Taken in the old areas of Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston.
Head stones here go from the elaborate to plain and simple. What they have in common is the wear and tear of time.
Wandering here I always find something new, or maybe look at it a bit differently.
One of the newer churches in Charleston. Built of Connecticut, USA, brownstone. From an old quarry we lived near for 30+ years. Everything is connected somehow.
On our way to lunch in town the other day we passed by and went in for a few quick shots. I only grabbed some from the back since the church was not empty. Respectful photographers get asked back.
Behind the Charleston Unitarian Church is an alley with a centuries old graveyard. The stones, trees, and brush are in a tangle. Maintained exactly for that comfortable look and feel.
This is one of several found in the yard.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Old Magnolia Cemetery.
Like many in these places the story is forgotten.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Soldiers Ground, on the front edge of Magnolia, was created because there was a pressing need for burial space. The cemetery was already here, however this land was still part of the Magnolia Umbra plantation.
While it was primarily for Confederate States military you will find Federal troops around, down the lane outside the CSA boundry is a commandant of West Point. A place of honor here was also set aside for a beloved ‘laundress’ with a southern brigade.
This is still private property, run by a preservation trust.
In Soldiers Ground
This is a very quiet and private place. The entire cemetery is large, but there are not many people around. Chances are the ones you do see have a camera.
A scene taken in the old Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, SC.
Best viewed large.
The wealth of old Charleston is represented in this tree covered corner.
There is a little of everything in this shot. A key focal point here is an earthen mausoleum in the background. This one spot has a history starting with the first settlers in northern Rhode Island, multiple revolutionary war and civil war commanders.
A small touch of red by the closer monument is an old South Carolina state flag from the 1860’s. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the front sections of the cemetery are old military graves, thousands, from the various civil war units of Charleston.
Originally this land, and the remaining buildings, were the Umbra Magnolia rice plantation. Behind this location are marshes backing up to the city of Charleston.
Old cemeteries mean old magnolia trees.
I shot a number of images like this. I liked it, but I think even then I knew there would be issues. Back light is fine, but this was tough.
Since Fuji film is so colorful and full of contrast I used a film filter.
It helped.
