Doris, I have used both film and digital cameras for tombstone recording. As you can imagine, the digital format makes it much for flexible and easy to accomplish. I did have good luck with film, but I ended up with alot of pictures that weren't quite readable at times and obviously I couldn't zoom in or rotate when needed. My advise is to go digital if you haven't already. I would suggest something 5 megapixel and above. The reason isn't for basic photos, but for use when you get the harder to read inscriptions from years of weathering. When I run across the more weathered stones, I raise the picture quality so that I can zoom in on my pc to get a better look. Being digital also allows you the luxury of multiple angles and distances on a particularly hard to read stone. If I have any question on a stone, I will usually take 3-4 pics of it from slightly different angles and distances. At times, I will take a pic of the entire stone at a distance where the entire stone is visible in the cemetery sitting, one closest enough to only see the stone, one from a right askew angle and one from the left the same way. This helps with light reflection and shadows. You will find in stones with a "shiny" or "buffed" coat that if you stand/squat differently in front of the stone, you will appear as in a mirror, which obviously is a negative on the shadows and lighting on the writing. Another thing to consider is angle of the sun, try and get the light you need without a direct exposure of the sun. This will help you from "washing" out the lighter stones and making them very hard to read. The only type of stone that I have a very hard time photographing is the pink limestone style. The engraving makes it hard to read in person and at times almost impossible to read in a picture without some real study for the shot. I usually get them, but there are some that I have a real problem reading. Old white stones that have worn down can be very difficult also, but usually a good photo program can seperate the white from the shadows (writing). A trick to use while reading on your pc is negative proof. It reverses the white and black essentially, which gives you a view like a film negative. At times, it is the only way I am able to read very old tombstones. Every major photo program will have this option. I would also encourage no use of external liquids or other enhancers on stones. It has an adverse effect, even if ever so slight. Use mild soap and water if you need to or a natural bristle brush, but nothing plastic or harsh. Even plastic brushese contain chemicals that rub off on the stone. Using natural fiber brushes is the way I have always been instructed to go from some very top researchers in the field. I have over 3000 photos of tombstones digitally and I have no idea on film. It is so easy to take extra photos and even entire cemeteries if you have the time. I index them on my pc and have thought very seriously of starting a website, but simply haven't had the time. Any reference you see of me on the RR website has a digital photo that I can send. Most of all, have fun with it and enjoy your time studying the act of it. We are preserving history in these photos and at some point, your photos might be the only link to an unknown grave location or a person that has been forgotten. Thanks, Drew Slate Fort Worth, Tx ---- Dontest@aol.com wrote: > Can someone give me some tips for getting good headstone photographs? > Usually, I get a picture of the headstone but not the inscriptions. > Thanks > Doris > > > > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TXREDRIV-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

We have visited four cemeteries today and had a wonderful visit with Mr. Blassingame at Evergreen and Mr. Moore at Old Shamrock. The headstone I needed to photograph at Evergreen of my great-grandmother was barely visable. The stone was of a porious nature and had fungus that had infiltrated into the stone. Mr. Blassinglame gave me a stick of pink sidewalk chalk to use on the raised letters. He said it would not harm anything and would wash away from the rain. My photo looks a bit strange with pink letters, but it photographed very well. Mr. Moore at Old Shamrock uses styrofoam like stuff is packed in. He scrapes the stones. We have sure met some wonderful, helpful people here in Red River/Lamar counties. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TXREDRIV-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.