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Geoff Delderfield Photography | all galleries >> Other Galleries >> Old stuff >> Past it >> Misc. >> Resting places > 10th March
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10-MAR-2004

10th March

Now I don't want you all to think I'm wierd - what with me posting an image from a graveyard yesterday, it's just that today I came across our local cemetary. I was compelled to go in when I saw an old man tending to the graves. I thought it made a poignant image.

I asked the man if he minded me taking his photo, he said it was fine and I took a couple of shots of him wiping clean a gravestone. Unfortunately the shots I took of him have come out poorly, so I haven't posted them.

He was an interesting character and seemed intent on talking to me. He told me that he looked after several of the graves there and helped the grave diggers on occasion. He told me how much it costs to be burried (a lot of money) and how deep they dig the graves depending if they want room for 1, 2 or 3 people (3 is the maximum apparantly). He knew a lot of the people who had passed on and were buried in the cemetary as he has lived in the area since the 1950's.

He also told me about a time as they lowered a coffin in to the grave, it quickly became apparent that it wasn't going to fit and that the grave diggers had been given the wrong measurements and dug the grave too small. They had to send the grieving family to another part of the cemetary while they dug the grave a little larger. How embarrassing. How awful for the family and friends.

He carried on chatting me for about an hour. A very interesting guy.

Anyway, back to this image. I wanted to get the dafodils and a grave in the background to put the statue into context. As it was a small statue I had to lie down on the floor to get this shot. I'm just glad I was the only one there at the time.

I think that's enough of cemetary photographs for now. Still life tomorrow I think.

Geoff.

Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi
1/250s f/3.5 at 40.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Ron Lutz II29-Mar-2004 16:56
Well done indeed!
Guest 22-Mar-2004 03:25
This shot leaves me speachless - Excellent Geoff!
Lara S13-Mar-2004 22:17
Beautiful photo, but I would have loved the see the one you took of the care taker. Can you upload them on a gallery of their own? Or go back and shoot more of him. I am very curious about it. What a great story.
John Buffin13-Mar-2004 18:09
This is amazing!
I love the perspective with the headstone and the flowers softly in the background.
The soft shadows on the statue are perfect.
Guest 12-Mar-2004 01:22
This is really pretty, the soft background is perfect. A sad image, but still beautiful
Adalberto Tiburzi11-Mar-2004 17:36
Heavenly beauty.
Sher Hogue11-Mar-2004 06:11
i love this! wonderful perspective and DOF. the composition is spot on. excellent photo! if wandering through cemeteries is weird then count me as a member of the club. :)
Guest 11-Mar-2004 03:46
Interesting narratives....V peaceful shot !!
Barb10-Mar-2004 23:38
Wonderful image. Really like it. Also so enjoy your narratives.
Barb
Jill10-Mar-2004 21:50
When we meet ones unexpectedly in places we think we wouldnt, it is such a pleasure. I truly believe that without our camera's we wouldnt think to speak.

A beautiful image Geoff.
Elizabeth Glass10-Mar-2004 20:47
This is so beautiful. The DOF is just perfect.
Guest 10-Mar-2004 19:35
Great image, great story.
Karen Stuebing10-Mar-2004 19:12
That turned out beautifully!! And I love the history too.
Guest 10-Mar-2004 18:10
I prefer this White Angel Geoff!!Looks as it comes out of the ground among the dead leaf and flowers. Very nice colors and composition here. Love this shot.
Wesley Aston10-Mar-2004 17:53
This photo is AWESOME! I love it.
Guest 10-Mar-2004 17:51
Colourful image and like the DOF. Interesting gentleman
Franziska Lang10-Mar-2004 17:43
Wow this is nice though. I like cemetaries (ok, now you think I'm weird ;), maybe because my Mum used to take me for strolls on them (nice peaceful place after all) when I was small? Yep, guess my Mum is weird, too. Anyhow, I'm digressing. The composition and DOF are just perfect, I love the little splashes of color that are added by the daffodils and the additional context added by the gravestone and the dead leaves. Very very nice.
bela4510-Mar-2004 17:36
We learn so much here:-)
Very interesting reading, Geoff
I was present once where the grave and coffin size didn't match!
Oh, forget to comment on the picture
The point of view is perfect!
Anna Yu10-Mar-2004 17:09
That's a nice image Geoff
Guest 10-Mar-2004 16:57
Don't you just love characters like that man? Salt of the earth types! I like this image, Geoff, and the narrative, too.
Guest 10-Mar-2004 16:35
lovey peaceful image