An ode to Cindy Sherman and her Untitled Film Stills… yet my stills were taken on a drive home from Tignall, Georgia…
My family and I found ourselves pulling over to stop at a graveyard. I stared out at the cleared landscape. I stared at the headstones. I stared at the beauty. I stared back at a haunting presence.
I found myself wondering who these people were and what their lives were like. My children stared out the window. At the beauty of it all. The nature, the plants, the flowers, the trees, the stones, the sunlight…
An eerie rhythm of life and death pulsated through my veins. I felt grateful to be alive as my eyes focused intensely on an unmarked and bodiless gravesite; reserved for a couple. And then I thought to myself, I hope that couple doesn’t divorce before they lay their bodies to rest here.
The moment soon passed, leaving us with only memories of a time and place; simultaneously a vacation from and location of reality. And thus, I shot these photographs to remind myself of a thoughtful, yet unwritten, film that played out in my thoughts, while I “watched the wheels go round and round” (John Lennon); observing my children and this graveyard…
Film Still #1 (A Bodiless Grave Site, Reserved for a Couple). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches.
Film Still #2 (Are There Skeletons in There? If You Sit on a Volcano, You Will Have a Skeleton Booty). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #3 (Cohesive and Alive). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #4 (Little Hands Rest on Print that Can’t Be Yet Read). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #5 (A Couple Rests in Peace). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #6 (A Handsome Three Year Old Look). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #7 (A Beautiful, Almost-Two-Year-Old Smile). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches.
Film Still #8 (Gentle, Three-Year-Old Hands). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches.
Film Still #9 (Living and Understandingly Curious Eyelashes). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #10 (Scattered Petals and Leaves). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #11 (The Uncertain Glance). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #12 (The Fleeting Graveyard). Polly Nane. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Film Still #13 (A Plastic Flower Rests Assuredly Beside Things That Decompose). Polly Nance. Digital photograph. 8 x 10 inches, 2011.
Thank you for taking the time to visit and view my blog!
As always, please feel free to leave any and all feedback.
Peace, love until my next bloggy-blog post, dear fellow blog readin’ friends of mine. 🙂
P.S. Please be sure to check out re:loom this holiday season… these rugs would make wonderful gifts for any age and go well in any home, while also helping out those in need. All proceeds go to the non-profit, Initiative for Affordable Housing in Decatur, GA, that aims to stop homelessness by providing affordable housing and jobs to homeless and low-income individuals. Great product for an even greater cause… plus, I did a lot of the photography for the website (except the vignette shots, which were styled by the talented Alexandra Mia Hernandez and photographed by the also incredibly talented Christina Wedge). I did all the product photograph and detail shots. And, my most recently posted images can be found under the BLOG tab… interviews are now posted! I love how a story is adhered to each, individually unique and handwoven rug. Rugs are made from up-cycled materials that have been donated to the organization. If you wish to send donations, please visit the re:loom website to do so… they accept money and any and all forms of fabric (including socks!). Check it out folks!
I REALLY LIKE THIS SERIES OF IMAGES
The fleeting graveyard really catches the imagination
keep up the good work
Thank you oh so very much for your feedback 🙂 Graveyards are eerily beautiful and naturally a part of life. I’m so glad you enjoyed my photographs.
As always; thought provoking.
j
Why thank you my dear!
These are beautiful! Very contemplative.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the feedback and I’m glad my post got you thinking… perhaps? Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful….I’ve always liked the beauty and peacefulness of cemeteries. Am going through photos I took this weekend and will have a post soon!
Thank you! Awesome! Can’t wait to see them! 🙂 Oh and thank you for your feedback!
Nice tones on the BW images, and good use of vignette.
Thank you 🙂
Beautiful kids and beautiful photos.
The life cycle is quite a trip, huh?
Thank you so much! My kids are awesome. And yes, the life cycle is definitely a trip. One of the craziest, unexplainable trips ever. Thank you oh so very much for the follow and feedback. 🙂
P.s. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my post today!
I look forward to following you blog.
Howdy Polly –
Great shots of the kids – I’m sure they were little angels all the way home 🙂
Thank you so much! Haha I wouldn’t say they were “angels” but they surprisingly weren’t that fussy. We entertained them by making random stops such as this one. Thanks for your comment and continued support!
love the b&w and the vignettes are awe-inspiring. I like looking around cemetaries, too. there is a special kind of peace there.
Thank you so much! I really really appreciate it! I’m so glad you find these photographs inspiring. That makes me very happy. Cemeteries are cool places… not sure I’d go there at night… but then again, that might make for an interesting blog post. Ha thank you for stopping by!
I loved your pictures. 🙂
My favorite ones are – Living and Understandingly Curious Eyelashes, Scattered Petals and Leaves and the one below that. Loved the tag lines. And the B&W looks so pretty. 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like the scattered petals one… one of my favorites because I found that spot when I randomly turned a corner, while walking around. I loved how the petals were piled on top of each other… pronouncing the cycle of life when is exactly what a graveyard does… reminds you of the process of life. Thank you again for your feedback and comments and continued support! I really appreciate it! 🙂
Love the tone in these images, Polly. Nicely done. 🙂
Thank you so much! I do love black and white photography 🙂
Kids and graveyards, always and interesting combination. I love how you approached the whole subject with your camera. Some beautiful pictures you made! The fleeting graveyard is a fantastic image.
Thanks so much! You are so right about the kids and graveyards… strange combination, but a part of life nonetheless. I wish the Fleeting Graveyard photo had turned out a little less harsh looking and softer, but it still is pretty cool I think. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed that one. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback 🙂
Thought-provoking juxtaposition. Thanks for this work.
You are very welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it… that is why I work so hard posts for my silly little blog. 🙂 I appreciate the feedback and hope you will come back again!
This is a really nice series Polly… especially number 9 !!!
You know how I adore your photos and these are absolutely amazing and a fitting and wonderful tribute to me.
Thank you so very much! 🙂
wonderful mood in these photos! Great tribute and words too!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the post!
A dream sometimes it seems … the fragility of life.
I love that… life does feel like a dream sometimes. So surreal. Thank you for your comment! 🙂
Teaching children to ask the big questions & to observe is so powerful…thanks for sharing…
Another post in the same vein, Polly, and I think this one wonderful too – profound words and excellent mono pictures – you’re on a roll! Have you found yourself, if only a bit, here? Adrian
Thank you! I really really appreciate your comments! Ha, yes I have found myself… Been photographing rugs for two months so I have felt the need to create finally! And… I felt like writing poetry for a change… If you can call it that… More like free verse. Anyways, your comments have made me so happy. Thank you for your continuous support and encouragement. 🙂