Controversial Locations - Where do YOU draw the line?

now there's nothing ungirly about videogames.

Like I said, I think worse things go on at cemetaries than taking pictures of dolls.

People knock over headstones, steal flowers to put on their relatives graves (I never understood that. Why bother? It's like saying, we care so little about you we didn't even chip in $5 to get your own flowers.), I've seen some cemetaries with graffiti sprayed on headstones...

Somehow with all of that, I can't seem to be upset about people taking artistic pictures.

 

I asked my photography teacher about this before I saw this thread... She is an extremely religious woman, but not the type to push her beliefs on others.

She said to me that some of the greatest sculptural pieces can be found in graveyards. She feels that they are beautiful places, made beautiful to appease the living. She personally sees graveyards as one of her favorite places to take photos and told me all about a graveyard she visited that had gravestones that were all funny, creative pieces of art made to bring a smile to the face of passersby (one such grave was for a cow farmer, who had a large plaster cow placed on the ground over his body).

She assured me that, so long as the photos are tastefully done and there is no damage done to the site, I shouldn't be worried about going into a graveyard with the purpose of taking photos.

...but I came across a point where I felt it was inappropriate to take photos by my own personal standards.

It was around the time of this conversation that my dad found a graveyard which was a very old plot with only four graves. It was hidden is an overgrown patch of trees, not far from the remains of an old house. The stones were all from the 1800's and one grave was... well the dirt was completely removed. He noticed one of the stones was laying on the ground and put it back on it's base.

He took me back there a few weeks later to get pictures with my dolls and the entire site had been restored! The stones were cleaned and re-cemented to their bases, the rusty wire fence had been removed, and the dug up grave filled it. He realized that, by putting the stone on it's base it was now viewable by a nearby road that let to the city water plant... Apparently someone came by, must have seen the stone, and had the place restored.

...I started taking pictures, but when I realized that two of the stones were very young children, I stopped. I guess that that is where I personally draw the line. However, I wouldn't chastise someone who did take photos where I couldn't, so long as they were, as my teacher put it, tastefully done and were done without causing harm to the site.

I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't put an animal's grave on the same level as a person's, but after my beloved cat Python passed, I took my dolls to her grave for a few pictures. I just felt that they, as some of her favorite chin scratchers, should have the chance to say good-bye as well.

 

I'm kind of obsessed with death and I think cemetaries, even if they weren't entirely about death, are beautiful. I have no concerns with my body after I'm dead, and I don't care much about my grave as long as no one destroys it because I want it to be kind of pretty. I feel the same way about my numerous dead relatives, and when I think about it, they certainly wouldn't mind. I think they'd be happy someone was appreciating the space.
That said, I can understand why people would want their remains almost entirely left alone. My best friend hates the thought of being touched after she's dead. But since there's no way to tell which is which, as in who cares and who doesn't, I just tread lightly and say sorry when I accidentally step on where their body is. I imagine that they'll forgive me if they hear it.

 

I wouldn't care at all. If someone were using a loved one's grave for photographs, I'd appreciate the fact that they think it's a nice location. Graves and gravestones are really expensive, at least someone alive is getting enjoyment out of it.

I don't think there's anywhere that's inappropriate to photograph dolls, as long as it's appropriate for YOU to be there. (As in, not sneaking in to the opposite gender's washroom, so you can take pictures of your male doll using a urinal or something....)

 

I guess a place where I wouldn't tolerate ANY doll photography are concentration camps. I've already visited one with my form because we were learning about it in history class, the environment there actually is kinda pretty...That'd just be so wrong.
Even if your doll's background story is that he/she's a victim of the persecution of jews from that timealthough it'd make sense to take photos there... I still think that'd be in bad taste to do that.

 

I don't see anything wrong with using graveyards as a set for doll photography.
I like cemeteries especially the old European ones.
Each has it's own charms and it's a good place for quiet thinking.
However, countries, towns, cultures are different. From my own experience it is good to check with the locals , caretakers, for guidance. I'll know right away how far I can take my ideas, without offending anybody.

 

I find nothing wrong with people using cemeteries and churches as a faded background from the outside. But I don't think it would be appropriate to portray dolls next to gravestones or in a church. Although I don't consider myself a total believer, I think I should respect worship places in any form. I visited the two monumental graveyards in Rome, and one in Japan. Each of the place were very suggestive, but I decided not to take any picture of them, because it could have been offensive.
I know that living in a place with plenty of monuments and ancient locations allows me to have different settings without so much of a trouble, but I also understand people seeking an old appeal in a cemetery, because it is the only place that fits their requirements.
So, tomb stones on the back from a long distance are ok, but I would be very upset to see dolls near someone's resting place (and of my relatives, of course). I think there is still a link between the place and the dead person, then I avoid to take pictures.
Even places where violent death and homicide occurred... Well, they are controversial to me. The only thought of what happened there just keeps me out from considering that a proper location.

 

I was supposed to be raised Roman Catholic, but in truth I believe in what I find as my own truths.

As far as graveyards go I would have no problem taking photos unless there were a lot of people there. The way I think, we should celebrate deaths as a passing on into a new life, and therefore, a grave is just like a little token for the world to remember you by. Now I am not trying to say have a field day and mess everything up, but I am saying if you are taking careful and purposeful photos, then I would have no problem if I saw you taking photos in a graveyard.

Where would I draw the line?

I guess if I started to invade someone's personal space.

Like even if there was a celebrity, I am just not the type of person to shove things into peoples faces. I don't especially like people I don't know being extremely close to me, therefore, I would not try to force them to take a picture with my doll.

I don't think I said anything offensive, but if I have offended, I am terribly sorry.

 

I see absolutely nothing wrong with photographing dolls in cemeteries. Headstones are there so the person beneath is remembered, but what's the point if no one ever looks at them? Taking photographs of dolls, I think, is actually very respectful when done on the stones! The stone is looked at, the name is read, and the person is known and remembered. It is through making art, but still...would it be better to leave a stone unseen and untouched for 5 decades or to use it as a setting for photographs because I promise, stones are eventually neglected, even if it takes years. Also, this is just my rationalism talking, but the person under the stone? They're gone. In my opinion, they don't mind you using their slab of marble or stone angel as a setting. If anything, I think their spirit or whatever would be happy to see someone making use of their little plot of earth rather than it sitting unused and (relatively) useless for years.

Where do I draw the line? When it's obviously bothering people in your immediate surrounding. Say, if you're taking pictures of "dollie porn" in a park full of children. THAT'S crossing a line. But there are very few lines in my life...that's worth mentioning.

 

I really don't see anything wrong with it... After all, cemeteries are more for the living than they are for the dead. Unless your religion believes that people who died are just... i don't know, sleeping under six feet of earth. Or that their spirits are trapped within the realm of the cemetery. So long as you're not taking pictures while a funeral is going on, I can't see why people should be really concerned about it.

In a way, I think it's interested to have a cemetery looked at as more than just "That creepy place we put people when they die." Besides, most cemeteries have some of the most interesting sculptures to be found in them; it's kind of heartbreaking that they go unnoticed by the public at large.

 

I have taken my sable with me to my great grand mothers grave and did picture of her mourning like, but on a strangers grave of is a bit weird to me!

 

I've seen some dramatic photos of Blythe and gravestones that looked great. But personally, for me, I think it depends on the age of the gravestone - anything recent (i.e. the last 20 years) would be a no for me, but I think it's less of an issue for graves that are 100 years old as you're then looking more into the beauty of the weathered stone etc.

 

I agree with this quote. Taking a picture of the graveyard as a whole is fine, but individual grave site is not good. The dead might not have a say in it, but if the family members of that dead person saw that they might have an big issue with it. So it is respect to the family not to take a picture of an individual grave.
How would you feel you caught some kid taking a picture of their doll on your loved one's tombstone?

 

I think it really depends on the space and I tend to follow local customs as to what they think is proper. If it happens to be a sacred site, a site of torture, a site of genocide, and so forth then I definitely would not be taking pictures there with or without a doll. We have a lot of sacred sites as well as other sites that are involved in very conflict-filled history in my homelands, so I feel it would be really disrespectful to take photos in those places. As for graveyards, I'm not a fan of taking pictures there either.

 

I don't see anything wrong with taking doll photos in a cemetary or on someone's headstone. If it makes for a great picture then go for it! I've taken photos in a cemetary before (the same one my grandparents are buried in) on one of my "ghost hunts" and i didn't feel bad about it at all. The only taboo thing about going to a cemetary is actually walking on the grave. You just don't do that. I always walk between them (you don't want ot anger the spirits ).

If i were to see someone taking a photo on my relative's headstone or grave (as long as they're not standin on it) i'd be flattered. They obviously think it's a nice shot or pretty headstone to want to take a picture of it.

Long story short, I think any place is open game for a photoshoot!

 

Well...I'm Chinese, so normally what we do when we want to 'borrow' someone's grave for a photo would be saying something in Chinese or English along the lines of, 'Sorry, excuse me. But we would like to borrow your gravestone to use to hold our dolls for a quick photo.'

But I never go graveyards to take photos. First off, Singapore's too small to have anymore graves. Most are demolished. So the above said lines were said by friends when they visited Malaysia.

About inappropriate locations...I think it would be PUBLIC TOILETS. Seriously.

I've ever entered toilets to change out of my cosplay costumes and while stripping off the upper layer halfway(normally I strip off my coat/jacket/upper layer if there's no free cubicle to change. So that I won't have to sweat so much. I change out of the whole costume when I'm in the cubicle), off a shutter sound goes. Surprised, I would obviously look around. Only to see 2 or a few girls taking their dolls' photos.

It's bad. What if somebody decided to strip to just her binding/corset/bra because it's an all girls' toilet...?

 

cemeteries arent really an issue for me. ive visited one that most of my family is in all of my life, and i find it to be gorgeous. ive seen a number of people there over the years taking pictures of the giant mosaic, or of the various religious statues/fountains everywhere.

but, if you find it disrespectful to take pictures of your doll infront of someones grave that you dont know, then dont do it.
if you dont think it matters and youre there for an artistic shot, do it.

i dont think i would, but thats more of a superstition. some people say that a body is a body, its dead, and that is all. but im a little bit more of a believer in the paranormal so if i at all thought it was disrespecting the dead buried there, i wouldnt do it.

but taking pictures infront of particular statues/etc that are in cemeteries? why not?
if you think its going to be a large issue, call the office that takes care of the cemetery before hand. not like theyre going to dig random people trampsing all over their cared-for lawn, or anything.

be respectful. even if you dont think its a big deal, someone else will.

but as for innapropriate places, i agree with what someone said earlier. if your 10 year old cousin has to leave the game boy at home, you should leave the doll at home too.

 

Hmm, I don't know where I stand on this. I think it would be horrible if a family member caught someone taking pictures on they're relatives grave. I mean, I'm not religious at all (I'm an athesist) but I do think I would be a little peeved if I came and found someone using a tribute tomy relatives life as their personal plaything (and let's face it,when you're using something as a 'prop' that's pretty much what it amounts to). I was actually struggling with this issue the other day as I was taking some pictures at a school nearby with religious affliation and there is a statue that I posed Nola on. After taking a few shots I started feeling a little weird about it because I was wondering if maybe I was messing with something people considered sarced. I decided to move her off the statue and onto stuff nearby.

 

I agree with this. As a photographer no place should be seen as inappropriate.

 

I was trying to think about what my deceased family members would think if I were to take pictures of my dolls on or near their graves. My dad wasn’t particularly religious or artistic. I think he would freak out at the cost of the camera and dolls, but wouldn’t really care if I was there or not, taking pictures or not. I think my grandma would be open to it. She was quite religious, but also artistic and open minded. If my aunt caught me there taking pictures, though, I think my mom would probably get an earful!!
Where my family is buried where are a lot of really old graves, that no one has tended for a long time. They are really interesting, and I don’t think anyone would mind.
I would have to agree with the PUBLIC TOLIETS. The space and mirrors would make it difficult to protect people’s privacy.
I would think anywhere else would be okay, as long as the dolls weren’t being inappropriate and the photographer didn’t feel uncomfortable.