Document

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word document as "something that serves as evidence or proof." Photographs often serve this purpose, whether it be proof of an event, proof of a lifestyle or period of time, or even proof of a life. This lead me to think about other ways in which a person attempts to leave a mark on society or proof that they once existed. After a person has passed on and memories fade, what is left to remind us of their existence? Some are lucky enough to make such a name for themselves that no one will ever forget due to their success, contributions to society, or fame. Others have no problem only living on in the memories of loved ones. Each person chooses to leave their own individual mark.

In our society, one way to remember and honor a loved one is through a grave site. Cemeteries are filled with a variety of stones and vaults that commemorate a person's life. This variety ranges from the most gargantuan statues to tiny unidentifiable crosses. Grave stones are chosen by a variety of people as well, so it is not apparent whether the deceased chose to honor them self with such a stone, or someone else chose for them. Either way, the stone easily affects the perception of the "mark" made by the person it represents.

I had many interesting discoveries while completing this project. All of the photos chosen were from a Catholic cemetery. The first surprising fact I discovered is that the largest and most elaborate stones where the on the grave sites of the clergy. I thought this was very contradictory to the vow of poverty most clergy are expected to take within the Catholic church. The only statues that compared to that of the clergy were monuments that represented a whole families' plot. There was no other individual with a monument as intricate and momentous as the clergy members. Also, in the section with the clergy, there were a few stones that were extremely simple and looked almost insignificant next to the other monuments. I thought it was interesting to see these smaller stones dispersed among such an arrangement.

The graves of the clergy were all gathered in one section extremely close to the chapel. The whole area was up kept extremely well. The other surprise I discovered was the least kept and what appeared to be most insignificant area was a section reserved for children. Many of the grave stones had fallen apart or disappeared among overgrown plants. One of the images I took shows that the road is no longer even paved in this section. These graves are also the furthest away from the chapel. My set of photos on Flickr start out with the most elaborate graves, finishing with the simplest unmarked graves. My favorite image is the final image of an angel with flowers. This was a child's grave with no year, no name, and no markings whatsoever. There was just a simple angel statue that has begun to disintegrate over the years.

The full set can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mms10/sets/72157605446061591/