I’m drawn like a fly to this strange graveyard with its compelling gravestones and multi-functionality.
There is a little shrine that I’ve noticed before and there has been some activity recently.
The ground is carpeted with cherry blossoms creating some ambiguity. I’d like to know more about it.
And there are of course the graves which for me are endlessly fascinating. I grew up near a graveyard and used to spend time there looking at gravestones from the 19th century which seemed old even then. I spent long hours reconstructing dead people’s lives – in my mind they were like the awful Tulliver aunts and uncles at the beginning of The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.
There was a long line of graves from the same family. I can even remember their name – Pennyfeather. Likewise the inscription – ‘Sacred to the memory’. The inscription sticks in my mind because for some years (yes, years…) I read it as ‘Scared to the memory’ which although it makes no sense, caused me huge concern for quite a long time. Enough so that we would never actually step on the graves. It was an epitaph that demanded respect. Obviously something unspecified and awful must have happened to the Pennyfeathers which could just as easily happen to us if we even touched the stones.
But I do like looking at gravestones still, although now I try to make sure I read them properly
Was this woman really called Phebe Savory Johnson? Or did she marry a Johnson? Whatever, Phebe Savory is a very cool name. Johnson is less cool and apologies to all Johnsons.
This looks like a favourite combo for me – a stairway made of graves. If you look carefully Gizmo is lurking in the bokeh.
In some places the fence around the graveyard is striking, rampart like and a curious reflection of the stones.
There is a basketball court in the graveyard too. I kind of like this juxtaposition of angles and leaves.
The photos were taken on the M6 with a Summicron 35/2 IV. Tri-X (box speed), souped in T-Max Dev for 6 minutes, 2 agitations every 30 seconds. Most of these photos were taken with an 060 yellow/green filter on the lens.
by skinnyvoice
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Some of the most beautiful photos you’ve done. These represent a real leap forward for a photographer of real ability