Controversial Locations - Where do YOU draw the line?

I went to the UK and Ireland several years ago and was marveled by the old, beautiful air of the cemetary. I took pictures. The guide thought nothing of it but I heard one of the people with me remark that no one should take pictures in a cemetary, it's disrespectful and rude. I don't feel that way. These places are simply markers. The people are long gone and their souls do not reside there. There are places in cemetaries that are just beautiful and the beauty should be used, instead of hidden for fear of some sacrelige. I'm not sure what other places might be controversial, but I feel like if you are there to evoke some emotion with your photos, some loss or mourning or sorrow, you are still showing respect as a result. It is just a public act at this point. On the other hand, if you photograph your doll dancing on someone's grave, that may be taking it a bit far. But if they're an evil person, maybe it makes sense for them. I'm just saying I don't think it's worth getting bent out of shape over. People don't do these things because they want to shock someone by saying, "Look, I took pictures in a cemetary!" They want to take pictures to show some feeling and that is what you get here.

 

I've heard people say graveyards are solemn places for mourning, and they are offended when kids play in cemeteries, when people walk their dogs there, or when people do something other than respectfully place flowers and go on their way. I think cemeteries are beautiful and scenic and I enjoy walking through them. But then I don't know anyone buried and I think that I would be upset if I saw someone playing with dolls on my loved one's tombstone.

That being said, I only took one doll outside one time, and it was to a cemetery. It was totally deserted except for some joggers and I waited for them to go by before I got my doll out of my car. I leaned him against a tree to capture a nature pic of him with the tree and a pond in the background. I took a picture of him holding a leaf in his hand with tombstones in the background as a sort of melancholy theme. I set him on a stone bench for more pictures. I figure if I'd been seen, someone would have yelled at me to get off the property because I wasn't there for the dead. I didn't mean any disrespect. I was enjoying the atmosphere and enjoying my doll. I've often visited cemeteries for writing inspiration and for some peace and quiet. And as long as people aren't acting crazy or crawling all over someone's beloved's resting place, I don't see any serious harm. But I would like to find a nice natural spot for photos where I wouldn't have to worry about upsetting, offending, or irritating someone else.

 

From my point of view, it isn't whether it's correct or acceptable to you, you have no right to say that. It is the living relatives of the deceased and other people who is directly involved 's say. And really, what is legal may not be right. Legally you can put your chair on some guys' graves, but really, would you like someone sitting on you? Go ahead and say yes. But it is not you're to say. It is the dead guy's decision. And since you are no god, I am certain you do not know his response. Can't you play safe?
Photography and documentaries for the sake of educating the public is alright for me. In singapore, we have a monument where nameless war heros were buried. That is okay. It shows how many unsung heros sacrificed themselves. I can't stand ghost tours and horror movies shot there. You are making a profit by announcing other people's tragic death.
Same for dolls, I see you posing a doll at my family member's graves, you will soon be in one too. Can you imagine the hurt it inflicts on the other family members. Really, i would think you are having fun meddling with the grave to make the photo and your doll look nice and awesome. At my dead family members' expense. Think it is fine for people to pose on your grave? Write it on you tomb thank you very much.
Do anything you wish, as long as it affects you and not others negatively.
Sorry for the rant😃.

 

I think this:

If you must take your doll to be photographed in a grave yard,

DO:
- Be quiet, especially if you are with a friend
- Wait for it not to be busy
- Take the pictures of your doll on benches, from paths, walls, lawns and trees with gravestones in the background

-DO NOT:
- MAKE LOTS OF NOISE and disturb people who are there to grieve
- STAND ON PEOPLES GRAVES, or put your doll on peoples graves or gravestones! (I guess there could be a special allowance if you PERSONALLY knew the person and know they would not mind, and the photo has some special puropse)

- Large public memorials may be considered a little differently from personal gravestones I suppose (people pose with them and sit on them etc all the time), I think it distasteful personally :/ but not too strange to do something 'artistic' with it (just try and keep it tasteful)

 

At a museum in Athens we were allowed to take photos of the statues but saw people thrown out for 'posing with' the statues. The staff said it was not allowed because it made them look cheap. I can understand.
If I went and took a picture of a grave that's fine - if I went and put a my little pony or other toy on it to take a picture- then that would just make me look like a very bad (stupid) person.

 

Deleting this comment because I made another one after forgetting I already commented here, and I like the newer comment better.

 

I don't think that graveyards are really a controversial location to photograph. Cultural attitudes toward graveyards have sort of shifted over the years. While people regard them with a lot of respect and reverence these days, a century or so people actually went to graveyards for picnics and stuff. They were kind of used as parks.

Granted, I, personally, wouldn't really want to include the headstone's name in the photograph. I think that would be a little... Odd so I just wouldn't do it, but if the name was obscured or something, I'd see nothing wrong with it. It's not as if you're photographing the doll on the corpse itself, just on a big rock with stuff engraved on it that someone paid an exorbitant amount of money on for the exact purpose of looking nice.

Now that I think about it I can't honestly think of any location that's bad to photograph in... I mean aside from places you're not allowed to take photos in or you're not supposed to be!

 

I think of a Cemetery as being like a park, or other public place. I've done photo shoots in graveyards, though I have not done so with my dolls as of yet. Being that I used to take grade-school kids on field trips to do rubbings on gravestones, I don't think of them as being the kind of thing that no one is allowed to touch. If I saw someone incorporating my cousin's or grandparents' grave into their art, I'd be pleased. It wouldn't matter to me if it were a photo, a painting or a rubbing.

I disapprove of defacing or vandalizing graveyards. I would never tolerate someone spray-painting tags on graves or digging in the soil or damaging the decorations or tombstones.

I just can't see how photographing would be damaging or disrespectful. By taking those photos, the artist is absolutely respecting the space, in my opinion. I sincerely HOPE that someone likes my gravestone enough to make any kind of art from it. I strongly ENCOURAGE anyone who would want to do so with the graves of my loved ones and family. Death touches all of us. Every adult knows someone who has passed away. Graveyards are for everyone, and for many people they are places of quiet beauty and peace. What better place to take beautiful, artistic photographs?

 

I don't like the idea of graveyards for the most part, it seems rude to pose on a tombstone. But let's say a shrub near a fence or such? It's fine...

I don't think I would ever pose my doll in stranger places, though. Such as a public bathroom or someone else's private property without their permission.

 

I'm goth, so picturest at gravyards is part of the culture. better a doll on/around headstones than a grown man standing squat on one for a photo. I have seen this done before... now THAT is disrespectful.

 

To be honest, I never really thought about it. I figured a lot of those places are actually just props and not actual things like someone's actual grave or anything like that. I would say though, that you really shouldn't take photos anywhere--especially with dolls posing, without asking for permission.

 

In my opinion, the only people who have a right to be offended are the families/friends of the deceased. Anybody else is sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong. (Or is dead, and presumably won't care.)

I suggest if you really want to take pictures in a graveyard, find a really old monument or stone. Don't pick a war memorial or one weighted with meaning still relevant; that's the easiest way to offend someone. Just find something old and lovely but clearly unvisited. If the stone is old enough, there might not even be visible names to cause trouble. If you're quiet and respectful of those visiting the graveyard (and stay well out of their way), I don't think it's unreasonable to allow a photographer to spend time there.

Just don't treat it like a game.

 

I think place which connected somehow with religions: churches, graveyards and so on.. it is not appropriate for photoshoots dolls. Also i don't like when dolls wear with crosses. I just feel uncomfortable when see such photos. I am not so religious person but i think it is blasphemy. If for you it is nothin you should think about others..

 

Truth be told there is some long dead person buried almost any/everywhere, even your public green/park probably has a bunch.

I've had this discussion in more than one art class, the biggest thing is getting permission to use places that don't belong to you or the public and then how you behave while you are there. Artists and photographers use all kinds of places in their professional work all the time, therefore so can you if you approach it a professional manor.

 

As said, statues and stones can be pretty, so can the the whole cemetery, but I guess I would feel bad if I was shooting directly into someone's tomb. That being said, I wouldn't get offended is someone was shooting in my family's grave, as long as the people were being respectful and not damaging it

 

i found this interesting. I think anyplace I can take a picture is good for me. I have to admit, if I was dead and someone used my headstone, I would think it's neat that my headstone was used.

 

I don't have much regard for things like that offending other people... in general people's beliefs are SO far off from how I think of things, and have been for so LONG that I'm desensitized. Of coarse I don't try and actually UPSET people... but you're going to have to shed a tear or two to make me feel bad about taking photographs. I don't know if I'd ever actually take pictures in a graveyard myself, but if I did, and someone confronted me, I'd probably give an insincere apology at best, then move to an area of the graveyard where that person won't bother me again. I'd hope that my grave was beautiful, and worthy of taking pictures on.. but that's just my two cents.. should the owner of a grave (the deceased) be unhappy with me, heck, I'd love the chance to be haunted by someone. I've been... dying to know if ghosts actually exist, and would be very interested to see one.

 

I only was in a graveyard once when I was little visiting the grave of a relative...I honestly don't know how I'd feel if I saw someone taking doll pictures with his grave as the main backdrop...Well I know how I'd first react. I'd walk up to them and ask them to leave and hope they do...I wouldn't yell I'd just ask: "Listen..Can you please go do this somewhere else? This is someone I loved very dearly...And your disrespecting him and me by being here." And hopefully that would be that...I don't want to be screaming in anger at someone in a place where so many souls are at rest. I think the true disrespect would be if they were photographing a child's grave.

 

I think as long as you tidy the grave and place flowers there its fine. However the photos usually look bad as they're so out of scale and cliche. Personally I probably would take photos at grave sites due to the fact they are so overdone and boring, but I'd happily take photos wherever else like memorials, tombs. If I myself feel its ok to take a photo then I'm not going to care one tiny bit what anyone else thinks of it.

 

Long as I don't see anyone posing their doll on my cousin's grave I don't give a damn I decided but if I do expect me to MAKE you leave and if I catch you near it again consider yourself buried beside him.