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An old cemetery in Bowral.
Nikon F4. AF Nikkor 24mm F2.8D lens. AGFA Rollei Infrared 40S 35mm B&W film. Hoya IR R72 filter.
The General Cemetery in Spring Bank West the Western Cemetery now belongs to Kingston upon Hull City Council for its upkeep. The Council is also responsible for the General Cemetery but as you will see later it is very badly kept yet still visited by families to leave flowers.
My photos of General Cemetery will follow over the next few days.
The General Cemetery was opened in 1847. The cemetery was closed in 1972, and went into the hands of the Council. Some maintenance work has been undertaken more recently. But I could not see any on my visit on March 1st 2019. In monochrome
There is so much history in here and I shall be going back!
Graves of German Soldiers from the Great War in Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg. Created in 1877 as the world's largest cemetery garden which now contains over 1.5 million burials.
Same old cemetery as the last one.
Nikon F4. AF Nikkor 24mm F2.8D lens. ADOX Scala 160 35mm B&W reversal film.
Rookwood Cemetery (officially named Rookwood Necropolis) is a heritage-listed cemetery in Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It the largest necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere and is the world's largest remaining operating cemetery from the Victorian era.
"Until The Day Break and The Shadows Flee". I had recently revisited the Lakewood Cemetery Chapel on a rainy afternoon - better lighting than the sunny day on my last visit. I am still in awe of the 10-million piece mosaic construction, completed more than 100 years ago by teams of artisans completing pieces of it in Italy. Arguably the best representation of Byzantine architecture here in the North America, right here in Minneapolis. What an amazing, yet unknown treasure. Enjoy!
According to the superstition of the Shingon Buddhist school, there are no dead in Okunoin, but only waiting spirits. As the story is told, one day Kukai (774-835), better known in Japan under the name of Kobo Daishi, the founder of the religious community of Mount Koya, came out of meditation upon the arrival of Miroku, the Buddha of the future.
So all the souls in transit resting in the graves or of whom the hair or ashes had been placed by their loved ones in front of the Kukai Mausoleum, also rose up. Pending the advent of this apocalyptic prophecy, the number of graves in Okunoin continues to increase and already counts more than two hundred thousand and is the largest cemetery in the archipelago.
A glimpse of the afterlife
Cross the Ichi Hashi no bridge, which opens the way to Okunoin is like crossing a bridge between two worlds. Just before, the faithful join hands and bow to show their respect to Kukai.
On the other side, the atmosphere is different, the air is charged with the sacred. The dizzying cedars that dot the first graves hide the sky and the end of the paved road that runs up through the wood. The styles of the burial memorials vary too much for the eye to dwell on each of them, but the most spectacular cenotaphs attract attention, such as the one an insecticide company dedicated to its termite victims.
Leaving the main path and venturing amid forgotten tombs with eroded stone or covered with moss, allows you to realize that here, Nature has reclaimed its rights. Conversely, the secondary entrance of the cemetery, located across from the Okunoin-mae bus stop, leads to the more recent tombs made with refined granite, as if varnished, artificial, taking away all individuality from their eternal residents. Another sign of modernity, the offerings themselves have changed and soda cans have joined incense and sutras (words attributed to the Buddha or his immediate disciples).
Along the main path, do not be surprised by the accessories worn by the statues of Buddhas, who often have a vermilion bib. The are offerings that mothers leave to protect their children in this world or to bring them luck in the afterlife.
The tension mounts
Following the path to the north, after crossing the bridge in the middle, Naka no Hashi, another Gobyo no Hashi, announced the passage into a more advanced level of the sacred. The walkway, of which the thirty-six boards are engraved on the back with Buddhist deities, is itself considered as such. It is necessary to, once again, to bowing with your hand together to invoke Kûkai /admin/articles/edit/1555before going across.
The area you come to requires the utmost respect. Food, drinks and photographs are not allowed. A little further, on the left, a wooden cabin houses the Miroku stone, which, when lifted weighs the sins of the person. Through small gaps in the walls, it is possible to access the stone and it is customary to try to lift it with one hand to place high up on a shelf.
Once you have completed this test, the Toro-do emerges through the trees. This Lantern pavilion houses hundreds of luminous wonders, some of which, according to legend, have been burning unabated for over nine hundred years! A flame in the depths of the night, it is the last building before the holy heart of the cemetery, the ultimate pilgrimage that justifies coming this far into the forest for many devout believers, the eternal dwelling of Kukai.
"The innermost sanctum"
The Okunoin, which is the literal meaning, is above all a place of contemplation. The thousands of graves are eclipsed! By this single sepulcher, which is however inaccessible to ordinary mortals. The Gobyo is said to house the famous Kobo Daishi, who continues to meditate, without a sigh. Each day, meals are deposited at the door in support of his effort, while monks and laymen reflect in silence and recite sutras in a low voice. Everyone is free to respresent the venerable one in his cramped interior. Whatever happens, the doors remain closed.
Day and night, braving clouds of mosquitoes in summer or gloomy foggy days, visitors flock in all weather to Okunoin, especially on Obon day, when Rôsoku matsuri takes place and the monks of Koyasan light thousands of candles along the paths. One day is not enough to grasp the its extent and many lives would be necessary to discover all its secrets. Despite this, strangely for a cemetary, its tranquility soothes the souls of through it. Probably because, impassive in his retreat, Kukai is watching over them.
Scanned from Fuji Superia 400 (expired Jun-2004)
Louisville, Illinois
Oct 2017
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I'm testing scanning negatives with a camera. Still haven't sorted everything out... but making progress. Original shot with a Graflex and a 135mm Fujinon.
The Omaha Beach American Cemetery is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, and is one of the most significant memorials commemorating American forces who fought during World War II. It overlooks Omaha Beach, where many American soldiers landed during the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944.
Key Features of the Cemetery
Graves: The cemetery contains 9,387 graves of American military dead, most of whom lost their lives during the D-Day landings and subsequent military operations in Europe.
Landscaping: The site is beautifully landscaped, featuring manicured lawns, rows of white marble headstones, and large trees, providing a serene atmosphere for reflection and remembrance.
Visitor Center: A visitor center provides educational resources, including exhibits on the Normandy landings and the broader context of World War II. It enhances visitor understanding of the sacrifices made.
Memorials: The Wall of the Missing honors the 1,557 soldiers who were lost and cannot be accounted for. Their names are inscribed on this wall, serving as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war.
From a location-scouting walk I did last week and one of the locations we'll be exploring on a photo workshop on 9th December.
More details here:
www.japanorama.co.uk/workshop-on-9th-december-establishin...
Four frames from the Fuji X100S stitched into a panorama in Photoshop.