Lighting documents is a challenge with or without flash, inside or out. Be sure to experiment at home with similar items. A Sony camera with memory stick can be used along with a Sony Clie (Palm OS) to view larger digital pictures on the handheld device before leaving a source that might be difficult to visit. Card from another camera fits in Pocket PC. I prefer scanning most items that fit on the scanner glass, even keepsakes. A friend prefers to use a digital camera and copy stand with lights. If possible, try the same items different ways -- flash, available room light, near window, portable lights or outside. Unexpected problem at the cemetery last weekend was a thick layer of ice on a flat stone. Each photo trip seems to have a unique challenge. Some stones show lettering better after a rain, grass needs to be trimmed, bushes in the way, morning or afternoon sun. Heritage home was easily found but hidden behind a high wall with a locked door beside the sidewalk, no high vantage point. Elizabeth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Anderson" > And some will not allow the use of a flash on old documents so you might > need to have a light source. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "E.Rodier" > > Some archives charge the photocopy rate for each digital picture taken and > > some do not allow cameras at all. Ask in advance when planning a trip.

Try coating tombstones with foam shaving cream and carefully wiping it off to reveal lettering. It has worked for me. Steve "E.Rodier" <[email protected]> wrote:Lighting documents is a challenge with or without flash, inside or out. Be sure to experiment at home with similar items. A Sony camera with memory stick can be used along with a Sony Clie (Palm OS) to view larger digital pictures on the handheld device before leaving a source that might be difficult to visit. Card from another camera fits in Pocket PC. I prefer scanning most items that fit on the scanner glass, even keepsakes. A friend prefers to use a digital camera and copy stand with lights. If possible, try the same items different ways -- flash, available room light, near window, portable lights or outside. Unexpected problem at the cemetery last weekend was a thick layer of ice on a flat stone. Each photo trip seems to have a unique challenge. Some stones show lettering better after a rain, grass needs to be trimmed, bushes in the way, morning or afternoon sun. Heritage home was easily found but hidden behind a high wall with a locked door beside the sidewalk, no high vantage point. Elizabeth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Anderson" > And some will not allow the use of a flash on old documents so you might > need to have a light source. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "E.Rodier" > > Some archives charge the photocopy rate for each digital picture taken and > > some do not allow cameras at all. Ask in advance when planning a trip. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

Coating headstones with shaving cream is detrimental to the stone. Phillip ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Rawlins" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 6:11 AM Subject: Re: [SP] photographing documents and source items > > Try coating tombstones with foam shaving cream and carefully wiping it off to reveal lettering. It has worked for me. > Steve > "E.Rodier" <[email protected]> wrote:Lighting documents is a challenge with or without flash, inside or out. Be > sure to experiment at home with similar items. A Sony camera with memory > stick can be used along with a Sony Clie (Palm OS) to view larger digital > pictures on the handheld device before leaving a source that might be > difficult to visit. Card from another camera fits in Pocket PC. > > I prefer scanning most items that fit on the scanner glass, even keepsakes. > A friend prefers to use a digital camera and copy stand with lights. If > possible, try the same items different ways -- flash, available room light, > near window, portable lights or outside. > > Unexpected problem at the cemetery last weekend was a thick layer of ice on > a flat stone. Each photo trip seems to have a unique challenge. Some stones > show lettering better after a rain, grass needs to be trimmed, bushes in the > way, morning or afternoon sun. Heritage home was easily found but hidden > behind a high wall with a locked door beside the sidewalk, no high vantage > point. > Elizabeth > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bob Anderson" > > And some will not allow the use of a flash on old documents so you might > > need to have a light source. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "E.Rodier" > > > Some archives charge the photocopy rate for each digital picture taken > and > > > some do not allow cameras at all. Ask in advance when planning a trip. > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now > >

A good source of information, hints and tips on recording from gravestones can be found at: http://www.gravestonestudies.org/more_information.htm This is the website for the Association of Gravestone Studies. Lance -----Original Message----- From: E.Rodier [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, 18 January 2003 4:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [SP] photographing documents and source items [SNIP] Unexpected problem at the cemetery last weekend was a thick layer of ice on a flat stone. Each photo trip seems to have a unique challenge. Some stones show lettering better after a rain, grass needs to be trimmed, bushes in the way, morning or afternoon sun. Heritage home was easily found but hidden behind a high wall with a locked door beside the sidewalk, no high vantage point. Elizabeth --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.443 / Virus Database: 248 - Release Date: 10/01/2003