This weekend we were blessed with yet another layer of snow. After the main roads had been cleared I managed to make it out to capture a few images. I decided to drive to South Holston Dam where I hoped to find some undisturbed snow. Not only did I find undisturbed snow but a mostly untouched access road. The majority of the access road was still covered in ice and completely impassable. That’s what led me to this spot.
In the 1930s, the Tennessee Valley Authority began relocating graves out of the area slated to become South Holston Dam reservoir. Stophel Cemetery was one of 20 sites used for relocating the 559 graves that had to be moved. Many of the graves remain unmarked and several have only a large field stone to note their location.
I wanted to use an extremely shallow depth of field to help separate the markers from the barren background. The overcast skies and fading light allowed me to stop all the way down to f/4. I used a cross processing preset in Lightroom to give the image a slightly cooler temperature and vintage feel.
Google Map Info: 36.521944, -82.095278
Gear: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 24-105mm
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4
6 Comments
Powerful. I don’t know much of anything technical about photography, but I love learning. Your images are gorgeous and your writing so clear. Thanks for sharing both. Love seeing home when I’m away.
Amy Tilson recently posted…The Bare Essentials
Beautiful Curt. I miss the snow.
Brrr…that’s cold. Nicely done Curt.
Edith Levy recently posted…PHOTOGRAPH – Issue 2 Is Out – A Quarterly Magazine from Craft & Vision
Very nice image, Curt. The processing provides a timeless look, so appropriate for this scene.
Jimi Jones recently posted…Beach Town Signs
The muted tones suit this subject matter perfectly, Curt.
Mark Summerfield recently posted…Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park
Nicely captured, and I like the processing as well. A somber yet beautiful image.
Erin Duke recently posted…Embracing Imperfection