File :-(, x, )
Wake - Funeral Anonymous
So I have a question /p/. My parents have just asked me to photograph my grnadma's wake and funeral. I don't even know how or what to do. I was thinking about taking some good photos, having my family together, etc...

I know there are some photographers here that have done weddings and everything, but have any of you done the opposite? Can anyone show some examples?
>> Martin !!ve2Q1ETWmJH
At a studio I was working at for a while, we had a call to go to a funeral - definately an odd request.

The guy I was working with, the Chief Photographer - Focused mainly on the Flowers at the actual funeral, and then just peoples facial expressions, not posed just casual convosations.
>> Anonymous
I was just going to bring my camera and secretly pop up and take some shots while people aren't aware. I don't want poses or anything like that. I think some of my family members would probably think it's disrespectful.
>> Anonymous
Wow, definitely a different and tough gig. I was just thinking about this recently actually. I have no clue how tough it'd be to try to be as respectful as possible while snapping. Helps that you're family though.
>> Anonymous
Get a small and quiet camera if you can. Either a point and shoot or a film rangefinder. Big SLR lens and mirror clap don't jive well with somber. The only camera I think would maybe is some old and elegant view camera, which I don't think would be suitable, so the less noticable the camera, the better. So no flash, either.

And beyond that, just shoot in your normal style and document it, although don't get too close. Nothing shorter than a normal or a slight wide (i.e. a 35mm equivalent), and stand back a little.
>> Anonymous
OP here. If anyone remembers, I posted here two weeks ago about my sisters first communion. Well that turned out very well, I shot three 36 exp. rolls of b + w film and I'd say about 80% of them turned out well (the other times my family wanted to use my Nikon F-401x but had no idea how to use it so they turned out blurry). One problem came out of that and that is they are incredibly mad that since it's black and white film, I can't get it processed anywhere around here correctly and that every family member doesn't have like 2 copies of each photo. :/

SO now they want me to shoot the wake and funeral in color so they can get it developed at Walgreen or Walmart. I also have a Zorki rangefinder so I might use that. Again, I still haven't tried it out so I'm not sure if it works.
>> Anonymous
So anyone have any suggestions or examples? I was looking around and I couldn't find too many examples on deviantART, Flickr, or just using Google...
>> Anonymous
>>184999
Don't use a camera you're not familiar with though.
>> Anonymous
Yeah, about to leave in about half an hour. My friend lent me his D40 in case I wanted to use digital though I'm not familiar with it. Agh.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
keep an eye out for lighting

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeFUJIFILMCamera ModelFinePix S6000fdCamera SoftwareQuickTime 7.4Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2008:02:22 18:11:31Exposure Time1/280 secF-Numberf/3.4Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/3.4Brightness6.9 EVExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length10.80 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2846Image Height1046
>> Anonymous
USE THE DIGITAL
that way you can see what mistakes are going on and you can take as many tries as you want.
>> Anonymous
I got back from the wake a few hours ago and I took about 80 shots in about 2 hours with the D40 my friend lent me. I'd say a good 1 or 2 dozen turned out good enough, I'll tweak them a little in Photoshop, they're almost all a little dark.

I was using the D300 in Best Buy earlier today and WOW it does great in low light situations.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>184943

rosecrans?

i never photographed a funeral, to be honest. i have a hard enough time going into graveyards, since im rather sensitive and feeling & hear things. I also feel like i'd be intruding too much- bBUT if your parents have asked you to, then go wih their wishes and do so. Just capture the moments, and the emotions. Dont' pose anyone, and if anything, try to take a little point & shoot with you and shoot from the hip, or at least discreetly, so no one realizes you are taking pictures. It will be more natural.

KMHO
>> Anonymous
i dont know what id do if i was given this... but try and get as many people looking as mournful as you can. try and show that the person deceased had people that cared enough for them to mourn their death. but you also need something bright to contrast, the flowers on the casket... the greenery of the law... something
>> Anonymous
OP here. I've been to a wake before and it was still kind of awkward after people I didn't know started coming in. My immediate family thought it was alright but later I didn't take as much.

I remember when I was visiting my other grandma a few years back and found a huge bad full of random photos and I found a bunch of funeral photos of her mom (I'd say about 40 or 50 years ago) where there were pictures of her actual mom inside the casket. I took some today so my aunts can now keep them after they get developed.

The funeral is tomorrow and I think overall the photos will turn out better. I'll put on my 35 - 105mm. The 18-55 was kind of hard to use.

I wanted to get some photos of everyone mourning but that seemed like I would have to get right up in thier face to do so and thus ruining their privacy.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Point and shoot would be alright but no flash was use today and shooting from the hip with the lens in AF was helpful.
>> Anonymous
Got back from the funeral and I think I got some better shots. I captured at least some emotion, and it was kind of wierd watching the guys working and covering the gravewith soil smiling and laughing a little. Guess they're used to it. Out of the 400 photos I got 70 that are good enough to give everyone. Might post a few here when I'm done.