No matter how hard you try, sometimes it is difficult to get good picture of a tombstone. Do not rely only on your photograph if the stone appears difficult to read at the cemetery. Make a transcription there at the cemetery while you are on site. Draw a sketch of the stone if necessary and write the transcription on your sketch of the stone. Take a picture of that hand made drawing and transcription to have with your actual stone photograph. You may be happy you did when you get home.
Or you may find out how many swear words one picture causes you to make when you can’t see the transcription in the photograph.
16 Responses
You can also do the following:
Headstone rubbing – take a piece of tissue paper as large as the area that has etched in words, and rub with chalk. My drama teacher did this when she went to Stratford on Avon with Shakespeare’s grave. Of course, a lot of rubbings can wear down the stone, but I doubt a lot of people will rub the headstone you would like to get a copy of.
Light it – take a big flashlight, and try to light it “just right” – you can also wait until the sun light is right, NOT in the middle of the day, but when shadows are cast, like in the early morning or late evening, if the stone is positioned just right. If not, try your best at doing the “photographer” thing, with white cloth to bounce the light, and a large flash (or spot) light, and see if it works.
Of course, you should write it down as well, but my suggestions are for those who want the “real” thing.
Please do not use chalk! If yoi rub too hard or if the paper tears you could damage the stone and not realize it. Chalk leaves tiny scratches that allows moisture to collect and damage the stone. Look at any old chalkboard and you see the damage chalk can cause.
Make sure to get permission before making a rubbing. Some cemeteries do not allow it.
We always used charcoal to do our rubbings. Then spray your rubbing with a fixative.
p.s. You can no longer do this with Shakespeare’s grave, as too many people have done it. She did this back in the 1960s, when you still could do something like that with a famous person. 😀
I read an article once on getting the light in the right place. The author felt we should all carry a 5 ft long mirror in the back seat of the car for those occasions. Hmmm…
Kristy is on the right track, however if you have a small car (:-), you might want to get a sheet of poster paper (from your grandchild, niece, etc. after praising their elementary school project) and glue (spray preferred) alumafoil onto it. It will then roll-up nicely and can be stowed in the trunk (boot). You can get fancy by getting reflective mylar and mount it on a thin sheet of plastic craft sheets. Use your foldup lawnchair to hold the sheet in place why you take the photo – spouses are notoriously unreliable.
I requested a photo from Find a Grave, I got a generic family headstone that reads simply “KELLY”. The photo was shot through a closed car window, from a distance, one side of the monument only. There may have been smaller markers near the family monument or inscriptions on the other side away from the road; I won’t know that unless I do a road trip myself. I am not going to place any more requests from this cemetery, even though there are plenty of my Kellys there.
Sorry you got such a bad response. Most us are serious about providing quality pictures and correct information. You really should try again. In SC or NC by chance?
I’ve had good results using a cheap dollar store brand of aluminum foil to make an impression of headstone. It works very well on unreadable, worn marble stones. Lay the aluminum foil across the face of the stone and then use a very soft brush to gently rub across it. It works best if you have a buddy to hold the foil on the stone -but I’ve also torn off enough foil to wrap around the stone once and tape the back together so it holds in place. The brushing/light rubbing will reveal the names and dates. Then, take a picture of the stone with the foil on it for the record.
I think this is not only the safest way for the stone but you also get the best results. It’s amazing what you can pick up with the foil that you can’t even see with the naked eye. Glad you mentioned it LAB.
It can also help to carry a spray mister bottle of water and spritz the stone to better bring out the definition of the carving!
This is the best way to do it!!
I also do rubbings. I use heavier parchment paper like that which is used in baking and it doesn’t tear. I also use regular crayons. They don’t damage the stone like charcoal pencils or chalk, and they work out very well. It is amazing what magically appears as you go across an old tombstone that is impossible to read. The rubbing reveals almost all of the inscription. In my genealogy albums, I place the photo of the tombstone and the rubbing side by side.
Since I was raised to have great respect for the gravesite I tend not to be intrusive. Instead I have found a photo imported into PhotoShop and then manipulated with light/contrast/polarized etc. sometimes reveals the details.
You are right Robert that clever use of photography can take care a great number of these problems.