Right after the annual ANZAC Day ceremony last week in the Jerusalem War Cemetery, I walked alone between the graves, taphophile that I am.If you like to wander around cemeteries and read headstones and wonder about the human history below them, you too are a taphophile. In fact you could contribute a post to our new meme, Taphophile Tragics, which Julie in Australia started and graciously hosts.
But wait--actually this post is for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, with a question for the shadow folks there.
You see the crows looking for food in the photo above?
I am curious, in the second photo why is the bird in flight blurred while its shadow on the grass is sharp?You might have to enlarge the photo to even find the bird.
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This reminds me of the Alied troops' cemeteries here. Well trimmed lawns and neat rows after rows of headstones.
ReplyDeleteTaphophile -- that's a new word to me, and I can't find it in my dictionaries. Is it English, Dina?
I didn't know there was a name--taphophile--for people like me. I'm delighted to discover it. Thank you, Dina!
ReplyDeleteSeeking Clarity—and Shadows
I think cemeteries are wonderful places. Good question about the bird and its shadow!
ReplyDeleteEki, our Jerusalem War Cemetery is designed like all the Commonwealth War Graves Commission military cemeteries throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteMagical Mystical Teacher and Eki, yes, taphophile and taphophilia are English words, but not very well known. I just learned the term via the blogs this year.
Eki, try in an online English dictionary.
Walking in cemeteries always make me sad, but curious to know what lives everyone lived and who loved them.
ReplyDeleteThat is a strange thing about the bird.
I am one of Julie's Taphophile Tragics contributors but missed for the first time last week! Just not enough time! Quite a mystery about the bird and shadow! It is as if there is a time lag between the bird in flight and the shadow!
ReplyDeleteTime certainly has a sharp shadow, and who know, about the future. And yes, these places make me always silent for days.
ReplyDeletePlease have a good Sunday.
I love the name and the photos of the cemeteries. Sacred places. have a great week.mary
ReplyDeleteVery organized!
ReplyDeleteHope you'd come by and see my Shadows. Enjoy your weekend!
well that is a beautifully kept cemetry. no I am not a taphophile haha but thankyou for the enlarging of the vocabulary haha.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you are collecting opinions here but just the idea of decomposing in the earth revolts me haha I would prefer cremation, it is so physically clean and death by fire so spiritual-the flame of life being extinguished but yes passed on if your prefer.
but cemetries are like funerals they aid in greiving not much difference for the deceased.
I don't know much about this Dina because to acheive my abstractions in photos I break all the camera rules.haha but it could be that the fluttering of the birds wings causes the blur and the shadow isnt effected.
I thought of you the other day when I saw the latest issue of life magazine-It discusses three faiths Judaism Islam Christianity in Jerusalem. I havent had a chance to read the articles but I am sure I will see some photos that you have shown us here. I have always thought that you could submit to Life magazine. your photos a bit unique like the classic dress of orthodox Jews, and well that ladder that hasnt moved for hundreds of years haha.
thankyou for this beautiful photo.
je t'embrasse.
Lovely perspectives, Dina!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm really a taphophile but I happen to pass by two old cemeteries when walk into town and sometimes I do take a stroll looking at headstones. I've also had to think a lot about it in the past few years because both my parents recently died, and they in turn used to be responsible for the perpetual care of several graves from previous generations. I came to the conclusion I have to just give some of them up though or I'd have no time left for the living...
ReplyDeleteThe mystery of the blurred bird... an interesting question!
ReplyDeleteNice photo of that shadow bird. The bird is blurred due to the shutter speed of the camera.. you can not see it in the shade.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful graveyard.
Great post, Dina.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering about the bird. could it be because its wings are flapping up and down and therefore get blurred while the shadow is a composite of all their positions as outlined by the sun overhead (i.e. an additive effect?).
AHh yes ... good question, Dina. I have no technical expertise in this whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteHowever ... that never stopped me.
So the wings of the bird are blurred because the shutter speed was slow enough to capture their movement. Now why is the shadow not blurred?
The shadow is caused by angle of the sun hitting the bird and perhaps ... perhaps ... it is this second degree of separation of the movement that appears not to be captured ...
no idea really ...
A very arrow straight row of departed souls...I have to wonder about that bird shadow...Very weird!!
ReplyDeleteI like Julie's angle of sun theory for the shadow not blurring.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful shot. It is odd about the shadow. I wish I knew.
ReplyDeleteI love knowing such a high minded word for someone who lingers in cemeteries! There is a wonderful cemetery in Santa Rosa Ca i especially loved--victims of the 1906 earthquake that ricked SF are there but what moved me are the graves of children who died in the influenza epidemic a few years later. Lovely post Dina--our human scale history is every bit as important as the larger sweep of the history of nations.
ReplyDeletethanks for your additional info last week regarding the red (poppy, right?) flowers, that was very interesting and i didnt know.. :)
ReplyDeletei would not have noticed the bird's shadow and the discrepancy, but now that you say so, thats quite interesting. i think nic might be right!