DSLRUsers.com

On the weekend I was out doing another of my hobbies and was led to this little suburbian place of rest. It's on a normal suburban street with houses either side. Its the size of a normal house block and it's been there since around 1850. I think a nearby plaque said it was the first in the area.

I didn't have much time to play so didn't realise the focus was crap. I sort of like the soft focus though as it adds a reverence.

Anyway....critique away.



EXIF - 1/640, f1.4, ISO 200, Manual, Spot metering, D70, 50mm f1.4.

Sorry embi but the image doesnt work for me. The fence kills it. I dont mind the soft focus but my eyes are always drawn to the fence.

Embi, it's a touch soft for my liking but it's a moody and morbid pic. Try converting to b&w and play with the tones

Btw, the two flares on the headstone make it look like eyes....

Embi, it's got potential. Try B&W, high contrast and some grain. Should look spooky and sweet. It is a pity about the standard suburban timber fence in the background, but i notice these things

Somewhat reminiscent of the days of 35mm slides. As the roll was wound on to frame ONE there was sometimes a frame of image that wasn't expected.

To be honest, I doubt that sharper focus would improve anything here, there is the fence issue noted by Steve and then there would also be the unresolved tree trunk juxtaposed with the head stone.

Sorry to continue with the negativity but I also think that the word 'reverence' is somewhat at odds with the title "Bring Out Your Dead". For some reason the necropolis and the grave are a constant source of fascination for photographers but, just as with pictures of those less fortunate, the subject is seldom treated with the respect or promise that it deserves.

Cheers,

I'm not sure that the dead should always be treated with respect. And the law holds that you can't defame them, of course.

they are challenging subjects graveyards though.

One of the best things about a walk through Rookwood is the buoyant satisfaction I feel at being alive!

One of my ancestors celebrates 150 years at Hartley Vale in December

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97256914@N00/21618156/

In a society that doesn't treat its living with respect it is no surprise to hear that the dead should not always be treated with respect either.

I have been working for several years on a project centred around Rookwood and I have got sick of counting the times that I see people walking over plots and trampling fallen headstones.

Cheers,

Is it the Christian Science corner that's particularly forlorn at Rookwood? Just a few graves, the most recent from around 1920, scattered around the area about the size of a house and neglected.

Just as as photographers we stand on other people's shoulders, as humans after all these hundreds of thousands of years we walk on other people's graves.

Acknowleding our ancestors (genetic or the predecessors in the land we now live in) is an important part of Buddhist practice.

Not walking on people's marked graves is culturally appropriate, of course. Although I'm reminded of those pictures of young drunk australians sprawled all over the gravestones at Gallipoli this year.

Look forward to seeing some of those Rookwood shots.

"Bring out your dead....."

A classic Python quote if I ever heard one.

I agree with most of the other, the focus isn't an issue, some heavy PP for grain and B&W would look most good. I always find it interesting to find small graveyards in the middle of nowhere. Theres some out where I used to work that seem to be forgotten about, miles from anywhere.

rjlhughes wrote:
Acknowleding our ancestors (genetic or the predecessors in the land we now live in) is an important part of Buddhist practice.
.

sorry bob, but i think you are refering to ancestery worship, which is not buddhism.

Seems it is a day of miscomprehension. My comment was actually indicating that not even sharper focus would save this shot in my opinion.

Cheers,

I hope I've cleared it up with Genji in a PM, too....

rjlhughes wrote:I hope I've cleared it up with Genji in a PM, too....

oh ok, when you put ancestor and buddhist in the same paragraph...I'm reminded of chinese culture, but you are refering to 'humanity' in general.

misunderstanding on my part.

rjlhughes, I like your gravestone pics from your link. I used to near Hartley but never got out to the cemetary. I gather your ancestors were among the first to settle the area?

Ah no, James died in the 1850's, the first Europeans would have been there long before that.

Sheetshooter wrote:Seems it is a day of miscomprehension. My comment was actually indicating that not even sharper focus would save this shot in my opinion.

Cheers,

At least you are honest. I think you miss my point with the fence in it though. I am not trying for another cliched cemetary shot, but emphasing the fact it is in the absolute middle of suburbia.

Anyway as I said I had about 30 secs to get the camera out of the bag and shoot. I was more interested at the time of getting a decent "record" of the location using manual exposure than I was composition.

Thanks to all for your comments.

I think reverence was the wrong word to use in my post ..... mystique was more of what I was after....

embi
I love that little soft image! Without knowing why...it glows with light and mystery...but a sharp version would have no appeal to me at all. I think I like it because it is suggestive of a dream.