286 replies to this topic

[loganinkosovo]

The word is derived from the Greek language. In Greek mythology, Thanatos (θάνατος: "death") is the personification of death. The English suffix -ology derives from the Greek suffix -logia (-λογια: "speaking").

"Death Speaks"

I didn't see a thread dedicated to this subject so I thought I'd start one.


This is a place where us Taphophiliacs can show off our photos and tell our stories.


(Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries.[1] The singular term is a taphophile.

Taphophilia involves epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of (famous) deaths.)













It's also a place where all aspects of Death can be discussed.

[loganinkosovo]

Some things to start us off.....



Grave Symbolism


http://www.graveaddi...com/symbol.html



Memento Mori - Post Mortem Photography and Mementos of Funerals

As photography became wide spread in the 1800's so did Memento Mori,

("Remember the Dead" from what I remember of my High School Latin. )

These photos became the only images of loved ones the family ever had or would ever have.

I sometimes think people were much tougher back then. They would have seven or eight children and be very lucky to see half of them reach adulthood.



Please remember that these photos are POST-Mortem photos and may not be a good Idea for those with a weak stomach.



http://www.angelfire...hotographs.html

http://thanatos.net/...a20608df43a0487

http://www.paulfreck...m...=1&myPage=1

http://www.deathonli...g/victorian.cfm

http://users.telenet...ost-mortem.html

http://www.sleepingb...ges/images.html

http://billblanton.com/pm.htm

http://brightbytes.c...on/memento.html

http://ricksaunders2...hotographs.html

http://www.tngenweb....side/index.html

http://time.arts.ucl...eurrotypes.html

http://people.virgin.../jay/jay10.html

http://entertheoctop...em-photography/

http://scienceblogs....photography.php

http://www.digital-k...tem-photography

http://kulkul.xahoih...tem_photography

[loganinkosovo]

Before there was Post Mortem photography there was "Death Masks".


Plaster masks were made of the deceased for study and posterity.


http://library.princ...bsc/aids/C0770/



And of course, a subject near and dear to my heart......

Taphophilia!

You don't have to be looking for Ghosts to use a Camera in a Graveyard!



http://jwhiting.trip...m/cemetery.html

http://home.comcast....ryWalkEnter.htm

http://www.morticias....com/death.html

http://www.thechance...ry_art_main.htm

http://www.cemeteryphotography.com/

http://www.andrechabot.com/

http://cityofstones.com/

http://www.marbleorchards.com/

http://northstargall...meteryIndex.htm

http://dusttodust.50...eries-menu.html

http://webclipart.ab...o/l/blorph1.htm



Famous Graves

http://www.famousgraves.net/

http://www.hollywood...rity-graves.htm

http://www.gravehunter.net/

http://www.citymorgu....com/graves.htm

http://lisaburks.typ...m/gravehunting/



http://www.death2ur.com/




Find a Grave!

http://www.findagrave.com/



Cemetery vandalism is not a new thing.......

http://www.cityofdea...D-CA73A4F46E4F}

But I think when caught they should be chained to the cemetery fence with large barrels of rotten produce for the public to throw at them.

)Well actually I think they should be buried alive but there is just too many namby-pambies out there to actually punish these creeps they way they should be punished.

[loganinkosovo]

Sorry...meant to say "were Death Masks" but the "Edit" feature on this site seems to last somewhere between 2 and 3 seconds after the original posting.

[loganinkosovo]

More of my photos from Mt. View Cemetery.....

[dancinmiriam]

Those photos are simply stunning! Where, again, is this cemetery? I am also one of the odd balls that love cemeteries - have since I was a kid. I still have pictures I took with my first camera - a Brownie - at about age 6 or 7 of St. Mary's in Virginia City. I still wonder who "Charlotte Barnum" was - tombstone I felt compelled to capture?? After reading through your first posts re: this subject I heard on NPR news (must have been 12/28 I think, if you want to find it) a beautiful story of a gentleman who's mission (he may have perhaps published, but I'm not sure, as I caught only the end of the piece) was collating, collecting and preserving obituaries - ones that were written prosaically or uniquely. What touched me about it and helped me explain my own interest in cemeteries, etc. is that he spoke of feeling that he made a connection with the deceased by preserving and reading their obits - and I may have inferred this, but that the spark in that person somehow lived on with his remembrance no matter how 'unimportant' the person may have been in life. I found the post-mortem pictures of children that you linked to so extraordinarily touching - the care with which their little bodies were taken, so sad and so sweet - truly poignant. Thanks for the very fascinating subject thread!

[the queen]

More of my photos from Mt. View Cemetery.....

hi, checkout opacity.com; some great cemetary shots on that site

[PJay]

I love cemeteries. There's one local one I love to go to, but I'm not sure why. It's not pretty, but there's just something about it I like. I like the artistry and shapes of the old headstones, the sadness and care of the old, homemade headstones. The cemetery where my parents are buried, there's a grave for a hunting dog. Cemeteries are full of forgotten stories.

[loganinkosovo]

Those photos are simply stunning! Where, again, is this cemetery? I am also one of the odd balls that love cemeteries - have since I was a kid. I still have pictures I took with my first camera - a Brownie - at about age 6 or 7 of St. Mary's in Virginia City. I still wonder who "Charlotte Barnum" was - tombstone I felt compelled to capture?? After reading through your first posts re: this subject I heard on NPR news (must have been 12/28 I think, if you want to find it) a beautiful story of a gentleman who's mission (he may have perhaps published, but I'm not sure, as I caught only the end of the piece) was collating, collecting and preserving obituaries - ones that were written prosaically or uniquely. What touched me about it and helped me explain my own interest in cemeteries, etc. is that he spoke of feeling that he made a connection with the deceased by preserving and reading their obits - and I may have inferred this, but that the spark in that person somehow lived on with his remembrance no matter how 'unimportant' the person may have been in life. I found the post-mortem pictures of children that you linked to so extraordinarily touching - the care with which their little bodies were taken, so sad and so sweet - truly poignant. Thanks for the very fascinating subject thread!

Thank you.

I took them in colour by greyscaled them for effect.

The Cemetery is Mt. View, Cemetery in Oakland, California.

Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Mountain View is the resting place of famous figures and ordinary people, the principal players in California's and San Francisco Bay's dramatic settlement.

People like author Frank Norris, artist Thomas Hill, architects Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck, captains of industry such as powerful railroad builder and banker Charles Crocker... all made their contributions to the shaping of a nation's frontier.

As Americans moved westward, man had achieved dominion over the land, overcoming hardships and nature to continue the march to California. But as man triumphed over his environment, he also came to question his place in nature. Mountain View Cemetery is an outgrowth of this contemplation.

My People are buried next door in St. Mary's. The Catholic Cemetery.



You can find more of my Photos of Mt. View here....

http://www.flickr.co...57607544681216/

and here....

http://www.flickr.co...57615521436881/

[loganinkosovo]

When I was a child visiting my relatives at St. Mary's this headstone, which is not far from theirs, always creeped me out.

It still does!










The rest of my St. Mary's set here.....

http://www.flickr.co...57601407558333/

[Cryscat]

Three of mine taken in July 09 in the Bodie, CA graveyard..

Edited by Cryscat, 31 December 2009 - 07:35 PM.

[loganinkosovo]

Three of mine taken in July 09 in the Bodie, CA graveyard..

Very Nice. I've allways wanted to go to Bodie but could never find the time.


You know.....that baby is even scarier in Greyscale!


EVIL BABY! GONNA GET YOU!

[loganinkosovo]

I love cemeteries. There's one local one I love to go to, but I'm not sure why. It's not pretty, but there's just something about it I like. I like the artistry and shapes of the old headstones, the sadness and care of the old, homemade headstones. The cemetery where my parents are buried, there's a grave for a hunting dog. Cemeteries are full of forgotten stories.

Welcome to the club. We all feel the weight and presence of history when visiting a cemetery.

Any thinking individual would.














Then sometimes things just leap out at you from nowhere.....


Something told me to take this photo that day.....I don't know why since it was a very plain stone but the name struck me as sounding familiar for some reason.





did some research on the name and WOW!


Edna Wallace Hopper - Stage and Silent Film Actress, Comedienne, Light Opera Singer, Beauty Guru.


http://en.wikipedia...._Wallace_Hopper


http://www.gabrielle...laceHopper.html


http://query.nytimes...9619C946297D6CF


http://peculiarbeaut...ality-star.html


http://digitalgaller...l...27419&word=

[loganinkosovo]

One heck of a door!







One of my favorites!







The Dancing Saint.














I don't know how a writer could get "writer's block" when a stroll through an old cemetery can give you volumes upon volumes of stories.

[Caniswalensis]

Absolutely super thread here Logan! Thanks for posting these wonderful snaps.

I think I have some shots of the Christ's Church cemetary in Philly around somewhere. Ben Franklin is buried there. It is terribly picturesque. If you like I will dig'em out & post 'em.

Regards, Canis