After finding the praying mantis, we wandered around the tombstones until we found this one dated 1690 and holding the body of a gentleman 'aged about 70 years'. My five-year-old son was so enthralled by the skull and writing that he sat there and carefully sounded out each word until turning to me and grinned from ear to ear having read the entire inscription. I just had to photograph the stone at that point.
It's the week before Halloween so I figured it was the perfect time to feature images taken in Marblehead's cemeteries. This first one comes from Old Burial Hill. My son and I attended the International Free Sail Regatta at Redd's Pond and, while everyone got their boats ready, we explored neighboring Old Burial Hill. He quickly spotted this praying mantis standing on a gravestone with beautiful morning light behind him. I crouched down and crept closer and closer with my zoom extended to try to capture every minute detail. Next time you visit Old Burial Hill, keep your eye out [...]
As part of Marblehead's Memorial day tributes, flags are placed at the gravesites of soldiers who gave their lives defending this country. I visited Waterside cemetery after the flags were placed and found myself in this square plot dedicated to Post 82 and lined by two cannons at the entrance and two others flanking it. I received this information from Sean via Facebook: John Goodwin Post 82 was the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the veteran's organization of, by, and for Union Civil War Veterans. Through most of the latter part of 19th century and [...]
Today's photo is another example of a place I never would have found were it not for this photography project. I had made my way from Pleasant street down Harris and noticed gravestones to my left. I parked and walked around only to find myself in the cemetery belonging to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. The site was incredible to behold with gravestones nearly on top of one another and abutting nearby houses! I found this nicely worn bench and waited for the sun to pop through the clouds for this image. Technical: Canon 50D and EF-S 17-55mm. 3 exposure bracket.
I drive by the Star of the Sea cemetery every morning on the way to work and have been waiting for the trees to show their Fall colors. Last Wednesday at sunrise seemed to be the 'peak' of their foliage (though with a fair number of fallen leaves as is the norm for this Fall). I chose this beautiful statue for my foreground and lead the viewer to explore the rest of the cemetery.