Of the many graveyards I have visited over the years and the numerous cemetery themes that have developed as result, none have had a greater effect on me than graves with pictures of the deceased on them or associated with them.

They are forgotten faces from the past. Some faces are old, some in mid-life, some young and others too young. A few are postmortem. These portraits are exemplified on the early 20th century ceramic pictures and oval photo porcelain plaques. More recently the faces are shown on faded color and/or black and white photos with the latest craze of being idolized on laser etched granite stones. Even colored ceramic pictures are making a comeback.

In today’s world, ceramic portraits and laser art are considered by many to be too expensive to spurge on. Thus families of lesser means simply provide a modest color or black and white photograph of the deceased placed on or next to the grave.

It’s these haunting photos that charm me, sadden me and intrigue me the most. Being made of paper, I often find these photos to be challenged by the elements whether it’s the harshness of sun, the driving rains and the bitter cold. It’s obvious to me they will not survive the millennia, most will be lucky to survive 20 years. But then again, it is my experience that cemeteries are for the living.

The bottom line is with my photography I want to bring out the soul of the people. I want them to be remembered. They have turned into an art form that I have captured over the years.

Here, on the pages of Through, with their lives I present 125 photos taken from 2004 through 2018.