Memento Mori
This time of the year the church yard in our village is a sea of snow drops.
Some people don’t like visiting grave yards because they make them feel sad. But I have always liked them, particularly the old ones, I like reading all those old fashioned names and wonder what their lives were like.
And what’s wrong with feeling sad on an occasion – especially if it is the more existential melacholy feeling rather than the ruthless grief you feel when you have lost someone close to you.
It is a part of life, after all.
I love the contrast between the gothic textures of the grave stones and the delicate flowers. The patterns formed by lichen on the stones are endlessly fascinating to me, I always spend almost as much time photographing them than I do the snow drops (but that’s a subject for another day’s post).
Although I go and photograph the snow drops every year, for some reason I have not yet managed to take a truly perfect arty close up of them. I don’t know why it should be such a difficult subject.
Or perhaps I am just suffering from a photographer’s pointless quest for perfectionism.
The snowdrop are lovely. I also enjoy visiting old cemeteries. I find them great places to watch birds and relax in a tranquil setting where there are no people. I also read the epitaphs and try to imagine what their lives might have been like so long ago.
Thank you! It is the tranquillity that appeals to me too.
I think you have achieved snowdrop perfection with that last photo! I also love the photos of the lichens on the old stones. A beautiful and peaceful post!
“Snowdrop perfection” – I love that!
WOW what a fantastic display of Snowdrops, and what a beautiful contrast you have achieved with them against the memorial stones. I think you have done well to capture these little flowers as it is so difficult to capture the pure white and retain detail, and I know what you mean by always searching for perfection, I am rarely happy with my shots.
I wonder where this church yard is I would like to pay it a visit with my camera
Susan
You are right, photographing white flowers is not easy, takes a bit of practise. I don’t normally process my photos much afterwards, but these ones needed some adjustment to the exposure.
The church yard is in Lamberhurst in Kent, in case you live close enough to go and admire the snowdrops.
Hi Heidi I am only over the water in Essex, will definately be over to see them what an outstanding site.
Susan
That’s great, it’s entirely manageable then! The church yard is not in the centre of the village – if you come from the A21 and take a turning to Lamberhurst, the road that leads to the church is before you get to the village itself, it is called St Marys and it is signposted and it’s very close to a golf course.
Thanks I may not make it till next spring but you never know, I will let you know when I am coming!
Susan