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29 Jun 2008 • 192 views

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FORGET ME NOT

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH

GODSTONE, KENT

JUNE 14 2008

In life they revelled in the majesty of nature's bounty, from purer days when time stood still and the stresses and strains of a frenetic pace barely troubled thier minds.

Fathers, sons, mothers and daughters cherished and respected in all too fleeting moments in time, blighted by the sickness of poverty and disease, the dangers of childbirth and the brevity of life expectancy.

Centuries pass by as seconds in the ticking clock of mankind's existence on this Earth, and now there are none to tend dutifully to thier ancestor's graves. Demographic necessity, family feuds and ending bloodlines leave distant memories and dishevelled, overgrown monuments in decaying splendor.

Slowly and surely, mother nature reclaims what is rightfully hers, with spiralling strands of spindly vine, permeating the crumbling fibres of toppling headstones, and eroding words which now fade like distanrt memories of the people who once dwelt here.

camera	nikon D300
exposure mode	full manual
shutterspeed	unknown
aperture	f/0.0
sensitivity	unknown
focal length	0.0mm
resolution	1600x1063 pixels

FORGET ME NOT

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH

GODSTONE, KENT

JUNE 14 2008

In life they revelled in the majesty of nature's bounty, from purer days when time stood still and the stresses and strains of a frenetic pace barely troubled thier minds.

comments (27)

Great Britain (UK)

29 Jun 2008, 00:58

So beautifully photographed . .

FLOOG: Many thanks, AG

cako

Germany

29 Jun 2008, 01:44

Beautiful ... I like old graveyards very much. The natural lighting is great !

FLOOG: Thanks, Cako.

There is a certain lure from graveyards, and this one features many from the late 1700's and early 1800's which fascinate me.

sherri

United States

29 Jun 2008, 04:41

A splendid capture of this old fashioned grave marker. The light, shadows, and growth are so fitting. As a genealogy researcher I've walked through many cemeteries reading inscriptions and sadly noting unmarked graves. Your words convey the essence of this place and many others so well. Nicely done.

FLOOG: Good morning, Sherri, and many thanks.

Scotia

Fife Scotland

29 Jun 2008, 06:07

Great use of the natural light here Paul. I like the framing and the composition with the use of the tree, very well done.

FLOOG: Watcha Scotia.

Thank you, kind sir. The tree offered such a beautiful natural shade, with the sunlight beaming down all around us. I've visited this church and graveyard for several decades now, and it still strikes me as beautiful, and sad in equal measures.

Mrs T

Great Britain (UK)

29 Jun 2008, 07:28

Yes, a beautiful picture. There's something about graveyards; so many memories locked up in one place. A place for reflection but sometimes also a little inspiration too.

FLOOG: A very good morning to you, JT. And many thanks.

Yes, you summed it up perfectly. Reflection and inspiration. Speaking personally, death holds no fear for me, it's a natural conclusion and so long as a life has been enjoyed, and lived to the full, I believe we could ask for nothing more.

Seeing some of the gravestones from the 1700's and 1800's and the tragedy's within the short life spans, reinforces my belief that we should live every day as though it were our last, and love every minute of our existence.

We were in Rye yesterday and a huge white wedding was in full swing in the beautiful town church, amidst the glorious architecture and stunning old gravestones.... Life goes on, as they say, and a glorious contrast.

The fish and chips were good thre too.... ha ha

Bill Phillips

Droitwich..sunny

29 Jun 2008, 08:04

I rather like wandering around old graveyards like this. Grateful that I still can

Love the lighting on this Paul and the overall typicicalness of English church graves. (New word I have just invented...the Americans would probably say typicalization!)

FLOOG: Typicicalness...... I have just looked this up in the Oxford book of modern terminology and it states:

"A Bill-ism, used to describe something of a typical nature, such as English church graves. The American variant being Typicalizationalism, the French being Le Teepiliculneez"

So there ya go! Ha ha

ray

Thailand

29 Jun 2008, 09:33

Astonishing beauty in this image, Paul. Somehow, the "overgrown" aspect depicted is appropriate for graveyards.

Really enjoyed the lush phraseology of your prose, too.

FLOOG: A very good morning to you, Ray.

Many thanks, sir. You are so right, the overgrown nature of the graveyards here really lend an element of age and atmosphere to the, already historic stones.

Gingeybaby

Easy Like Sunday Morning

29 Jun 2008, 10:01

Beautiful photograph, beauriful prose. A marriage made in heaven.

FLOOG: Good morning Gingeybaby, and many thanks

Aussie

Brisbane

29 Jun 2008, 10:12

Terrific capture of these old headstones.

FLOOG: Hi Aussie. Thank you most kindly

Sheila in Spain mostly, England a little

29 Jun 2008, 10:58

Another perfect picture reflecting peace and tranquility.

FLOOG: Good morning, Sheila. Many thanks

Richard Standley

France

29 Jun 2008, 11:58

Wonderful capture of a place which I find facinating to visit. I really like the composition and the lighting!

FLOOG: Thanks Richard, you are most kind

Adé of AdaeCreative

United States

29 Jun 2008, 12:51

Well I don't know if I would venture into a grave yard, but I think you definitely did it justice. sharp detail and I feel like I'm right there under that tree looking at the graves. great job

FLOOG: Hi Ade, and many thanks for commenting

Andy

United States

29 Jun 2008, 14:54

Really nice photo. I like how it is looking through the leaves at the old gravestones.

FLOOG: Hello Andy, and many thanks for taking the time to visit and comment

tim

leeds uk

29 Jun 2008, 14:59

yes when ever my daughter is feeling sorry for herself i tell her to go for a walk round the grave yard

usually works lol

beautiful shot Paul love the light and natural framing, well done

FLOOG: Good afternoon, Tim. Yes, wake up - check. Still breathing - check. Ah, then it's a bonus! Ha ha

Astrid

The Netherlands

29 Jun 2008, 15:42

Serenity all over, this is wonderfull, love the sun/shadow in this beautiful picture.

FLOOG: You are very kind, many thanks Astrid

Karima Selehdar

United States

29 Jun 2008, 15:58

Nature's reclaimation! Beautiful, natural light shot. There is just peace here, not that sinister creepy sense you can sometimes get once the lights go down.

FLOOG: It's funny, but I've never had a problem with visiting graveyards, even ones with no lighting at night. Maybe it's the Heathen in me! ha ha.

As you say, I see peace and tranquility, fond memories and tragic tales all interwoven in the natural story of life and death that we are all a part of.

Many thanks for commenting, Karima

Brian Walbey

United Kingdom

29 Jun 2008, 15:59

Excellent capture Paul, lots of mood and atmosphere and an oh so true narrative to go with it.

FLOOG: Thank you most kindly, Brian

Nigel Clack

Glawsterrr

29 Jun 2008, 17:25

Nice one and well spotted Paul

FLOOG: Many thanks, Nigel

WUZ

Somewhere in London

29 Jun 2008, 17:36

Lovely words. A peaceful
scene. The leaves with
their light and shade
framing this picture make it for me.
Well done FLOOG.

FLOOG: Good evening Wuz. I'm glad that you like it. Many thanks for commenting

anniedog

Great Britain (UK)

29 Jun 2008, 18:11

Graveyards are always good places for making atmospheric photographs - the more overgrown the better. And what better symbol to mark absence than the cross? I like the way that the main cross is in shadow, whilst all the others are lit up.
Ingrid

FLOOG: Hi Ingrid. Yes, the natural lighting seemed so apt to me, and this particular headstone told a very aged tale.

Thanks very much for commenting

Richard Trim (T)

Back from Suffolk

29 Jun 2008, 18:29

To me, the slow decline of a place of memory with nature being allowed to take over ... in a controlled way is quite fitting. This is a lovely image Paul.
richard

FLOOG: Hi, Richard. I agree absolutely with you. There is a charm and character found in the deformation of the headstones, and indeed the fading words as nature reclaims the land.

Many thanks for commenting

Martie

United States

29 Jun 2008, 18:38

Wonderful capture of the graveyard. Especially the way you've captured the light and the shadow!

FLOOG: Good evening, Martie. many thanks for taking the time to visit and comment

Fabrice

France

29 Jun 2008, 19:01

Great capture, sober and tactful ...
Great respects, Paul.

FLOOG: Merci, Fabrice, vous êtes très gentil

Alexandra

Canada

29 Jun 2008, 19:04

Least we ever forget! Lovely emotive shot .

FLOOG: Good evening, Alexandra. Many thanks

Marcie

United States

29 Jun 2008, 20:50

Interesting juxtaposition of the 'living' and teh 'dead'. Lovely image.

FLOOG: Hi, Marcie. Many thanks for visiting and commenting

David

Germany

30 Jun 2008, 03:10

A poignant mix of image and words. Well done on both.

FLOOG: Many thanks, David

Still

France

30 Jun 2008, 13:35

A splendid light for a powerful image.

FLOOG: That is most kind, thanks Still

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