The process of creating the book began with the printing of photographs taken in over 200 cemeteries during the past decade. Favorites were pinned to art fair tent walls set up in my studio. These were arranged and rearranged according to color, style and subject, eventually creating a rhythm and an appealing order for their presentation. Epitaphs, poetry and prose passages were then chosen to complement particular images.
What evolved was a two-part collection. The first half of the book would explore the extraordinary variety of talent, inspiration and emotion involved in creating headstones and monuments. The second half would focus on grief and touch on the idea of an afterlife.
Because I am of the printed-page generation, “pinned-up” pages were gathered into a notebook. Then I could hold and feel what it would be like to move through the two-part “story.” Perhaps this might be termed a mock-up. This “book” was shared with friends to gauge reactions, and pages were rearranged to increase appeal. When I felt comfortable with the result, the next task was to tackle learning the software used to transfer digital files to a publisher-friendly format.
This software, Indesign, was a challenge to learn. However, it is perfect for photographic book design, works seamlessly with Photoshop and Word, and creates pdf documents for editing, sharing and printing.
I am acutely aware that respect must be observed not only for the deceased but also for family members left behind. I decided that images of some headstones, especially of young people, were too recent for inclusion. I discovered belatedly that some privately-owned cemeteries now have more restrictive photographic policies than existed when I originally took pictures there. As a result, some of my favorite photos were eliminated. I suppose most finished products involve some sort of compromise, as does mine.
The book’s final draft now resides on my computer, awaiting the next steps of publishing, printing, and distribution.