Welcome back! This photo was taken in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, Czech Republic in 2008. I shot “Life and Death” with an aperture of f/5.6 and a shutter speed of 1/25, and shot with a Nikon D80. The image was recorded in black and white.
Cemeteries are one of my favorite places to shoot photos. I think that there is something beautiful in the silence and stillness that overwhelmingly exists within a cemetery’s boundaries. Despite the silence, cemeteries have a way of saying so much to visitors about the history of the site and its inhabitants. Visiting cemeteries prompts an inner dialogue within myself that is full of questions. Why was this person buried in a mausoleum? How did this man live his life before his death? Who planted the tulips in front of this gravestone? It is questions such as these that inspire me to capture the essence of a cemetery by attempting to provide the silence with a voice.
The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the most remarkable cemeteries I’ve ever seen. It dates back to the 15th century and contains over 12,000 tombstones and some 100,000 bodies buried in 12 layers of graves. Despite the large population of burials, the cemetery itself is actually fairly small. It’s hard to fathom that so many were laid to rest in such a small area. Because the cemetery is completely crammed full of tombstones, there isn’t much room for anything else. There are a few trees and the occasional shrub, but the space overall is very bleak. When I saw this particular tombstone with a rare sign of life before it, I was struck by the juxtaposition of life and death. Despite the fact that the cemetery houses some 12 layers of burials, it still has the capacity to spring a flower up from the ground. If you ever find yourself in Prague, the Old Jewish Cemetery, along with the rest of the Jewish Quarter, is an amazing place to see.
Tips for shooting in cemeteries: Remember that you are visiting hallowed ground that is very sacred for many people. While you are visiting as a photographer, I think that it is important to be conscious about being respectful of your surroundings. It might be tempting to shoot from an angle that requires you to cross set barriers or to walk over tombstones, but remember, photography shouldn’t come at the cost of offending others. Yes, you may pass up a potentially good shot, but it is my opinion that at the end of the day, respect for other cultures and people is the utmost priority. I’m sure people will disagree, but I think the challenge is capturing the mood without exploiting the situation.
Thank you for reading! Until next time…
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