I'm entering this photgraphy contest of a small group of people, and the category is 'Sleep'. I had the idea to go to a local cemetary and photograph someone's gravestone. The gravestones are not old nor am i related to any of the people at rest there. Is this disrespectful? Should i do this?
2007-09-29 09:30:41 · 13 answers · asked by Psychedelic Worm 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
I don't think it's disrespectful, but you might consider an angle that wold obscure the name if you are going to enter it into a contest. For instance, this certainly conveys the image, but it does not identify my subject in any way.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/511707803/
Once someone is buried, publishing their name might be considered the same as publishing their image by some. It's all the family has left of their loved one that could be "used" by someone else. If you are taking photos of hundred year old stones where they used some cute or wordy eulogy, I've seen it done and it is not distasteful. If someone took a picture of my family member's stone and showed it just as a generic gravestone, I would not be very happy about it.
I have a few guiding principles in life. One says that, if you want to do something, but have to ask someone else if it is okay to do it, then it is probably not okay.
2007-09-29 09:47:17 · answer #1 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, for the picture's sake, it would be more appropriate to take a shot of a group of gravestones, sort of like the ones you see of the arlington cemetary. That way it conveys the theme of sleep rather than something more morbid. But in general, no, I wouldn't consider it disrespectful, as long as you're not being frivolous with the photos. They should be regarded more as pictures of history.
2016-05-17 04:58:07 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you spend a few minutes strolling the cemetery, you may find one that actually mentions sleep in the engraving. I would try to get an angle where the identity of the "sleeper" is not revealed, particularly if it is a newer grave. It would not disturb my rest to know someone was taking a picture of my rock. And it wouldn't bother me if someone were to snap my parent's tombstone for such a reason as art or a photo contest. I have taken cemetery images many times, I always look for old graveyards on vacation. In fact, I am seriously entertaining the idea of doing a Halloween shoot with my grandchildren in an old cemetery in our area.
2007-09-29 15:24:02 · answer #3 · answered by Ara57 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it could be a very effective way of expressing 'sleep', that's poetic.
As long as it is done with taste and respect, I don't see any problem. It may be a good idea to try to contact the family and get their permission if this photo were to be published anywhere, but for a small group of people, I'd say it's fine
2007-09-29 09:59:00 · answer #4 · answered by Dave 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
About 30 years ago I used to work for a place where we made tombstones and other stones for business markers and such. We had a wall where we posted some of the neatest tombstones every. We must have had 5 or 6 hundred pictures on that wall. So I don't think it is bad. We collected pictures.
2007-09-29 09:35:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't like the idea of it if the gravestones aren't really old, i.e. beyond living memory, and you don't know or are related to the people. If it was one of my recently deceased relatives I honestly wouldn't like it.
Anyway death isn't really 'sleep'. Sorry to be discouraging but there have to be other options, maybe some sleeping animals or something symbolist about a bedroom. If you could arrange it, someone appearing to sleep in a bed in a furniture store would be amazing.......
2007-09-29 09:49:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think it would be...just make sure to get a good angle shot or a shot with some depth to it. There are a lot of beautiful head stones out today.
If you not, sure use a famiy members or someone you know. Also it would cool if you used a really old stone from the early part of 1900..
2007-09-29 09:39:15 · answer #7 · answered by ♥STREAKER♥©℗† 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would also suggest you don't photograph the name, if the topic is about sleep, yet you have the persons name clearly visible to the audience "John Smith" the category no longer about sleep but about John Smith or John Smiths sleep.
2007-09-29 15:44:25 · answer #8 · answered by wackywallwalker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have done several photo shoots in cemetary, graveyards, and Mausoleums.
As long as you are being respectful, not interfering with ongoing funerals, and dont cause damage, no really seems to care.
2007-09-29 09:49:15 · answer #9 · answered by photoguy_ryan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say not. Unless family members were to prevent you from it. Some would probably feel good about the fact that someone is interested in wanting to learn_if possible_about the person buried there.
2007-09-29 09:39:15 · answer #10 · answered by mybusiness2 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋