I spent part of the morning with Dave and Paula in the Masonic Cemetery just south of the University here in Eugene. I had never been there and my companions said that it had been a long time since either of them had visited. What a different type of cemetery it is. The modern versions are all mowed and manicured – not so here. It is set on a wooded hill and the takes on an almost wild appearance. While sort of raw and rugged right now I am sure it will take on a totally different look when adorned with spring wildflowers. We were all taken by the historic monuments we found throughout our walk – the first governor of Oregon is buried up there as well as Eugene Skinner – name ring a bell? and it turns out there is a Hill family plot up there as well. Dave has deep roots in this part of the valley.
Upon leaving the car we took different paths rendezvousing from time to time so you may see similar shots from Dave and Paula. I kept thinking Black and White the whole time and looked for compositions that I thought would convert well. This all felt like very different shooting for me, none of the grand landscapes. Looking for detail and compositions that relayed the winter – almost bleak – look of the place was a challenge for me.
The one just above was almost the last shot before heading for the car and some heat. I remarked to Dave on the drive home how cold I was and that I had not really noticed it until I got back into the warmth of the car. More dry weather this week in forecast so perhaps more outings. Maybe back to the mountains.
Well, it WAS a bit on the unkempt side. That’s one of the things I really like about these old cemeteries. There’s a stark — militaristic (ya think!) — reality to a cemetery such as Arlington that’s exceedingly manicured, exceedingly sad. There’s a similar mood to a small, unkempt site, such as this. The ones in between, well, they don’t appeal to me quite so much, I suppose “institutional” being an apt adjective.
It would seem to be really nice to delve into just who these people might have been, not sterile, timeline histories; but more personal. The B&W treatment here gives a hint of that effort to move back in time. I find the ironwork of the second one particularly appealing, esp. the foreground part…it just gives a sense of history, of caring and workmanship…there’s a connection there.