals for "kids" from my unit.

So, for me, cemeteries are sacred places but they bring back much sadness. It's difficul for me to imagine a bunch of 1st graders prancing around in a graveyard while Grandpa or Uncle is busy making photographs. When I visit the cemetary and stand before a grave all I want to do is recite a quiet prayer or snap a tearful slaute.

The Find A Grave concept is great and I fully understand the value of volunteering one's services. I would wait 'till the kids are a bit older before taking them to the cemetery. Kids should enjoy their childhood- they have many years ahead to experience grief and sadness.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Here’s my favorite:

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burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Beats pushing them over... Taken in upstate SC in 1975 or '76... If you were one of these kids, I have evidence...

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cascom Loc: Redmond

One point I was trying to make was how difficult it sometimes is to capture the inscription and match the color of the marker. On the East Coast in the Petersburg Battlefield Cemetery, there were many things you could learn by the way the statues were displayed. Here in a local small country cemetery, you can see how this country was built from the names on the marker.

cascom Loc: Redmond

I would have guessed the photo was older.

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

A note about gravestone preservation. Please resist the urge to "clean" stones before photography. Some stone, especially the very old, are actually quite fragile in the inscribed surface. Brushing, chaulking may make for a better photo but will set the stone up for accelerated destruction. Use varying lights to highlight the inscription. Remember, if you didn't buy it and put it there, leave it alone.

Canisdirus

Ever see the cannon go off when they still used actual shot? That was always cool to see...now they shoot blanks...if at all.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I was doing a different project. I was looking for specific years on markers and photographing them. I wanted to see if I could get all the years. I got most of 1900's a lot of 1800,s some of 17 and 1600's
It was interesting and took me to a lot of cool places.
Plus I saw and learned about the new markers. Laser pictures engraved in the stones with the likeness of the deceased. Stones with built in solar panels that light a pic in the stone behind tempered glass. Ones with sound so you could hear their voice.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have my doubts that those things will be working 100 years from now. Time is a powerful eraser. Even 100-200 year old inscriptions carved into the stone are sometimes difficult to make out and today's electronics is strongly influenced by the need for obsolescence (i.e. continued sales). And photos fade, particularly when they are subject to light.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Your message is well intended and I agree. Nowhere, however, in ANY of my posts did I suggest even so much touching a monument, or tombstone grave marker. Any restoration, repair, or cleaning operations should be carried out by experts in theses matters.

When I mentioned the removal of stains or distractions, I was referring to editing the images by means of corrective tools in the editing software. Just as I would NOT attempt plastic surgery on a portraot subject rather than retouching their image

As for bringing out some of the lost or eroded details or engraved in monuments, etc.. There are certain lighting conditions where the light strikes the subject at an oblique angle so as to help render surface textures. A beam of light skimming the surface can show engraving or relief in better detail. A CPL filter on the camer or even just held in front of a cell-pone LENS and rotated, can subdue glare or unwanted reflections that may interfere with the rendition of faint details.

Rather than carrying chalk, etc., bring along a small reflector to redirect light as suggested above, or if you are usg a regular camera, you can use a small off-camer speedlight as a "skim" light source.

cascom Loc: Redmond

We fired live rounds in RVN. Salute batteries fired blanks

rlscholl Loc: California

E.L.Shapiro’s comments about lighting are right on. Some older headstones have eroded to the point that they are difficult to decipher. Careful lighting can sometimes help enough to create a readable photograph.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Great image Rabbi of the Graves marker in the old Carmel Cemetery in Hamilton county, Indiana. All of the children of Phoebe and Edmund are interred there as well. Phoebe was the daughter of Simpson Dye and came from Abdington, in Wayne County. Simpson Dye was the son William Dye who was born in Middlesex New Jersey in the Seventeen Hundreds and emigrated to Wayne county Indiana. I got this information from Findagrave and there is a lot more beyond that. Additionally Findagrave is just the "toe in the door". You can use the information found there to continue researching in various genealogical websites such as Ancestry, Family Search, or My Heritage. Thanks for sharing the image with us.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

This is just a comment about kids visiting cemeteries. First off, unless they have very recently lost a loved one, they aren't going to focus on the circumstances of how the people passed away; rather they are going to be running around having a good time and getting some fresh air which is far better than another afternoon with their noses stuck in a phone or computer. Meanwhile, the parents, while managing the rambunctioness of the children, can model a behavior of respectful curiousity and homage to those who have passed. If graves of relatives are present, the kids can be told about them. "This is my great grandfather and your great great grandfather. He is one of the first people who settled this area. We can drive by where he farmed" The thing is we need to think of cemeteries as a part of our community and not some sort of location for the Friday night horror movie.