Photographing headstones is not very different from any other type of photography.  The basic principles of photography apply: proper lighting, exposure, focus, etc.  Since we will be using digital photography for this project, it is also important to consider things like image resolution and file size.  However there are a number of special tips unique to taking photographs of headstones.  This guide is to help the photographer take pictures that capture accurate images ready for electronic cataloging.  The information in this document is just a guideline, and a very basic one at that.  The photographer may find that he or she needs to experiment with their camera to get the best picture possible.

Before Heading Out:  Check to make sure you have all the necessary equipment.

• Digital Camera
• Charged Batteries
• Sufficient amounts of Camera memory:

File sizes and compression vary depending on camera model, resolution and compression mode, but in general the table below can be used to estimate the memory needed.
 

Uncompressed images per card:

Compressed images per card (5:1 compression):

There are some optional items that may help you under certain conditions:

• A mirror or other reflective surface  (like a car windshield sun reflector)
• A spray bottle filled with water
• A soft plastic or nylon brush (for cleaning away dirt and debris)
• A strobe flash (an off camera flash will work best if available)
• GPS (if you are also determining the Latitude and Longitude of the Cemetery)
• A Compass (if you are also following or creating directions to the cemetery)

Image Resolution:  The four images below were taken with the same digital camera with different resolutions and file sizes, as noted.

As you can see, for this size of printed image the higher resolution makes almost no difference, even though the file size of the largest is ten times the smallest. 

But let's take a closer look at these images.  When viewing the image with the inscription shown at the same size you can see that reading details from a higher resolution image is much easier.  In this example, the lighting and condition of the headstone was very favorable for a more or less usable image at every resolution.  However, high resolution may be more important where the situation is less favorable.

As you can see, there is a definite tradeoff between file size and image resolution.  For the purpose of this project, we have selected a target resolution of between 0.75 and 1.0 Megapixels (i.e. between 1024 X 768 and 1200 X 900).   In any case, photos should be taken at a resolution no less than 640 x 480.  This will help ensure that the images will be useful for reading detailed information.  While this resolution size may take up more storage space we can always reduce the resolution and size of an image once taken.  We can't increase detailed information by increasing the resolution of an image after a picture has been taken. 

File Type:  For consistency, please save all images in the JPEG (*.jpg) format.

Lighting:  Since you are taking pictures outside, the sun generally dictates lighting conditions.  Depending on the angle and intensity of the sunlight, it can work for you or against you.  You can't control the sun, but you probably can control when you take the pictures.

 
When to go: The best time to take pictures of upright headstones is when the sun is a few degrees short (10⁰-30⁰) of being directly overhead.  This will create a bit of a shadow on the engraved letters, making them easier to read.  In many older cemeteries the inscriptions on the headstones face east, so in that case you may want to try and go during the mid to late morning hours.  If the inscriptions face another direction, you will have to adjust accordingly
 

For markers which lie flat on the ground, the best time to take pictures is when the sun is fairly low in the sky, either mid-morning or mid-afternoon.  The headstone in Figure 9 was taken in mid-afternoon. Overcast days can offer very good opportunities for taking pictures because of the diffused light.  You may, however, find that bright sunlight at an oblique angle allows some inscriptions to read easier.

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Even if lighting conditions are not ideal you may still be able to take high quality photographs, either through camera adjustments or using some techniques we'll describe later in this guideline. If you go to a cemetery at the right time of day, as describe above, you should be able to get high quality pictures for nearly every headstone.  However, there may be headstones that face the wrong direction or that are shaded by trees or other objects.  Some digital cameras are able to adjust for such conditions either manually or automatically.  For those situations where your camera is unable to capture the image because the face of the headstone is hidden by shade or is backlit by the sun as shown in Figure 10, there are a couple techniques you can try.

Reducing Flare:  Flare, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, is likely to occur anytime you are taking photos with your camera pointed directly into the sun.  If you cannot avoid taking your photograph in this direction, shade the lens from direct sunlight with a lens hood or other object.

Using a Flash – Sometimes using a flash will help correct a dim or back lighting situation, but beware of glare.  This is particularly the case when using an on-camera flash.  As shown in Figure 11, the direct reflection of light flattens and washes out much of the inscription.   Sometimes, you can eliminate this problem by taking the photograph at a bit of an angle.     Glare From a flash is particularly a problem on highly polished stone.  As shown in the Figure 12, the flash may produce a "hotspot" and washout important information on the stone.  Note also in Figure 12 that the photographer's reflection is visible in the image.

Using a Reflector:  Another way to correct a poor lighting situation is to use a reflector.  Using a mirror, piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil, car windshield reflector or some other reflective surface you can light up the face of the stone with reflected sunlight.

If you reflect the sunlight at a bit of an angle to the face of the stone, you can also increase contrast with engraved inscriptions, thus making them easier to read.  Compare the detailed views of Figure 11 and 14. Wetting the Stone: For some headstones, especially porous ones, getting the face of the stone wet will make reading the inscription easier to read.  See Figure 15. Using a spray bottle filled with water, spray the face of the stone.  Avoid applying any substances which have a low pH level (high acidity) as this may damage the stone.

Shading light colored stones in bright light:  In some instances, you may have a very light colored stone for which the image is bleached out due to bright sunlight.  This is particularly the case where the stone is much lighter than the background or surrounding objects.  If your camera permits, be sure set the shutter speed and aperture set for the proper exposure on the stone.   (See Figure 16 and 17.)  If that is not possible, try shading the headstone to relax the brightness and increase contrast.

Better to Underexpose Digital:  Note that in general (and contrary to film camera operation) it is better to slightly underexpose a digital image than over expose it.  If you get back from the cemetery and find that you have an image that is too dark, it may be possible to lighten it up using one of the many available image modification applications.  However if an image is too light it may not be possible to bring out enough contrast to save the image.  In fact, Figure 17 above was too dark and had to be lightened up to be made readable.  However there was no way to salvage the image of the sign in Figure 16.
 

Photograph at eye level where possible:  Try to capture the image of the headstone at eye level to limit distortion.  This is generally preferable to standing above and taking a picture facing down. See Figure 18 and 19.

Remember, the most important thing is if you can read the inscription you probably have a pretty good picture.