19th century cemeteries in monochrome

[Mike Buckley]

This thread is the monochrome counterpart of my thread displaying color photos captured on the same afternoon in the same cemeteries.


Photo #1



Photo #2



Photo #3



Photo #4

[Digital]

Mike, these are real nice images.


Bruce

[John 2]

Enjoyed the colour set mike but the mono and the contre-jour viewpoint seems more fitting.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Bruce and John, especially to John for teaching me the term, "contre-jour." I had never heard of it and had to look it up. I agree that the contre-jour style works especially well in a monochrome style.

[FootLoose]

I much prefer this mono set, Mike. The 2nd and 4th stand out for me. The single headstone and its shadow says more about the loneliness of graveyards than the wider field of view in the first shot. And the 4th reminds me of the old horror movies.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Greg! Your thinking about the loneliness of a graveyard is interesting. I think of a graveyard, especially old graveyards like these that are heavily populated, as being far from lonely for both the visitors and the residents.

[Digital]

When I use to photograph graveyards I found them to be peaceful.


Bruce

[Mike Buckley]

I agree, Bruce; they're also very peaceful for me. A reverent kind of peacefulness.

[ShaneS]

Very nice set Mike! The clarity that you achieved on those old headstones is just perfect...they appear to glow. The first is my favorite of the set and like others I think that black and white seems to fit the scene better.

This made me smile...

Thanks, Greg! Your thinking about the loneliness of a graveyard is interesting. I think of a graveyard, especially old graveyards like these that are heavily populated, as being far from lonely for both the visitors and the residents.

We used to head out to the interior of British Columbia win a camper truck for weekend getaways and we weren't well off so my father would always try to find places to spend the night for free. One of his favorite places was beside old abandoned looking cemeteries in small towns. If my sister and I ever said anything about being scared my father would say something along the lines of "the quietest neighbors you will ever find...they won't bother you!"

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and Shane. Nice story, Shane!

[flashback]

Mike, this is the first time in whenever that you posted something not glass (or glass related).
I've viewed your other color thread and I have to say I definitely like these a lot better. There is just something about B&W that makes an image work, or makes it more interesting. Viewing the color images reminds me of maybe a brochure to pick out one's final resting spot, in this thread though, it makes you ponder the inevitable, ponder the play of light and shadow (maybe as a metaphor for life and death). In any case I think this entire set is very good.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Jack! I'm going to surprise you by doing some more photography this coming weekend that isn't about glass.

I felt that all but one photo in the color thread requires the use of color. Even so, these monochrome images are just a tad bit more appealing to me because they are monochrome. I can't put my finger on it to explain exactly why that's so, but that's my reaction.

[flashback]

I would say that in the color thread, the first one could easily be B&W but the remaining three are in color due to the composition; #2 with the stone and yellow flowers, #3 with the flower in front of the headstone and #4 because in B&W the wreath wouldn't come across as brown and dead?

[Mike Buckley]

in the color thread, the first one could easily be B&W

That was my initial intention but I couldn't make it work for me. I have no idea why. Perhaps on another day I'll revisit it, though I rarely do that.

Agreed with your assessment of the other three photos.

[thegman]

Excellent shots Mike, B&W really brings out the feeling in the photos.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Gerry!