I’ve come to discover cemetery ironwork and stone carving in the 1800’s is an incredible art form. Unfortunately early on I missed this shooting in cemeteries. At first I visited early New England grave yards and created mostly wide landscapes.

Now I try to pay more attention to the close details. Black and  White always was my choice but now a zoom lens with more options is typically mounted on my camera. My Tamron 18-400 covers anything I can think of for these scenes. A ‘Jack of all trades’ approach is a good option for me here.

Below are a few random photographs that have been waiting to be published. (Or as my mother would have said ‘save it for good’.)

This statue of an angel leaning on a tree was hidden away in an old family plot covered in Palms and shrubs. I thought the statue was great and the first shots had plenty of light. I shot way too many images, and it turns out the best was after the light went away.

Iron work, wrought iron blacksmithing, from the Lowcountry is displayed all through cemeteries and streets of Charleston and Savannah, as well as the Smithsonian Museums. The Charleston International Airport even has an old Gazebo once created by Phillip Simmons in the entrance. There are walking tours around town dedicated to his iron fences still standing around the historic homes.

‘4 Years, 8 Months, 4 Days’. The small grave stones outline the child’s burial plot above. Photographs like this is why I use a zoom. Many times you just can’t get an angle telling the story any other way.

Last here is about the stones on the stone. It’s common to find stones, coins, and other small items are grave sites. Here small rocks were placed on top as a sign of respect. Another less well known reason for the stones goes back to an old Jewish custom of placing rocks to protect the soul of the deceased.

This is a little longer than my usual Found On A Walk articles but it’s a nice morning on the back porch. The pink Crepe Myrtle are hanging low damp with dew, locals up eating the backyard, and it’s still under 90 with less than 95% humidity.