Sailors' Graveyard

[Rob MacKillop]

My friend, Bill Samson, of Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, took me to this hidden old graveyard. It was closed in the 1820s due to an outbreak of cholera. Most of its inhabitants were sailors. Today it is surrounded by housing, and access is only granted by permission of Dundee Council. I had to stand on tip toes, hanging my Hexar over a wall. XP2.


Guid Neebours by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

 

[Brian Moore]

Guid neebours are deid neebours? Nice contrasts here, Rob. Light and dark, life and death, etc.

 

[Tom Dunne]

I love the idea that the old sailors in this small graveyard now have the company of the living. The graveyard almost takes on a courtyard feel. In the circumstances that you outlined Rob and what looks like tricky enough lighting conditions you ended up with a very good result.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Brain. Aye, that's the message

Cheers, Tom. The photo reveals far more than I could see at the time. I'm glad it came out half decent. I wonder what the living neighbours feel about it. Could be a nice courtyard...but I'm glad the council have kept it.

Edit - I've called you Brain again, you smart man!

 

[Glenn Clabo]

The final port in life's storm. Nice moody shot Rob.

 

[Nick Lukey]

I like that Rob. Excellent processing .

 

[Rob MacKillop]

@Glenn Clabo - Deep, Glenn. You are a sailor yourself, aren't you?

Thanks, Nick. I'd like to do more "useful" photography, related to stories. But I like doing the arty stuff as well.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I wish I was a poet. When I look at an image like this, I feel a desire to encapsulate it in a few choice words. It would be nice to work with a poet on a project.

 

[Glenn Clabo]

@Glenn Clabo - Deep, Glenn. You are a sailor yourself, aren't you?

Yes Rob...I haven't been to sea in a long time...but after spending may years it gets in your blood. I have a hard time being away from the ocean for very long.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I think Julian was as well...

 

[Pete Askew]

I really like this Rob. Not only is is a great record of an interesting place but the gravestones and the windows work so well together.

Somewhere I have a monograph of images to which Terry Jones has added poems and prose. It works well. It was produced in very low numbers - I'll see where it is and try and find a link describing it.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Pete. I'd love to see that. Your images?

Yes, I like the connection between the stones and the windows.

 

[Pete Askew]

No, not mine. I have been looking for it. Must be around somewhere but I use the Dewey Just Stuff It In Anywhere method of indexing books and got distracted by a book by Saul Leiter! I'll try again in daylight.

 

[Pete Askew]

Haven't found my copy but this is the book: http://www.picture-box.com/authors.html

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Interesting book, Pete, and very interesting photos/constructions. I'll look out for a copy.

 

[Pete Askew]

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/B...archurl=sts=t&tn=Tableaux+Whispers+Echoes

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Pete. A bit expensive for me right now, but I'll bookmark it. Cheers.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

This picture of seamens graveyard Rob is very well done and I do realise it must have been in close quarters so to speak. It also reminds me of one of mine done in Denmark from a seamens cemetary facing the ocean. The only thing in common is that they are seamens last resting place.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Interesting, Ivar. Do you have it available to share?

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Yes Rob, here it is, but in colours.