Spooky, a photo from New South Wales, East

Photographer's Note

There are so many great things to see in a cemetery don't you think? I've wanted to post this photo for ages. I took it in 2008, in broad daylight, at one of Sydney's oldest cemeteries, Camperdown Cemetery, located in Sydney's Inner Western suburbs.

Nothing has been done to the photo, except that I converted it to sepia to highlight 3 very strange things within the image.

I'd be really interested to hear your observations. Pay special attention to the grave in the foreground and two things on the left and right side of the frame.

BOO!

Canon 30D
ISO 200
f/11
1/30 seconds
53mm

timecapturer, Romano46, danos, SnapRJW, ikeharel, krzychu30, ourania ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

snunney (130967) 2013-07-12 4:19

Ciao Lisa,
Really nothing to be afraid of in graveyards, especially in broad daylight like this; it's all in the mind! Good capture of these old gravestones nicely framed by the tree. Excellent choice of black and white to offset the harsh lighting. Can't see anything spooky here, but what's that creeping up behind you?

Sergiom (117241) 2013-07-12 4:35

Ciao Lisa

This is a very old cemetary. Trees are really growing high to give a bit of shade to the stones.It like walking cemetaries to, calm and quiet.
Sepia is really appropriate.

Have a nice day

Serge

timecapturer (49288) 2013-07-12 4:54

Hi Lisa
I get quite a bit of stick for hanging around graveyards, but I do find them relaxing and fascinating. This is a great shot, like the sepia tones and the effect it has on the atmosphere of the image. I can see two large orbs in this shot which some believe appear when a ghost is present, so I can say without doubt that this is definitely "spooky" or maybe it is just a trick of the light...............

Have a good weekend - Brian.

No_One (4) 2013-07-12 7:36

Hi Lisa!

Aw, the inner ghoul in me feels your pain, I too am a walker among the dead (language used there for dramatic effect!!). I do spend a lot of time in graveyards, but I fully agree, some of the best places to take fascinating shots, and this is a beauty. Your choice of sepia is perfect here, setting a great mood and enhancing the brilliant light.

I'm looking to see what the oddities you can see are, and though I hesitate to say it, can I see two orbs here? It looks like one against the tree and one in the low left corner of the shot. I'm not really sure what my own thoughts are the subject, but if that's what these are, then I must admit to being fascinated by them.

You know, I once met the great white witch of Ireland (seriously!!!) and she told a friend of mine that she knew I was a photographer, and that someday, I would capture something in my work that most people would not believe. Again, belief is a hard thing sometimes, but I'd be really interested to hear if the orbs are what you are referring to. If so, this is a very controversial shot, and many people would be very happy to see this.

Interesting shot Lisa, cheers!
Slainte
Noel

Romano46 (18472) 2013-07-12 9:07

Ciao Lisa,
non sono nuovo anche io a fare foto nei cimiteri ed in particolare a Roma ne esiste uno che in un paio di occasioni e stato meta delle mie escursioni fotografiche: è il cimitero acattolico nei pressi di Porta S. Paolo all'interno del quale sono sepolti anche uomini illustri. Devo ammettere che le tombe, soprattutto se di tempi molto lontani suscitano un particolaree fascino e riportano a ricordi passati.
Nella tua foto in effetti ci sono delle strane macchie di luce di forma sferica. Un effetto della luce che colpisce il tuo obiettivo? o significative presenze di esseri evanescenti che vagano per il campo?. Non avremo mai una risposta. Ci sono misteri che è difficile interpretare e non si ha mai la certezza del giusto. Io personalmente sono molto scettico nei confronti dei fantasmi ed eppure una notte (era il due novembre , il giorno dei morti) dormendo nella mia seconda casa ai confini dell'Umbria, che rtisale al lontano 1300, ho avvertito chiaramente una presenza accanto al mio letto. Sono rimasto in silenzio e per non spaventare i miei figli non ho detto nulla. Il mattino successivo, al risveglio, mia moglie, senza che sapesse nulla delle mie sensazioni, mi ha detto di avere avvertito la presenza di qualcuno in camera da letto. Doppia suggestione o presenza reale? Non ho una risposta ma mi resta un grande dubbio che non risolverò mai.
I fantasmi esistono?
Un carissimo saluto e l'augurio di un buon fine settimana
Romano

danos (110407) 2013-07-12 10:04

Ciao Lisa,
well chosen the Sepia tones of the scene in the cemetery with the great grave stones to make the scene more realistic and unique.I like the tight frame as your informative note about the place.

Regards,Danos

Silvio1953 (221659) 2013-07-12 12:16

Ciao Lisa, chissà forse sono anime perdute o forse son solo riflessi, strana foto, bella conversione in seppia, brava, buon week end, ciao Silvio

carlo62 (81265) 2013-07-12 14:20

Ciao Lisuccia
che dire, io fotografo spesso nei cimiteri e non solo quelli vecchi o addirittura antichi, farei anche più foto di ciò che faccio, ma non vorrei sembrare troppo esagerato, soprattutto per chi mi vede.
Mi affascina la storia che si cela dietro ogni tomba, quel tratto di vita che è stata condivisa con tante altre persone.
La tua foto è ben eseguita, ma questa non è una novità per te, mi piace anche la composizione e la scelta del b&w si addice al tipo di tomba fotografata, quasi un monumento.
Saluti a tutta la famiglia
Carlo

photoray (13981) 2013-07-12 15:44

Ciao Ghostbusterlisa,

I note the otherworldly circle spirits communicating with you. (But then my Canon manual sez it's just lens flare and to use a lens hood when shooting towards the sun)

In Monterey Bay, my favorite hotel is the Light House Lodge which has a cemetery in its backyard, and I always ask for a room with a view of it

Hope you are dry and warm,
Cheers,
Ray

williewhistler (16606) 2013-07-12 22:19

Hello Lisa,well,I suppose that it could be lens flare,dust spots or perhaps it`s a little message...
Whatever,the sepia effect works very well along with all the other textures and elements,plus it does make for interesting viewing.
At the moment we have no plans to visit Oz this year,probably next if possible.
Keep us posted on your trip to Ireland, which as you know is not too far from here...
Kindest thoughts
Les and Gladys.

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-07-12 23:09

Hi Lisa - Your shot sent me on an internet search for ghostly orbs and I have been so entertained by what I read... the jury's out though on the veracity of this spectral phenomenon. But whether or not these are optical flares, dust floating past your lens or energy balls your shot puts you squarely into a space I inhabit; I love graveyards too. When we were in the Seychelles my poor husband had to stand and wait while I did a quick recce of one in the mountainous rainforest. Don't you just learn so much by a walk through such a place?

Sepia works well here adding to the nostalgic atmosphere and the monochromatic conversion brings out both the light and textures well.

Have a super weekend
Rosemary

emka (158198) 2013-07-13 0:06

Ciao Lisa, I am like your mu m - I think that hanging out in graveyards is unhealthy. Maybe when it is specially old cemetery and of historic meaning it can be interesting. Or the cemeteries of other religions, like Jewish kirkuts that are moody. Here I do not see anything spooky, specially in bright day. Are you referring to this white round spots? What in this? I am very rational:).

have a beautiful weekend

Malgo

ikeharel (113385) 2013-07-13 1:48

Rightfully, there said and believed to be spirits around every cemetery, Lisa, and usually I tend not to take such photos. But one exception I did, taken picture in Worms cemetery, Germany, becouse of the Jewish history of the place.
I do not know what are the two things refered in the note, maybe you can elaborate on this.
sepia tone gave a fione ambiance to the place.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ike

marabu61 (11587) 2013-07-13 4:23

Hello Lisa
Despite being a very down to earth person (I only believe what I can see with my own eyes and that can be proven by science), I still enjoy visiting old graveyards a lot. They are so full of character, history and great shapes.
Your composition has a timeless appeal with the old gravestones and the sepia conversion that works really well for this sort of subject.
have a good weekend and don't forget to look under your bed before going to sleep ..

ACL1978 (7511) 2013-07-13 11:20

Ciao Lisa!

I've been hanging around graveyards a fair bit myself of late (a new, similarly nerdy set of photographic projects has emerged...) and you're right that the atmosphere is irresistable at times. And yes, this is a lovely cemetery shot, with the stone itself encased in shadow from the tree. I love the dual headstone as well, seems almost like a parent-child relationship... though in reading your note and looking again, I almost wonder if the smaller stone is in a different language and alphabet? Looks from this admittedly small shot to perhaps be Hindi? Of course it could also simply be English but in a different typeface!

But of course I suppose you're really referencing the two "orbs" in the shot... or, as we skeptics like to call them, dust mites. With the sun at the angle it appears to be, I'm not surprised they're lit up in this way, but it does add an interesting layer to the shot!

Andrew

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-07-14 2:21

Hello Lisa,
great shot and excellent treatment in sephia!
I don´t know if this is a lens flare on the left,but this effect in this particular place makes we can believe we see a ghost.
Evocative composition with unique atmosphere!

Wish You a nice sunday
Krzysztof

mehranjahangiri (347) 2013-07-15 7:23 [Comment]

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burraburra (1219) 2013-07-15 7:25

There ooky and their spooky the........family.
I like the shot overall.....
Saw the two orbs straight away.
10% of orbs I can explain the other 90% no way.
Coffee and Orbs discussion soon.

ourania (51103) 2013-07-17 1:11

Ciao cara Lisa,
this is a very moody photo with a very interesting structure. I didn't know what we were supposed to observe here and found out reading Brian's and Noel's comments. I have no proof in favour of or against the existence of ghosts but there are some awesome stories on Leros:) I didn't know about the orbs. I like very much the tight cropping of your picture that enhances the depth and makes all the elements significant and associated. The sepia conversion was a brilliant idea and what I love the most is the textures and the play of light and shadows. I'm also intrigued by the lengthy scriptures on the graves. It would be very touching if the orbs that have squeezed into the frame are what you think. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

PS Ti ringrazio dal cuore per le tue parole gentili. Mi auguro che tutto vada bene con tua madre e che presto tutti siate tranquili. Un abbraccio a tutti!