1. Start with one or several views
of the entire cemetery or graveyard.
2. Frame the grave markers to include the entire marker with a
little of the surrounding area
included for perspective. If you think it may be difficult to
see and read the inscription on the marker,
or if there are particularly interesting carvings, then take
some additional close-ups of the inscription
or carvings. Digital cameras eliminate the costs of taking
several shots—so take advantage of this
feature. (See examples at right)
3. Include pictures of family surname markers where each burial
has foot markers.
Sometimes, only the first and middle names are on the foot
markers which have a family name
marker to identify the plot.
4. Give some attention to the background. The area behind the
stone can enhance the
photograph or detract from it. Avoid distracting background
the camera position or filling most of the frame with the stone.
5. Photographs of gravestones are best made in bright
sunlight—not hazy or overcast
conditions. The sunlight should fall across the face of the
stone at a raking angle, that is, from the
side or top of the stone at an angle of about 30 degrees. If the
sun lights the face of the stone
squarely from the front instead of at an angle, the lighting
will be "flat" and the details of the stone's
carving will not be clearly delineated. In Chatham County, like
most of the southeast, gravestones
most often face east, so mornings usually offer the best
lighting. Of course, some stones will not
follow this east-facing rule, and others will be shaded by trees
or buildings and will never get optimal
lighting.
6. Many sources suggest that a way to eliminate the
photographer's dependence on the
position of the sun is to use a mirror to alter the angle at
which the reflected light strikes the stone.
We have also successfully used a sheet of foil placed over a
piece of cardboard for this purpose.
These techniques allow you to experiment to find the best
lighting to highlight the carving and
inscription on the stone. It takes two people to do this
effectively--one to hold the mirror/foil in place
and the other to take the photographs.
7. It is a good idea to take along some clippers for cutting
grass or brush that might obscure
the stone. In old, overgrown graveyards, you might find stones
totally obscured by huge privet
bushes or other plants. Some of these plants are historically
interesting artifacts that date to the time
the graves were put into use. These should not be disturbed.
Make photographs by doing the best
you can in these instances, or make notes if it is not possible
to photograph some stones.
8. To clean or not to clean? The first rule in deciding whether
and how to clean a stone is to
do no harm. We suggest that you attempt to clean a stone only if
the inscription cannot be read
because a heavy growth of lichens obscures the carving. It is
probably better to leave lichen on the
stone, although it is sometimes possible to safely remove lichen
from a sound stone with water and
a soft plastic scraper (such as a plastic table knife). If a
stone shows any sign of crumbling or flaking, do not attempt to
clean it. Just photograph it as it is. Loose dirt can be removed
with a soft brush and water. A stiff bristle brush will damage
the stone and should not be used--nor should any
chemicals such as detergents and bleaches be added to the water.
The damage from chemicals
absorbed by the stone can show up many years later.
6. Many sources suggest that a way to eliminate the
photographer's dependence on the
position of the sun is to use a mirror to alter the angle at
which the reflected light strikes the stone.
We have also successfully used a sheet of foil placed over a
piece of cardboard for this purpose.
These techniques allow you to experiment to find the best
lighting to highlight the carving and
inscription on the stone. It takes two people to do this
effectively--one to hold the mirror/foil in place
and the other to take the photographs.