Advark

Jim, I congratulate you on your service to the Find A Grave organization.
I recently began a family tree project and the Organization's contribution
to my project has been enormous.

Thank you very much.

Lee

Wdrigg Loc: Illini

We all have opinions and a concious follow yours as for me I love the old cemeteries it's our destiny only to rise again for glory

MarkSki

Many people shoot gravestones for genealogical purposes, posting their shots on the “find a grave” website. Some do it with a specific family in mind, but many who, like you, enjoy photographing cemeteries without being that specific. Check out the website and see how it might fit what you’re doing.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Cemeteries are not publically owned. Getting permission first is recommended. When hosted a photography event at two local cemeteries I got permission first and that made the difference as one family, while visiting, challenged us as to why we were there and if we had permission.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Ownership varies. The three biggest cemeteries in the Dallas & Fort Worth area are privately owned, as you say. The old Dallas cemetery is owned by the City and operated as a memorial park. But I have never had a problem photographing at any of them. And that includes when I've been at one of the private cemeteries with a cemetery employee. On the other hand, the cemetery in the small town where I grew up is owned by the county, as is the one in Jal, New Mexico, where several relatives on both sides of my family are buried and where my parents and I have done research. The Jal cemetery is not staffed. There is no one from whom to ask permission. I've not been to my hometown cemetery recently, so don't know what their thinking is.

limeybiker

I concur with most of the replies, my wife is a genealogist and I am her official photographer, we have without exception been welcomed at Funeral Homes and graveyards, they keep an enormous amount of data and go above and beyond to share it, we have never been charged and we always offer to donate.
We usually turned up on a very large motorcycle clad in leather and apprehension soon turns to pleasure when we make our requests, one cemetery in Texas, said, "it is such a pleasure to see a smiling face". He called his funeral home and asked the lady to gather all the data they had and to stay open until we could get there to collect it, the lady in question also photocopied the local telephone directory of the names we requested, including graves that were in close proximity, despite being different names.
When my wife lectures at Genealogy Meetings, she stresses the importance of researching funeral homes.
I have enjoyed doing the photography and some of the inscriptions are very amusing.

TuG Loc: Ventura California

I agree. There are lots of cultural reasons to not photograph Native american burial sites. Unfortunately, a big one is that the photo becomes a to do list for grave robbers looking for valuable gold or turquoise jewelry, etc.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

They are not publically owned, but open to the public. Just like City streets, owned by the city, bit open to the public....I have also been in many gave yards (in many states), photographing, and have never been approached and asked to stop... I believe the options had no problem photographing them.

Native American sites is a different story. The do not allow, and it is on their property, not open to public generally. Any time you enter a reservation, they tell you the rules. I've been told what I can photograph and what I can't.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Here is a cemetery you can photograph all day long! It is a real "Boot Hill" at Calico Ghost town near Barstow, California. It's patrons do not complain. :)

Note - Photo taken years ago with an Olympus C-4040 digital camera (4mp).
https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/C44/C44A.HTM

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bodiebill

One of our caregivers is from the Philippines and recently went to Manila for a family visit, I asked her to visit my cousins grave at the Manila American Cemetery. She placed flowers on the grave and took pictures.
He died as a Japanese POW after being captured on Corregidor. There were no restrictions for photographing the gave site. I am fortunate to have the photo for family genealogy records.
Over 17,000 are buried in this American Cemetery in Manila, one of the largest.
The only thing America ever wanted from those liberated countries was hallowed ground to bury our Heroes.

pc2053

"It is what it IS" - Photography is in the "eye of the beholder" as long as it is not obscene or gross or illegal, I see nothing wrong with it. I don't think the subjects will object to your photographs as long as they are done respectfully.

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I too like to shoot cemeteries. But as for myself, growing up in a Jewish tradition, I am aware of the fact that these places are hallowed ground and must be respected as such. So, my cemeteries of choice are those that are a hundred years old or older. And I shoot the in a way that promotes honor, reverence, and respect.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Nothing at all wrong about visiting, photographing and enjoying the peaceful ambiance found in cemeteries. I hope someday to be able to visit Arlington National Cemetery--I have never yet had the chance to go. I enjoy reading what people have on their headstones. I go on occasion to visit the cemetery about 130 miles north of where I live where my grandparents are buried. When I go I always go a few rows over to visit the grave of a gentleman whom I never knew but whose sense of humor never fails to make me smile. On the back of his headstone is the following:

"Two things I love most. Good horses and beautiful women, and when I die I hope they tan this old hide of mine and make it into a ladies riding saddle so I can rest in peace between the two things I love most."

I was never sure how his wife and/or relatives felt about that, but there it is--in large sized font--on the back of his nice headstone. So does anyone think that every person who happens by will not take a picture of that? I don't think so. Enjoy your visits and feel free to shoot away with no feelings of guilt or concern whatsoever.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Closing scenes of that movie are most entertaining--well maybe that's not the best word but you get my drift. The "Quigley" scenes are on a par with the final scenes of "Shane" which is one of my all time favorites. If you have not seen it, find and watch it. You will not be disappointed. It also has some of the most inspiring cinematography of any movie--shot up and around Jackson Hole.

Busbum Loc: 85367

I have to agree with the masses, as I have been taken on a tour of Cemeteries in the NYC area by a head stone setter for these cemeteries, also, went to an RV get together on Cape Cod and one of the events of one day were Stone Tracings, where they went to a cemeterie and traced the inscription and art work on the head stones, I did not participate in that event, here are some of the more famous ones;

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