Snowy Cemeteries

November 28, 2013March 17, 2016lsmoore Leave a comment

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

It’s got to be just the right kind of snowy day.

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Cold but not frigid. Bright but not blinding.

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

There’s a new kind of depth to the serenity on those perfect snowy days.

Excelsior Springs, Missouri

Perfect stillness.

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Perfect quiet that seeps in with the cold.

Excelsior Springs, Missouri

Take a breath.

Graveyard Benches

September 23, 2013March 17, 2016lsmoore 4 Comments

William Jewell Cemetery, Liberty, Missouri

Do you ever accept the invitation to rest and ponder?

Walnut Glen, Booneville, Missouri

I think you can tell when the loved-ones were serious. Many state the implicit invitation in writing.

“We really mean it! Have a seat.”

Dungeness, Washington

With others, it’s the careful landscaping or spectacular view that makes me feel welcome.

Hazelwood Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri

Unless the bench is old and frail, or occupied, I take a seat.

Walnut Glen, Booneville, Missouri

In Missouri, that’s all I remember.

Be respectful. Use common sense and good judgement, but try it sometime. You’ll feel a very visceral connection. More than simply reading the words on a stone or even enjoying the beauty of a sculpture. This is personal.

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Let me know what your experience was like.

A Creepy Day

August 30, 2013March 17, 2016lsmoore 4 Comments

North Lawn Cemetery, Rolla, Missouri

I took a trip through southern Missouri months ago.

Angel in a box, Rolla, Missouri

I had a lovely day, enjoying the blood-pressure-lowering tranquility I usually experience in cemeteries.

North Lawn Cemetery, rolla, Missouri

North Lawn Cemetery

But as I looked over these shots this morning, a decidedly creepy vibe came through.

If you squint, it kind of looks like it’s floating.

I don’t try for spooky when I aim my camera. I just look for interesting angles, beautiful stones.

It’s the shadow in this one. There’s a weight to it that I don’t remember feeling when I was there.

But look at this ominous shadow! I totally missed it while I was there.

Interesting bright blue orb.

Do you see the creep factor in this group of images too, or am I just in a mood?

Ghost Bikes

March 10, 2013March 17, 2016lsmoore 8 Comments

Memorial on Raytown Road in Kansas City, Missouri

Have you ever seen a ghost bike memorial?

I’d heard of them. I’d seen temporary memorials spray painted on the pavement at the site of bicyclists’ deaths.

Kansas City, Missouri

This is a different kind of memorial than I usually photograph, but when I saw it I had to stop. I pulled onto the wide shoulder where the man and his granddaughter had ridden. It was a long, straight stretch of four-lane, country road. Hard to imagine what must have happened that morning to cause the accident.

Kansas City, Missouri

Despite the obvious age of this memorial, the grief still felt raw here. Like crosses marking car accidents, I hope that ghost bikes serve to wake people up a bit. I know when I pass them I’ll sit up a little straighter behind the wheel, scan ahead a little farther. Share the road.

Rocks of Ages

January 24, 2013March 17, 2016lsmoore 10 Comments

Rolla, Missouri

Sure, there’s a lot of stone in cemeteries, but there aren’t a lot of rocks. They always grab my attention when I see them. This one in Rolla, Missouri was about the size of a Smart Car.

Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri

They can’t help but be striking, some for the sheer size of them.

How do you choose a boulder for your loved one? Is there a store? Is it a rock from the deceased’s favorite mountainside…a beloved picnic spot? Once you’ve picked one out, how in the world do you transport it?

Genoa, Nevada

Sometimes the natural beauty of the stone makes it pretty obvious why someone chose it.

Dungeness, Washington

And I like the functionality of this boulder in Dungeness. Two people’s remains are encased there. I’ve seen this type of burial from Washington to Florida. Sometimes whole families will be entombed in the same stone. I bet it’s a greener way to go.

City Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee

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I Dig Graves!

Fascinated by cemeteries? Me too!

Missouri

Snowy Cemeteries

It’s got to be just the right kind of snowy day.

Cold but not frigid. Bright but not blinding.

There’s a new kind of depth to the serenity on those perfect snowy days.

Perfect stillness.

Perfect quiet that seeps in with the cold.

Take a breath.

Graveyard Benches

Do you ever accept the invitation to rest and ponder?

I think you can tell when the loved-ones were serious. Many state the implicit invitation in writing.

“We really mean it! Have a seat.”

With others, it’s the careful landscaping or spectacular view that makes me feel welcome.

Unless the bench is old and frail, or occupied, I take a seat.

Be respectful. Use common sense and good judgement, but try it sometime. You’ll feel a very visceral connection. More than simply reading the words on a stone or even enjoying the beauty of a sculpture. This is personal.

Let me know what your experience was like.

A Creepy Day

I took a trip through southern Missouri months ago.

I had a lovely day, enjoying the blood-pressure-lowering tranquility I usually experience in cemeteries.

But as I looked over these shots this morning, a decidedly creepy vibe came through.

I don’t try for spooky when I aim my camera. I just look for interesting angles, beautiful stones.

But look at this ominous shadow! I totally missed it while I was there.

Do you see the creep factor in this group of images too, or am I just in a mood?

Ghost Bikes

Have you ever seen a ghost bike memorial?

I’d heard of them. I’d seen temporary memorials spray painted on the pavement at the site of bicyclists’ deaths.

Despite the obvious age of this memorial, the grief still felt raw here. Like crosses marking car accidents, I hope that ghost bikes serve to wake people up a bit. I know when I pass them I’ll sit up a little straighter behind the wheel, scan ahead a little farther. Share the road.

Rocks of Ages

Sure, there’s a lot of stone in cemeteries, but there aren’t a lot of rocks. They always grab my attention when I see them. This one in Rolla, Missouri was about the size of a Smart Car.

They can’t help but be striking, some for the sheer size of them.

How do you choose a boulder for your loved one? Is there a store? Is it a rock from the deceased’s favorite mountainside…a beloved picnic spot? Once you’ve picked one out, how in the world do you transport it?

Sometimes the natural beauty of the stone makes it pretty obvious why someone chose it.

And I like the functionality of this boulder in Dungeness. Two people’s remains are encased there. I’ve seen this type of burial from Washington to Florida. Sometimes whole families will be entombed in the same stone. I bet it’s a greener way to go.

Sometimes you just know there has to be a story.

Are natural stone memorials a common sight in your part of the world?

It’s got to be just the right kind of snowy day.

Cold but not frigid. Bright but not blinding.

There’s a new kind of depth to the serenity on those perfect snowy days.

Perfect stillness.

Perfect quiet that seeps in with the cold.

Take a breath.

Share this:

Like this:

Do you ever accept the invitation to rest and ponder?

I think you can tell when the loved-ones were serious. Many state the implicit invitation in writing.

“We really mean it! Have a seat.”

With others, it’s the careful landscaping or spectacular view that makes me feel welcome.

Unless the bench is old and frail, or occupied, I take a seat.

Be respectful. Use common sense and good judgement, but try it sometime. You’ll feel a very visceral connection. More than simply reading the words on a stone or even enjoying the beauty of a sculpture. This is personal.

Let me know what your experience was like.

Share this:

Like this:

I took a trip through southern Missouri months ago.

I had a lovely day, enjoying the blood-pressure-lowering tranquility I usually experience in cemeteries.

But as I looked over these shots this morning, a decidedly creepy vibe came through.

I don’t try for spooky when I aim my camera. I just look for interesting angles, beautiful stones.

But look at this ominous shadow! I totally missed it while I was there.

Do you see the creep factor in this group of images too, or am I just in a mood?

Share this:

Like this:

Have you ever seen a ghost bike memorial?

I’d heard of them. I’d seen temporary memorials spray painted on the pavement at the site of bicyclists’ deaths.

Despite the obvious age of this memorial, the grief still felt raw here. Like crosses marking car accidents, I hope that ghost bikes serve to wake people up a bit. I know when I pass them I’ll sit up a little straighter behind the wheel, scan ahead a little farther. Share the road.

Share this:

Like this:

Sure, there’s a lot of stone in cemeteries, but there aren’t a lot of rocks. They always grab my attention when I see them. This one in Rolla, Missouri was about the size of a Smart Car.

They can’t help but be striking, some for the sheer size of them.

How do you choose a boulder for your loved one? Is there a store? Is it a rock from the deceased’s favorite mountainside…a beloved picnic spot? Once you’ve picked one out, how in the world do you transport it?

Sometimes the natural beauty of the stone makes it pretty obvious why someone chose it.

And I like the functionality of this boulder in Dungeness. Two people’s remains are encased there. I’ve seen this type of burial from Washington to Florida. Sometimes whole families will be entombed in the same stone. I bet it’s a greener way to go.

Sometimes you just know there has to be a story.

Are natural stone memorials a common sight in your part of the world?

Share this:

Like this: