Reaction Paper #5
Jennifer Huhn

For this assignment, "Documenting Place," I researched several photographers that photographed the same subject matter that I did, cemeteries. Most of what I found contained explicit graphic material centered around Gothic torture devices. After awhile I found some that were decent that appeared to be more haunting than the explicit photos. I found myself staring at the knotted trees of a cemetery sky. One stood out in particular, Beth Santore, who is a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits; they promote "the historical importance of cemeteries, grave markers, and the family history to be learned from the study of . . . cemeteries." They are also working on the preservation of cemeteries and study of different cultures, burials, and the meaning of the symbols placed on the gravestones, and genealogy studies locating deceased relatives. If you want more information on the Association of Graveyard Rabbits, here is the address, http://www.thegraveyardrabbit.com/



They are also known for having "a loving association with the dead." This is very apparent in her pictures. Most of them were photographed on bright sunny days, no rain, no wind, just sunlight which reflects how she feels about the dead. She has been to 1339 cemeteries! She has also been to several places that are referred to as "haunted" but none of her photographs have a Gothic tone to them which I found surprising and even more haunting than the Gothic photos. Her website is http://www.graveaddiction.com/ if you'd like to investigate for yourself and see more of her photos as pictured here.

Anyway, I chose to document a cemetery because I have been influenced by several people that have gone before me. These include military generals whom I have studied in my world history books, business and Hollywood icons from the black and white era, and several relatives that have helped become the person that I am today. They have shown me true strength and character which I have not encountered since they were put six feet underground.

This particular cemetery holds a few of my dearly beloved and deceased relatives. The photos that I took were photographed on a cloudy, windy, rainy, sunny day, because I miss them so much but I'm glad they're not in pain anymore. I hoping that you get that same mixed emotion when looking at my photos for this project.

I want you to notice the details of these photos that I took, edited and posted in Flickr. Notice the American flag, notice the way the sunlight dances across the grass, notice the sharp diagonal shadows, notice the corn field and the meadows in the background, notice the building nearby, and the sunken ground. Notice the difference in the gravestones, the styles, the symbols, the stones, the carvings, and the placement of them. All of these elements remind those still left of who the deceased person was when they were still alive.