I got into photographing gravestones several years ago while visiting a cemetery in Croatia where some of my ancestors are buried. I've been into genealogy for about 15 years now and can trace the Swedish side of my family back to the early 1500's. Recently I decided to help other people by volunteering to photograph gravestones in my area.

A word about photography:

I often shoot two photos - one of the entire gravestone or monument and one of the text on the stone. When I process the photos my goal is to make the text as legible as possible. Depending on which direction the stone is facing I may come back at another time in order to get optimal lighting whether it's morning or afternoon. I believe attention to detail is very important when photographing gravestones. My photo may end up being the only documentation that will survive long after the stone has fallen over and eroded away into oblivion. Family members will be looking at my photos very carefully for any possible information they might glean about their ancestors. It upsets me when I see photos of gravestones that have been snapped in a casual manner and the text on the stone cannot be read due to carelessness on the part of the photographer.

I got into photographing gravestones several years ago while visiting a cemetery in Croatia where some of my ancestors are buried. I've been into genealogy for about 15 years now and can trace the Swedish side of my family back to the early 1500's. Recently I decided to help other people by volunteering to photograph gravestones in my area.

A word about photography:

I often shoot two photos - one of the entire gravestone or monument and one of the text on the stone. When I process the photos my goal is to make the text as legible as possible. Depending on which direction the stone is facing I may come back at another time in order to get optimal lighting whether it's morning or afternoon. I believe attention to detail is very important when photographing gravestones. My photo may end up being the only documentation that will survive long after the stone has fallen over and eroded away into oblivion. Family members will be looking at my photos very carefully for any possible information they might glean about their ancestors. It upsets me when I see photos of gravestones that have been snapped in a casual manner and the text on the stone cannot be read due to carelessness on the part of the photographer.