As human beings, we have learned from a young age to use words to express ourselves. We use words to communicate, to convey our needs and wants, and as an outlet for the complexities of our thoughts and emotions. However, on occasion, we find ourselves in situations where words fail to encapsulate the depth of feelings that accompanies overwhelming joy…or unimaginable sorrow. Such is the inspiration behind Cemetery Reflections, a collection of photographs taken from historical cemeteries across America.
Every picture in this book was a story in itself: emotions etched in stone, poetry in the curve of a line, in the back of a statue bent in mourning, in the closed eyes of a cherub that stood over the grave of a child. The prologue is in the way the light hits the morning grass as the sun rises over a cemetery, and the absence of it as dusk settles over another provides a perfect ending. The author wasn’t afraid to express her point of view through these images. She didn’t sanitize the dark quality of her subject matter but handled it with recognition, empathy, and respect. The photos leap off the pages and force its audience to feel and reflect.
This is a project that goes beyond the artistry of a beautiful shot. The whole body of work within Cemetery Reflections are a testament to the power of imagery in saying what words cannot. The author was first inspired by an inscription she read during a visit to one of the cemeteries in America: “Step lightly, for here lies a dream,” and this is what the author has achieved here: a celebration of human life, a tribute to those who have gone, and a hope that wherever they are, they wake up somewhere beautiful.” —Book Review Directory