A fascination with cemeteries?

by Posted in Cemeteries, Thoughts Leave a comment
sandbachcemetery-1

In earlier posts I’ve mentioned that I’ve been looking for a focus for my photography. The conventional wisdom seems to be that you should photograph things which you are “passionate” about and I’ve struggled to discover what that is. I’m interested in a lot of different things, but not really “passionate” about any of them (I’m British after all and and they tend to knock “passion” out of us at an early age).

I do know what kinds of photography I’m not much interested in: anything involving people (moreover I’m never sure about the legality of using the people photographs I take, and I’m aware that nowadays many people do not like their picture to be taken); wildlife photography (this would interest me, but I think I lack the patience and the expensive gear that seems to be required); sports photography (I never go to live sports events and rarely watch sports even on TV).

I’ve also had a few false starts. I once thought I was interested in landscape photography and I guess I still am to a certain extent, but it’s not something that I get really enthusiastic about. I continue to have an interest in old, preferably ruined buildings, but they can be hard to find.

Recently, however, I noticed that I take a lot of pictures of cemeteries. As I’ve mentioned before it’s not because of an obsession with death. Quite the contrary. When I take I pictures in cemeteries I rarely (if ever) think about the people who are buried there. To me cemeteries are pleasant, tranquil places with interesting architecture; picturesque statuary; and beautiful trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. The only time I think of the people buried there is when there is an interesting story behind one of the gravestones or mausoleums.

Could it be that cemeteries are my “passion”? In a recent post (How I found my passion in life) Eric Kim states: “But honestly in today’s world, we use the word ‘passion’ and ‘enthusiasm’ interchangeably. So let’s continue, assuming you want to find your passion or what you are enthusiastic about.” This sounds about right to me. I don’t jump up in the morning thinking I’ve absolutely got to go and take pictures of a cemetery. However, a trip to the two large cemeteries (Greenwood in Brooklyn, and Woodlawn in the Bronx) in New York City that I haven’t yet visited does make my heart beat a little faster. We may go to visit our daughter in Europe later this year and I’m really excited about the possibility of getting to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

In their excellent book: “On being a photographer” Bill Jay and David Hurn identify the following as the “basic principles of subject selection”:

Is it visual? You can safely eliminate such fascinating (to you) topics as existential philosophy or the Old Testament or the existence of intelligent life on other planets.

Is it practical? You can cut out topics which are difficult or impossible to photograph at your convenience on a regular basis. For example, if I were a photographer of limited means living in, say, Denver, I would have to eliminate the topic of Japanese pagodas, at least as far as photography is concerned. Or I would cut out an interest in famous film stars — the subject must be not only practical but continually accessible.

Is it a subject about which I know enough? Eliminate those subjects about which you are ignorant, at least until you have conducted a good deal of research into the topic. For example, you are not contributing anything to the issue of urban poverty by wandering back streets and snatching pictures of derelicts in doorways. That’s exploitation, not exploration.

Is it interesting to others? This is a tricky one, but it is worth asking yourself: if you have several remaining topics all of which are equally fascinating, which one is interesting to others? This is tricky only in that it ignores the issue of your intended audience, which might be a small, specialized one, and the issue of pandering to public appeal.

How does my cemetery idea stack up against these criteria?

Is it visual?. Absolutely!
Is it practical?. Definitely! There are lots of them around: small, medium and large; old and new etc.
Is it a subject about which I know enough?. Yes. I already know quite a lot about cemeteries, their history and symbology and my knowledge continues to grow.
Is it interesting to others?. As Jay and Hurn point out “this is a tricky one”. Many people (including my wife) don’t like cemeteries and don’t like to be reminded of death. However, judging by the number of books, websites, blogs etc. related to cemeteries there are also quite a few people who have an interest. In any case I take pictures largely for myself not for other people.

While thinking about this post I started to wonder where this interest in cemeteries might have come from and then it hit me: I grew up right next to one. The picture at the top of this post is an aerial view of Sandbach cemetery in the town where I grew up. In the top right corner you’ll see a red marker, which shows the house were I lived from birth to about 8 years old. I have few memories of my early childhood, but I feel sure that a curious child would certainly have explored this area. I certainly remember walking past the entrance many times.

At the Shakespeare

by Posted in Places, Things Leave a comment
attheshakespeare-1

I went into New York City about a week ago to have lunch with old friend/colleague, Tom. We went to the Shakespeare pub on 39th Street between Park and Madison. I find it a very pleasant, cosy place for a chat, an English meal (I had a chicken pie and chips), and a few beers.

One inevitable result of the “few beers” was few few trips to the men’s room. While there I noticed this pull to flush the toilet. It interested me because 1) We had one just like in the house where I grew up and I hadn’t seem one for a while; 2) I liked the red wall with the lettering; 3) I liked the strong shadows.

However, I didn’t want give the impression that a toilet pull is the only thing of interest in the Shakespeare so I took the wider picture below to give a better sense of the place.

attheshakespeare-2

Bear Mountain Inn

by Posted in Black & White, Buildings/Structures Leave a comment
bearmountaininn-1

I regularly monitor about 150 photography related feeds, one of which is Matthew Durr Photography. I’m accustomed to seeing his pictures of Japan so I was quite surprised to come across this one: Site Update 2016: Bear Mountain, Panoramas! in part because the Bear Mountain in question is a short drive (about 30 minutes) from where I live. I’ve been to Bear Mountain many times to walk the dog, and we once had a very pleasant meal at the Inn after my wife had had a spa treatment there. I was particularly interested in his first picture. Although I’ve been to this very location many times I’ve never noticed the cannon. Either it’s new or I merely missed it.

It occurred to me that I probably had a few pictures of the Bear Mountain Inn, which had never seen the light of day so I decided to take a look and sure enough there were some. One of them can be seen above.

The Inn has a rich history. As explained by Wikipedia:

The building has been called “among the earliest examples of a monumental rustic park lodge of a type that became common in state and national parks”. Construction required two years at a cost variously reported as $100,000 and $150,000. It was designed by the New York City firm of Tooker & Marsh, in a style strongly influenced by the Adirondack Great Camps.

Stone used in the foundations, wall facades and the two remarkably large fireplaces, was obtained from old walls on the properties acquired for Bear Mountain State Park. Chestnut timber used for framing, certain trim, siding and floor-covering, was also obtained from local parklands and milled on site. Despite appearances to the contrary, the building’s basic framework is constructed of steel.

The 1915 cellar contained an electric lighting plant that was also planned to furnish power for an escalator from the excursion boat landing to the plateau on which the inn stands. The ground floor included a “luncheon counter” while on the second floor veranda, “moderately priced Table d’hote” meals were sold. The main dining room offered “service equal to any metropolitan restaurant.” According to a New York Times article published in June 1915, “There are no windows or doors. When cool weather comes, the upper floor is to be inclosed [sic] in glass.”

In 1922-23 the building became a year-round facility with steam heat and enclosed windows. The aim was in part to make it a center for winter sports. Between the 1930s and 1980s changes to the floor plan were made and some historic details and decorative motifs were concealed or lost, and much of the original, rustic furniture was removed. A current renovation aims to restore some of these details.

When it became used for overnight accommodations, the third floor was initially remodeled as a dormitory. Later, individual guest rooms were installed with shared bath facilities. In 1975, individual bathrooms were installed as part of a larger renovation.

At various times during the 1930s and 40s, the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, the New York Giants football team and the New York Knickerbockers basketball team made the inn and adjacent athletic facilities their training headquarters. Also during this period, entertainment headliners included Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, and some believe[weasel words] Kate Smith wrote her 1931 theme song “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain” while at the inn. If so, the mountain in question might be Anthony’s Nose which lies to the east across the Hudson River.

Madame Chiang Kai-shek spent two weeks “in seclusion” at one of the outlying lodges of the Bear Mountain Inn in the spring of 1943, meeting with Wendell L. Willkie there on April 25 before proceeding to the White House for a brief stay.

See also: Bear Mountain Inn and the legend of Hessian Lake