The Old Jewish Cemetery Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the old Jewish cemetery in Josefov, the Jewish Quarter, in Prague. It was created in the 15th century when Jews were forbidden to bury their dead outside their own district. Space was scarce, so bodies were buried on top of each other in an estimated 12 layers. Over the centuries, lopsided tombstones have formed unruly, poetic groupings. It is a very quiet and peaceful place in the heart of the modern Prague. The author Franz Kafka enjoyed moments of quiet reflection in the old cemetery. However, his own grave lies across town in the New Jewish Cemetery. That burial ground is half empty because the generation it was built for was transported to Nazi death camps.
We visited in 1993, but I don't imagine the place has changed much. After all, that was only ten years ago, and it was there for 500 years before that.
Scanned print, resized, clarified, saturated and sharpened before saving as jpeg. The camera was an old Olympus then.

Aegean, jhm, Hanssie, carper, mortijo, Tavo, Homerhomer has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Aegean (2567) 2004-10-02 10:22

A very interesting shot with "spooky" feeling! Nice POV and DOF! Very well done!

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2004-10-02 10:38

You transmit a wealth of peace in this rich with history photo. I love the warmth of the colors and the shadows of the tree limbs. A very beautiful and calm photograph.

Spoony (3539) 2004-10-02 10:55

Another fantastic shot... It is just like in the scary movies! ;))) Really fine!
Thanks for sharing Per.
Spoony.

jhm (83352) 2004-10-02 12:14

A very old picture Per, but absolutely interesting, maybe difficult for the people but really, you did good Per with this photo. Thanks for posting.

Ebbe (9571) 2004-10-02 12:31

A fine place to take picture and your POV is well chosen. But I think the colors are a bit off and there are too much going on at the same time, I made a WS.

[workshop] [compare]

Hanssie (9133) 2004-10-02 13:31

Nice picture, full of details of the gravestones, I like the brownish colour and the background of the gloomy houses, real Prague, great shot, Per !
It's always nice to walk around on cemetries with a camera.

carper (65696) 2004-10-02 13:47

I really like the way you took this shot, very good composition, great colours, nice depth, nice atmosphere, very good job Per

mortijo (12412) 2004-10-02 14:10

Hi Per, I may have visited this place at approximately the same time you did during one of the Book Fairs. Nice shot with soft colours.

sn00zie (2384) 2004-10-03 4:03

spooky is the word.. haunting picture. its embedded in my mind now.

Tavo (586) 2004-10-03 6:34

Agree with all previous critiquers and mainly with Ebbe, although not fully with his workshop concept. Colors are really oversaturated and B&W version better corresponds with the motive, but I would leave a bit of that browny hue, simply because I like it and it seems to me somehow "more Jewish". Alternative: sepia tone. Another remark to the workshop: I wouldn’t crop it, to me it is fine as it is, as mentioned also by others. And the last: I really don’t know what is that strange pink thing, what role it plays and why it had to be left in color even in B&W?
Strong picture anyway.
PeterB

ema-bloum (0) 2004-10-10 5:52

Good composition, good POV...
Good eye ;)

Thanks. Ema

Homerhomer (4005) 2004-11-30 10:33

I really like this photo Per, good documentary but also full of feelings. Teh place looks so abandonded and uncared for, yet beautifull at the same time. Fallen leaves add to the sadness, and old buildings surrounding this small and crowded space just add to the expression.
Peter

bethel (333) 2006-08-06 4:42