Fog of War
San Francisco National Cemetery
Rising
Standing Watch
One of Many
Row On Row
Remember
San Francisco National Cemetery
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Jane Lurie Photography 
Is this over at Presidio?
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Hi James, Yes it is. Right on the road going up by the highway from the main parade ground. Have you been?
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I have not been yet, but I plan to go see with my family.
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It’s quite interesting as is the entire Presidio.
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There is nothing like standing in a National Cemetery… while it is such an honor to be among so many brave ones, it is mindboggling how massive the losses are. At our old town, there was one and I went there a few times. My camera lens was never large enough to capture all the stones. Your pictures are such a loving tribute to many. I especially love Row on Row.
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Hi Jessica, Yes, I agree…I shot these with mixed emotions. This cemetery is quite beautiful, yet it’s so sad to think of the lives lost to war. I felt these images with their composition and mood were what I had envisioned when making them. I’m pleased you enjoyed them- thanks so much.
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You’re welcome.
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beautiful tribute….love the flowing feeling of the stones…great detail!!
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Thanks, April. It is a poignant and stunning place to photograph. Glad you like them!
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So powerful Jane, and a wonderful tribute. Lest we forget.
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Thank you very much, Andrew.
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My pleasure Jane
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With only two cemeteries in SF this one makes a big statement, and your photos really capture the profoundness, Jane. Lovely subtitles and truly excellent photos, Jane.
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Thanks so much, Jet. I’m pleased you like the images. It’s a sad yet stunning place to photograph and I really got lost in it all making these.
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Wow, just amazing images.
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Thank you very much, Sylvia.
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A nice tribute Jane…a little depressing for me, having been at Arlington with my group of Marine Moms for the funeral after one of us lost a son, eight years ago. Fog indeed.
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Oh, how sad Lynn. I’m sorry. Photographed and posted with a heavy heart. Such sacrifice and loss magnified in these cemeteries and it is with mixed emotions that I find them poignantly photogenic.
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Absolutely Rich and Beautiful and Silent and Orderly – Unlike the wars that claimed them. And as always, your captions are great Jane!
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Thank you, Michael, and for your accurate description. Such sad loss and sacrifices.
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What’s the significance of a single date on a tombstone like the one for William S. Openshaw?
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HI Steve, My guess is that is the day he sacrificed his life.
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Beautifully captured, Jane. Sometimes simplicity evokes the strongest reaction. Simple and elegant and powerful.
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Thank you, Patti. I’m glad you agree that the images speak much louder than words.
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One of far too many, but your images speak louder than words.
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Thank you, Gunta. Agree, no words needed. 😔
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Back in 1997 I worked on a remodel of the original Letterman Hospital. I used to leave the house at the same time as I did when I worked downtown. I didn’t expect to be there more than a few months and didn’t want to spoil myself with the short commute from Marin. I spent the time before work exploring the cemetery and taking in the sunrise over the city skyline. Many is the time that I stopped in my tracks when I wandered into a part of the cemetery where a majority of the headstones had the same date of death. Wars, shipwrecks and training fatalities bring us into the reality of military life and sacrifice.
Your photos are excellent today, Jane. The fog adds a tear to the eye.
Ω
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Thank you for sharing this lovely remembrance, Allan. Those early mornings in the Presidio were magical, I’m sure, mixed with the sadness of the sacrifices made.
Pleased these images brought back memories and that you enjoyed my take on this sadly beautiful place. Thanks so much.
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Beautifully done, Jane. It seems we were on the same wavelength around Memorial Day (https://wp.me/p2G8qh-2YC).
We’re down in SoCal, three more weeks on our horse show travels. It’s been a nice start to the day, no “June Gloom” for a change. 🙂
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Thank you, David. And your post is very moving. I’m glad you are enjoying SoCal. 🙂
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That’s quite powerful isn’t it.
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Thank you, Lisa. I find the number of them astounding and sad.
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When I travel, I always visit the cemetery where I live. Your pictures are great! They express the mood perfectly!
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Thank you, Simone. There is a quiet and sad beauty in these cemeteries. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
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Beautiful images, Jane. Fog of War really gets to me – I can see why you’ve presented it first – and I love the lighting and almost surreal simplicity of Rising.
I would so much like to be positive here but, to me, looking back at thousands of years of human history, I think that the sad fact is that war is a part of our nature. And while you and I are so fortunate in living in countries where (relative) peace currently prevails, there is often only disquiet to be had from observing the posturings of politicians, nations and others as they attempt to interact with each other. A
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Hi Adrian, Thank you. This place is beautifully depressing. I posted with a heavy heart – honoring our soldiers yet despising war.
And I agree, there is a current uneasiness in our politics that is disconcerting to say the least. 😦
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I like “beautifully depressing”, very well put.
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Thanks. Many mixed emotions.
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wow…..heartfelt….
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Thank you, Donna. A sad, yet beautiful place.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thanks for sharing, Chuck.
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A poignantly beautiful post….to remember and honor
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Thank you, Linda.
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Nicely done Jane, and most appropriate. Amazing some of the stories of the survivors. Did you ever get to see They Shall Not Grow Old?
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Thank you, Tina. No, I’ve not seen that.
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makes death artistically
intriguing 🙂
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Hi David, Posted with a heavy heart but yes, I do find cemeteries quite stunning and melancholy. Thank you.
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thanks for the inspiration, Jane
to cycle over to the local cemetery
& try to capture the elusive residents 🙂
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Stunning and meaningful
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Thank you very much, Ted.
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A fantastic post Jane. What a chilling reminder of both good and bad. Hopefully never to be seen again.
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Thank you so much, Kathy. A sad subject to document and yes, a horrible reminder of the tragedies of war.
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Always touching and impressive to see all of these aligned tombstones…very nicely captured. (Suzanne)
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Thank you, Suzanne. Pleased you like the images albeit a sad subject.
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These are lovely images.
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Thank you, Amy. Glad you enjoyed them.
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Fantastic pictures of the place. You have good eyes for those shots with different perspective. Love your rendering choices too.
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Thanks so much, YC. Much appreciated. I do love the repeating patterns in cemeteries…quite challenging. Glad you like the post-processing, too- did a bit more with them than usual. 🙂
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Excellent photos. Though places like that are rather sad.
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Thank you, Rabirius. Yes, and rather depressing to photograph although I get lost in the challenge of composition which I find quite difficult. Glad you like them.
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I’ve just come back from holiday in France and your images remind me of Normandy. Really quite shocking how many memorial stones over there and worldwide.
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Hi Martin, It’s shocking and sad the lives that were lost. I am drawn to this cemetery in SF because it is quite beautiful in its somber way. Thanks for stopping by here and I’ll be sure to check out your images from France.
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Jane, what a beautiful, touching tribute to those who have served – anywhere, anytime.
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Thank you, Jane. I’m glad you like tribute- these images are full of mixed emotions.
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Beautiful and poignant image tribute Jane. When I see images like this I can’t help but think of the John Lennon billboard campaign many hears ago that stated “War Is Over If You Want It”.
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Hi Joe, Yes, the Lennon billboard. Good memory. This series is full of mixed emotions… a sad yet beautiful place. Thank you- I’m glad you like the images.
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An excellent set of images to illustrate the futility of war… Rising is perhaps the one with the most impact
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Thank you, Sue. Yes, I am glad you see the futility in these images and I’m pleased Rising caught your eye- it is a favorite in this set.
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😊
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The composition of these photos is so good. We never seem to learn as people; we don’t need any more places like this. Peace is better. Thanks for sharing these great shots.
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Thank you, Jeff. This is a sad place and I couldn’t agree more- war is horrible. Peace. 🌍
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Such poignant places to visit and photograph..we know but have we learned the lesson?
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I often walk through and photograph this place– there’s a reverence and somber feeling coupled with an intricate beauty with the hills, trees and gravestones-it’s sad. I am not sure we have learned the lesson.
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Fine set; rhythm and angels.. I prefer the B&W’s; they focus more on the forms.
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Thank you, Harrie. This particular cemetery is quite hilly (of course, it’s SF) and that makes from some interesting compositions. I am partial to the B&W’s too, that adds to the somber tone. Glad you enjoyed.
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Sometimes words are not enough and images can say so much more. Excellent images all, Jane. Rising is especially powerful.
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Thanks so much, Steve. I agree, the images will tell the story, and this is a sad one. I’m glad you enjoyed them, especially Rising–a favorite. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
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Great pictures, even if the place is rather sad.
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Thank you, Detlef. I agree, very sad but beautiful in its own way. I find this particular cemetery quite stunning with its rolling hills, fog and Eucalyptus trees.
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Very nice images, Jane. Some what like trees, tombstones are very challenging to photograph.
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Hi Tim, Glad you enjoyed these, thank you very much. I agree, cemeteries are a difficult challenge. I shot these quite a while ago and never did much with them and finally got inspired by this week’s stories on the news.
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Jane, you’re welcome.
This was an image from the Presidio I worked on for quite sometime. I hope you don’t mind me sharing it with you here on your site. https://allentimphotos2.wordpress.com/2016/12/14/presidios-world-war-i-cemetery/
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Gorgeous, Tim. Terrific composition and light. Like you, I find the monochrome quite fitting for this place.
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Jane, thank you. Monochrome does fit well with this subject since there is such a propensity of black and white already there in the image with the tombstones.
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A beautiful memorial. You have done these people proud.
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Thanks so much, Michael. This place is beautifully sad but I do like to walk around the grounds.
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Yep. Looks exactly like Cabrillo National Monument in Pt. Loma. I have no idea what to say….
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Hi Cindy, I’ve never been there but assume it’s similar? These places are sad to document. Thanks very much for stopping by.
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