Why Photograph Autumn in a Cemetery?
Why would I go to a cemetery to photograph fall colors?
What are some of the things that you really enjoy seeing in fall foliage pictures?
Here are a few of mine.
- Two rows of maples with a road running down between them
- Statues with fall colors surrounding them
- Stately large maples with little to no underbrush to detract from them
- Peaceful farm scenes with fall foliage and barn views
- Ancient or old buildings (farm or otherwise) surrounded by fall colors
Wouldn’t any of these scenarios make really nice fall foliage scenes? (I’d love to hear from you on these in the comments below)
Now, think of a cemetery near you, don’t most of these points describe it?
- Cemeteries are well cared for and kept neat
- You can’t get more restful than a cemetery (just be respectful of those resting there (I guess that depends where you live)
- Buildings, statues and other items that provide great features to give good subject matter.
Pine Hill Cemetery
Link to map of the cemetery area
Back in 2004, I found the Pine Hill Cemetery while driving around Dover New Hampshire. The location of the Pine Hill Cemetery for those with a GPS, coordinates (43.18637, -70.87234), or put those coordinates into the Google map search bar and it will take you there.
Lisa and I were out exploring and looking for good locations for fall colors. This cemetery is just off Route 16 and when you’re traveling north you will cross over the little bay bridge and as you get on the other side of the bridge set your trip odometer.
When you have traveled approximately 4.9 miles, you should see an off-ramp to your right which will take you to a T-intersection and route 108. You’ll make a right and travel about 1500 feet, at the Y intersection follow it to the left continuing until on the right you see an entrance for the Pine Hill Cemetery.
Of the four images on this page, the first one is for me, very memorable. This is the shot I entered into Yankee magazine’s first fall foliage contest in 2004, and took First Place. It was printed in the magazine in 2005, and a few years later I became their first fall foliage blogger. They wrote an article about me, called the Leaf Seeker. (You will have to bypass a couple of pop up ads when you get to the page)
Getting the light right
I may tell you that you can shoot all day long, but most of those types of images are just for your memories. If you want to make a really great fall foliage image then you need to shake off the sleep from your eyes and greet the dawn! My preference is to catch the warm afternoon sun low on the horizon. Below you will see the same cemetery as all shots on this page were shot in, but in a late afternoon.
I think you will agree, the light, low, and warmth make this a little more special… What do you think?
I hope you’ll share with me if you have a similar passion for photographing cemeteries in the autumn time period.
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
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You are right on the money, Jeff. Some of my best fall photos were taken in cemeteries. Whenever I travel back to New England in the fall I always have several cemeteries on my itinerary to visit. Two of my favorite fall locations is Bedford Center Cemetery, in Bedford, NH and the Sunnyside Cemetery in Sugar Hill, NH. Pine Hill in Dover is definitely on my list for a future visit!
As you can tell, they are my favorites as well…
You are right on the money, Jeff. Some of my best fall photos were taken in cemeteries. Whenever I travel back to New England in the fall I always have several cemeteries on my itinerary to visit. Two of my favorite fall locations is Bedford Center Cemetery, in Bedford, NH and the Sunnyside Cemetery in Sugar Hill, NH. Pine Hill in Dover is definitely on my list for a future visit!
As you can tell, they are my favorites as well…
I too love to photograph in cemeteries in fall. We often visit NE in October to enjoy the beauty of fall foliage. The cemeteries are always fascinating to me. The beautiful headstones and the age of the graves add to it. Love what I’ve seen in Massachusetts and Maine. Need to visit some in NH too.
I too love to photograph in cemeteries in fall. We often visit NE in October to enjoy the beauty of fall foliage. The cemeteries are always fascinating to me. The beautiful headstones and the age of the graves add to it. Love what I’ve seen in Massachusetts and Maine. Need to visit some in NH too.
Three cemeteries that we have visited and make for wonderful fall photos are: Peacham, VT, Barre, VT, and Bennington, VT.
Three cemeteries that we have visited and make for wonderful fall photos are: Peacham, VT, Barre, VT, and Bennington, VT.
Cemeteries are a great place to find well loved trees displaying brilliant colors, also I find cemeteries hold a lot of love for those laid to rest there! Some of my favorites – the cemetary in Barre, I believe Hope is the name, and there are others… usually any along the roads that I can see big trees I turn into — also the cemetery in Bennington, Vermont near the Old First Church is interesting as the resting place of Robert Frost
Cemeteries are a great place to find well loved trees displaying brilliant colors, also I find cemeteries hold a lot of love for those laid to rest there! Some of my favorites – the cemetary in Barre, I believe Hope is the name, and there are others… usually any along the roads that I can see big trees I turn into — also the cemetery in Bennington, Vermont near the Old First Church is interesting as the resting place of Robert Frost