Three's A Crowd

The interloper (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 MKII, 12-100mm f/4 lens @ 14mm; 1/400th sec. @ f/8; ISO 200 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting an old southern plantation in what is known as "Southside" Virginia.  If you saw the place you would recognize for what it was as it has the architecture, outbuildings and surrounding lands as would be typically portrayed in movies.  The property is now used as a conference center and restaurant.

On the grounds of this old plantation is the remains of the Bruce family graveyard.  The Bruce family were the original owners and builders.  Being a sucker for old cemeteries, I had to walk through the headstones and memorials, read them and make some images.  Only black and white will do for this subject matter, in my opinion.  I have found, at a person's year of death, headstones, memorials, carved art and writings reveal much about the culture of the time.  I've made a little project out of my cemetery visits and have posted my work for that project on my website, which can be found here.  Fascinating!  Please visit as I think you will be intrigued.

I made a few images during my visit.  Not many. This one was interesting as the three graves have been laid quite close together and then, over decades, this interloper of a tree invaded the decedents' space.  Obviously, this small family graveyard has had no caretaker in at least 50-75 years otherwise the tree would not have been permitted to grow where it has.

If you get time, visit some old, historic cemeteries and see what interesting epitaphs, markers and other signs of the culture you can discover.  It really is fascinating.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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