Tag Archives: grave yards

November 25, 2014

Help for the Haunted and Vera Van Slyke: My Interview with Tim Prasil – The Big Séance Podcast: My Paranormal World #22

Tim Prasil, writer and author, shares how he inherited the stories of Vera Van Slyke, one of America’s earliest paranormal investigators, from an ancestor who chronicled them. Find these stories in his soon-to-be-published book, Help for the Haunted: A Decade of Vera Van Slyke Ghostly Mysteries (1899-1909) by Emby Press. Who is Finbar Kelly? Tim explains. We also spend a bit of time talking about our common love of cemetery photography.

Get this episode on iTunes!
Direct Download Link

For More on Tim Prasil, or for up-to-date release information about the book:

Like Tim’s Facebook page.

Follow @TimPrasil on Twitter.

Visit TimPrasil.wordpress.com or GhostlyMysteries.wordpress.com.

Thanks, Tim!

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

1 Comment | tags: a decade of vera van slyke ghostly memories, americas earliest ghost hunters, americas earliest paranormal investigators, americas first ghost hunters, author, author interview, big seance, book coming soon, book review, cemeteries, cemetery photography, discovered manuscripts, emby press, finbar kelly, ghost, ghost hunters, ghost mysteries, ghost stories, ghost story, ghosts, grave yards, graveyards, great book, haunted, help for the haunted a decade of vera van slyke ghostly memories by tim prasil, help for the haunted a decade of vera van slyke ghostly mysteries, help for the haunted and vera van slyke my interview with tim prasil, help for the haunted by tim prasil, interview, lida parsell, mysteries, paranormal, paranormal investigators, seance, spirit, spirits, spiritual, spiritualism, tim prasil, turn of the century, vera van slyke, Vera Van Slyke Ghostly Mysteries, who is finbar kelly, writer | posted in Book Discussions, Cemeteries, Interviews, Paranormal Investigation Topics, Spiritualism, The Big Séance Podcast

October 26, 2014

Jack-O-Lanterns and a Beautiful Fall Evening in the Cemetery: An Update in 8 Photos

By Patrick Keller

Yesterday I carved my jack-o-lantern for 2014. As usual, I decided to go with a classic look that is very close to last year’s grin. And yes, that’s the Halloween Altar in the background, with the addition of the Beistle reprints that I ordered this year. As usual, I always have difficulty choosing which photos to share with you, so you’re getting several.

It has been so warm for October lately, and our 80 degree days will kill a jack-o-lantern in no time. I’ve decided that for the next few days we’re bringing them in late at night when we blow them out. That way they’ll be much more comfortable inside and away from the sun and heat during the day.

As you may know, Joe always has to break the mold with his jack-o-lanterns. Here is this year’s polka-dotted disco ball jack-o-lantern! We like the reflections on the post.

Another look at the Halloween Altar.

This evening I took a trip to the cemetery to pay my adopted souls a visit for my 2014 grave adoption project. I discovered so many beautiful trees that weren’t in this condition on my last visit. It cooled down quite a bit by the time I got there, and so it was beautiful weather. It’s still weird to be wearing gym shorts and a t-shirt in a cemetery on the week of Halloween.

One of my grave adoptions for the year. The small pumpkin is still going strong from 3 weeks ago. All of my small pumpkins that I kept in the comfort of my home rotted long ago, so I’m pretty impressed.

Leave a comment | tags: 8 photos, an update in 8 photos, autumn, beautiful fall evening, beautiful fall evening in a cemetery, big seance, blogging, candelabras, candles, cemeteries, cemetery grave adoption, cemetery photography, class jack-o-lantern, disco ball jack-o-lanter, disco ball pumpkin, disco jack-o-lantern, disco pumpkin, fall leaves, grave adoption, grave adoption project, grave yards, graveyards, halloween, halloween 2014, halloween altar, halloween alter, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lanterns, jack-o-lanterns and a beautiful fall evening in the cemetery, jackolantern, jackolanterns, nature, orange, orange leaves, paranormal, photo update, photography, photos, polka dot disco ball jack-o-lanter, polka dot disco ball pumpkin, polka dot jack-o-lantern, polka dot pumpkin, pumpkins, ruhenpohl, seance, spiritual, trees, update | posted in Cemeteries, General, Halloween, Photography

September 13, 2014

Photography from Saint Peter’s Cemetery, Saint Charles, Missouri

By Patrick Keller

For the full set of photos, visit the Saint Peter’s Cemetery album on my Flikr page.

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New Fall Traditions: Cemetery Grave Adoptions – The Big Séance Podcast: My Paranormal World #11

By Patrick Keller

Patrick shares stories of the New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions that he started last year, and meet Little Johnnie and Clara. He also gives tips and recommendations, so that you can begin your own grave adoption project.

Get this episode on iTunes!
Direct Download Link

For more on Little Johnnie and Clara, and for photos from last year’s grave adoptions, visit Adopting Graves 2013: My Thoughts and a Look Back on a New Tradition.

For Renae Rude – The Paranormalist’s post that inspired this tradition, visit Graveyards, churchyards and cemeteries: spending an afternoon with the dead.

8 Tips to start your new Grave Adoption Tradition:

Know that you have the right to be in a cemetery to pay your respects, just be sensitive and respectful of others.
Choose a grave or head stone that is interesting to you, most likely older, and out of respect, one that doesn’t already have signs of regular visitors, or family members paying respects.
If you’re interested in the genealogy of this project, be sure to choose a head stone that still clearly displays a name and dates.
Realize that the days will get shorter as you get deeper into the fall. Most cemeteries have times posted when the cemetery is closed, and it’s usually “dusk”.
Bring meaningful gifts or flowers on each visit… but realize that you’re responsible for disposing of them later.
Don’t be afraid to just talk casually, or even flat out describe your new tradition to your adopted soul.
Take photos on each visit. Document the work you’re doing, if for nothing else, to inspire others.
Have fun… don’t take it too seriously… and definitely don’t make it about MOURNING or being SAD.

4 Comments | tags: 8 tips, 8 tips and recommendations, 8 tips to start your new grave adoption tradition, adopting a forgotten grave, adopting forgotten graves, adoption project, autumn traditions, big seance, big seance podcast #11, cemeteries, cemetery adoptions, cemetery genealogy, cemetery grave adoptions, cemetery photography, cemetery research, cemetery rules and laws, choosing a grave to adopt, clara, episode 11, forgotten graves, genealogy, grave adoptions, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, graveyards, head stones, historic cemeteries, history, inspiration, inspire, little johnnie, my paranormal world, new autumn traditions, New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions, new fall traditions, new fall traditions cemetery grave adoptions, new traditions, paranormal, photography, remembrance, rest in peace, RIP, seance, spiritual, the big seance podcast #11, tips and recommendations, you have the right to be in a cemetery | posted in Cemeteries, The Big Séance Podcast

April 18, 2014

Cemetery of Immaculate Conception of Dardenne, Missouri

By Patrick Keller

On Wednesday of this week, I made some time to sneak away after work to find a few places to take some photos. I decided to stop by a small Catholic cemetery that I pass by often when I’m coming home from work. This was the first opportunity I’ve had to take colorful spring photos with my new camera. Having colors to play with is a whole new experience. On this Good Friday, and especially for those of you who celebrate Easter, I hope you enjoy the powerful monument that depicts the crucifixion of Jesus. It clearly caught my attention.

For more of my photography, including cemetery photos like these, please visit my Flickr page.

A few recent cemetery posts you might like:

Francis Howell Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri (Big Séance)

Perfectly Lonely and Snowy City of Souls – Return to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis (Big Séance)

6 Comments | tags: big seance, catholic cemeteries, catholic cemetery, cemeteries, cemetery, cemetery photography, cemetery photos, cross, crucifixion, crucifixion of jesus, Flickr, grave stones, grave yard, grave yards, gravestones, graveyard, graveyards, head stones, headstones, historic cemeteries, historic cemetery, historic grave yard, historic graveyard, immaculate conception of dardenne, immaculate conception of dardenne missouri, immaculate conception parish dardenne, jesus, lichens, mary, metal cross, monument, mother mary, mother mary statue, nature, paranormal, photo, photography, seance, spirit communication, spiritual, spring, spring photos | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

March 1, 2014

Francis Howell Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri

By Patrick Keller

Perfectly Lonely and Snowy City of Souls – Return to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis

By Patrick Keller

Hilts Bronze Angel

All winter long I’ve been anxiously awaiting the perfect day to return to Bellefontaine Cemetery under snow cover. I’d been once before, though things were much greener then, and I didn’t have my new camera, or the photography skills that I’ve gained this year.

Hilts Bronze Angel

Opening in 1849, Bellefontaine (pronounced “bell fountain” by most St. Louisans) was designed by Almerin Hotchkiss (Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York) and consists of 314 acres of park-like beauty with mausoleums as far as the eye can see. It truly is a small city. Among other big names from the region, you’ll find the resting places of Adolphus Busch (beer giant), William Clark, Sara Teasdale, and the infamous Lemp family.

Since it was 28 degrees and I knew once I made it there I’d be on foot for a few hours, I bundled in layers and prepared as if I was on a journey to climb Mount Everest. The always-kind and wonderful workers in the office mentioned that the roads were drivable, but they didn’t seem too confident in that statement, so I decided to walk. They encouraged me to take a map and keep the office number on hand. I guess that’s what they do when they see out-of-shape fat guys drop by for photos in the winter. I figured I’d stay close to the main entrance and photograph what I could until it got cold or I felt I was going too far into the cemetery. I didn’t know until later that I’d walked a pretty massive circle that covered most of the popular and historical monuments on the driving tour.

As I bravely started out, I couldn’t help but notice that my car was the only guest car in the lot. It appeared I was going to be very alone on this journey. Awesome! It was also very quiet, other than the crows flying around, keeping their distance, and warning others of my presence. It was creepy and cool at the same time.

With every hill I kept finding beautiful excuses to keep going further. I was impressed that I found a few sites by memory, such as the famous “Girl in the Glass Box”. Even as I detoured off the road and trudged through snow as I found interesting shots, I felt confident I knew where I was and what direction I’d need to head once I decided to go back. I never pulled out the map, or my iPhone, for that matter.

The famous Luyties “Girl in the Glass Box”

I’m not entirely sure I can describe to you how pleasant and enjoyable this was for me. I mean, I obviously enjoy spending time in cemeteries a little more than the average person, but to be alone (truly alone, I never saw another guest) in the middle of such a beautifully massive city of buried souls, in the middle of winter, enjoying the peace and quiet, with the added risk of getting lost or frozen before dark, was truly an amazing experience. I suppose this risk of being found frozen Jack-Nicholson-in-“The Shining” style could be why one of the workers came by in a cemetery truck as I was on the opposite end of the cemetery an hour and a half later… just checking. I waved and smiled and continued on.

Tate Mausoleum

Close up of the Tate Mausoleum doors

The Francis Grieving Woman

I have to be honest, two hours later, as it got a bit darker, there was a moment when I wasn’t sure exactly where I was or if I was going in the right direction. I wasn’t lost for long, but I made the conscious decision to stop photographing so that I could focus on looking for the main entrance. It’s at this point that I nervously picked up the pace and started to feel the burn in my hips and joints. I couldn’t wait to find the car. A few minutes later I found it off in the distance, but I couldn’t believe how far away I was on the complete opposite side of where I’d been. I truly had made a pretty big circle. When I got to my car, the same cemetery worker was standing guard at the gate, probably relieved that he wouldn’t have to go searching for me again in the dark. I’d made it back forty-five minutes before the gates close and had been walking just over two hours.

The massive and very popular Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum

Through the gate of the Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum

Close up shot of the gate of the Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum

These decorative symbols are a part of the bottom of the gate of the Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum

I sat for a while and relaxed in my car as if I’d truly conquered my own Everest. I had hundreds of photos that I was so very excited about! I couldn’t wait to get home and check them out. I took a deep breath, texted Joe to let him know I was alive, and then I drove the hour-long trip home with a wind-burned face.

Again, the Hilts Bronze Angel

Before I leave, I wanted to make you aware of my Flickr page, where all of my newest and favorite photography, including this set, is being stored. Please feel free to drop by, comment, or share any of the photos.

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Thanks for your support!

Patrick

6 Comments | tags: adolphus busch, adolphus busch mausoleum, angels, anheuser-busch, bellefontaine cemetery, big seance, blogging, bronze, bronze mausoleum doors, bronze statues, busch mausoleum, cemeteries, cemetery, cemetery photography, city of souls, famous cemeteries, francis grieving woman, girl in the glass box, grave yard, grave yards, graveyard, graveyards, grieving woman, hilts angel, hilts bronze angel, historic, historic cemeteries, historic grave yards, lemp family, luyties, luyties girl in the glass box, mausoleum doors, mausoleums, missouri cemeteries, monuments, nature, old cemeteries, paranormal, perfectly lonely and snowy city of souls, perfectly lonely and snowy city of souls return to bellefonatine cemetery st. louis, photography, return to bellefontaine cemetery, saint louis, saint louis cemeteries, sara teasdale, seance, snow, snowy, snowy city of souls, spiritual, st louis cemeteries, st. louis, statues, tate mausoleum, william clark, winter | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

January 29, 2014

Lessons in Photography & Other Nerdly Stuff

By Patrick Keller

I wanted to be inspired to blog about something exciting tonight, but it turns out my brain (and my body) is tired from long work days this week. How about some more photography from two new cemeteries? While at the second cemetery, I captured a killer sunset that just took my breath away. I’m not entirely sure I did a great job of capturing it, but it was fun trying.

Fifteen minutes later I caught this one with my iPhone in the grocery store parking lot.

Back to the cemeteries… Bellerive Gardens in Creve Coeur, Missouri and Thomas Howell Cemetery in St. Charles, Missouri.

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While I’m at it, I’d love some constructive criticism from any experienced photographers. I had a chance to talk photography with a colleague at school today. He’s a “retired” administrator and former music teacher who has been doing some long-term subbing in our building. He does photography on the side, and so I took advantage of the opportunity to ask him some of those silly questions that a new photographer might ask when they’re learning lingo and the how-to. You know, like when do I need to switch lenses? What’s ISO? Things like that. I’ve found that he is GREAT at explaining things to me and making me not feel stupid. Ha! (He’s really great at explaining new sound systems too, by the way.)

A lot of times when I’m shooting in a cemetery, I have the urge to lay on the ground for several shots. If you don’t know me, physically, crawling across the ground, under trees and bushes, and straining to get back up again is not the greatest activity for my back and will almost always result in breaking out the good pain pills. It’s also funny when you stop by the grocery store on the way home and realize you have twigs and leaves clinging to you everywhere. It’s totally worth it, though.

Anyway, I’ve suspected this, but I’ve learned that I think I tweak things like the saturation and contrast a little too much in Photoshop Elements. I need to find a balance. You learn as you go, I guess. Here’s the link to most of my favorite recent photos from the new camera.

This was on a grave marker. How cool is that?!

Question: Do I need a Flickr account, or something similar? Why? Why not? What’s the point of it?

Love creative photography? You might also like:

Something Unsettling (KarlPfeiffer.com)

Photos by Randall Keller on Viewbug

14 Comments | tags: angels, artsy photography, big seance, blogging, canon rebel, cemeteries, cemetery photography, constructive criticism, contrast, creative photography, dslr photography, filters, Flickr, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, gravestones, graveyards, headstones, historic cemeteries, learning photography, lessons in photography and other nerdly stuff, lessons learned, lessons learned in photography, macro, macro photography, new photographer, paranormal, photography, photography lingo, photography questions, photoshop elements, saturation, seance, spiritual, sunset, t3i | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

January 19, 2014

Another Visit to Gumbo

By Patrick Keller

This afternoon I made another visit to Gumbo Cemetery in Chesterfield, Missouri. I hadn’t been there yet with the new camera, and I was excited to get more practice in! This cemetery is the resting place of Clara, from my Grave Adoption series. All photos taken with the Canon Rebel T3i and a prime 50mm f/1.4 lens.