Cemetery photo-shoot: Regulations 'wide open to interpretation'

Carmel Garcia

Jun 9th 2010, 07:32

Some are saints more than the Pope.... What's wrong for a photo shoot in a cemetary...? unless it's not a pornographic... And if it's a sacred place, the churches are not sacred? A lot of photo shoots takes place on weddinggs, Baptisms, 1st holy communion, titular feasts etc. etc etc.

Il-gemel allahares jara hotobtu ghax jaqa' u jmut zopptu......

andrew caruana

Jun 9th 2010, 07:30

Hawn Malta hawn hafna ipokrezija, dan ir-ritratt mafih xejn ta barra min hawn,kemm hawn aktar affarijiet fuq fix taghmel starbju!

JA Montalto

Jun 8th 2010, 23:40

I completely agree with Swindells and Rodenas - the way the coffins are malhandled into the graves is very disturbing, as is the way the staff are dressed and behave. Unfortunately, a funeral has become an everyday occurrence for them and they no longer notice the feelings of the mourners. A decent uniform should be introduced, with an obligation to keep it clean and smart. They should be reminded that chatting and/or swearing are not appropriate behaviour on the job!

lgalea

Jun 8th 2010, 22:55

The whole place is sacred respectful place for our dead and not a place to shoot fashion photos. Those who did so are disgusting because they showed no respect to our dead.

H Zammit

Jun 8th 2010, 22:55

I really can't understand why the fuss of taking photos in the cemetery. Is it because it is sacred ground? but isn't the church even more sacred (the presence of the Eucharist) and we still take photos. Is it because they are beautiful women in a sacred place? If they were old women wearing the ghonella, would that be ok? So if I suspect the issue was not the beauty or otherwise, was it the choice of clothes? but they weren't nudes, because if they were, they would have been offensive no matter where the photoshoot took place. So I again ask the objectors - what are you objecting to? Do I sense a feeling of guilt and reluctance to appreciate beauty in its different forms both in the human form at its best and in the neogothic architecture of architect Galizia.
I had the opportunity to photograph the beautiful buildings in detail when I was still a student reading Architecture and I see no problem seeing these beautiful women photographed with these fascinating buildings in the background.

G. Attard

Jun 8th 2010, 22:53

I think more of these photo shoots should take place. they are absolutely stunning and the black and white effect makes it look even that much more haunting in a way. If anyone reading this thread has seen the cover of an album release of Ravel's Bolero with a little girl in a cemetery under a weeping statue of an angel would know just how beautiful cemetary photography can be. I do agree though that certain permissions should be granted like in this case out of respect for the dead and families.

Martin Degabriele

Jun 8th 2010, 21:06

As a photographer and event organiser I personally did not find the photo shoot offensive. But many found it to be morally wrong so therefore I would have not allowed it. If the organiser and photographer wanted to do a photo shoot with gothic architecture they could have chosen other locations. It seems the prime reason of the shoot was to create controversy and have people talking about it. In the past i have been requested to do photo shoots in cemeteries but I have always refused because I do not want to offend the sentiments of people who have their relatives buried there. As the photo shown being artistic I regret to say that it is just an ordinary photo of a pretty girl with a distracting object behind her head.

J.Xuereb

Jun 8th 2010, 21:01

come on! it's better if we change our culture and change the way we deal with corpses!! I fully agree with cremation as it is hygienic and it solves the problem of waste of land. Malta is tiny and we already have a problem with space. Why do we have to bury a corpse in a box and leave it there to decay and attract so many insects? What difference does this make to the dead? I think this is only an expression of society's egoism towards preserving our relatives' bones, and good business!!!!!

Andrew Farrugia

Jun 8th 2010, 20:12

I still feel that a cemetary is not quite the right place for these photo shoots or any other pecuniary activity. Nothing wrong with the lady; it is just that the setting is not appropriate.
Unfortunately, one aspect of modern day culture is transgression and the shock factor to gain publicity; probably because we have become so bored with ourselves that we need to do something over the top to get noticed.

Chris Reiff

Jun 8th 2010, 20:04

The only thing that's wrong here is the people objecting to this. This is a work of art, and there are no names showing on the stones, so there is no disrespect involved.

A Borg

Jun 8th 2010, 18:54

Imhatra li l-istess nies li jaraw dan ir-ritratt bhala xi haga offensiva huma l-istess nies li jitkazaw bil fundamentalizmu tan-nies mil-lvant nofsani.
Hafna mil-Maltin li jriduha ta' nies progressivi u moderni m'huma xejn iktar min fundametalisti li kif xi haga tmiss mar-religjon taghhom xejn m'hu permess.

Anna Maria Said

Jun 8th 2010, 18:44

The only thing that is disgusting is not the picture but the dirt and carelessness of the Addollorata Cemetry. I was there recently and I was digusted with all that is going on in the keeping up of the cemetry. It should be a place for prayer and repose. Instead it is a place out of which one comes out with a heavy heart and disgusted. R.I.P.

John Micallef

Jun 8th 2010, 18:18

Filghodu u f'nofsinhar x'hin inwassal it tfal l-iskola ikun hemm hafna aktar xeni skandalisitici ta nisa.

Hallihom jghidu Adrian.

Ahseb u ara kieku jaraw dak il-kalendarju li kien ghamlet kumpanija li kien juri ic cimiterju fi staguni differenti!!

c spiteri

Jun 8th 2010, 18:10

i hope she come back when i die she is more than nice

victor rodenas

Jun 8th 2010, 18:05

I agree 100 per cent with G.Swindells,in fact about 20 yrs. ago I wrote a letter in The Times about it.Only two slabs(captelli) are removed from the grave and the coffin is lifted from one end to an angle of about 70 degrees and lowered into the grave in a very disrespectful manner, in full view of the Priest and the mourners.Why nobody does anything to fix this situation.

G Swindells

Jun 8th 2010, 17:38

Not wishing to change the subject but I find the way in which our dear departed are slung down in to their final resting place more offensive. This because the graves people don't remove all the stones over the grave so the coffin has to be put in place by tilting it and man handling it down. Why can we not have what they have in most other civilised countries where the grave is fully opened and a mechanism used to lower the coffin. In any case, this is more personally offensive than the photographs which I have seen. Which are detached from individual graves and shows off the beautiful place our loved ones rest in.

J.C. Grech

Jun 8th 2010, 17:38

What a wonderful photo!!! Who could anyone think that this dark beauty is offensive??.......maybe they just beleive they are in the middle ages.

Well done to the photographer!!

Stella Calleja

Jun 8th 2010, 17:31

I have relatives buried in Addolorata Cemetery but I still think this photo-shoot was in good taste. I don't know what the fuss is all about. They're beautiful photos. Maybe some people do not understand their beauty, but at least allow other people to appreciate them and don't ban them for everyone! I have no idea why these are offensive. It's a style, gothic.. it's beautiful.

J Azzopardi

Jun 8th 2010, 17:06

I love the photo! keep them coming..

Victor Spiteri

Jun 8th 2010, 17:04

U le! Ma nafx x'int tara "utterly disgusting and revolting"! Pjutost ritratt sabieh u artistiku! Ma nahsibx li kellu jqum daqsek ageb fuq daw ir ritratti. Jigru affarijiet ahfna iktar gravi Malta u noqodu ninkwitaw fuq dan....

...it tajjeb li mxew mar regolamenti. Hasra li il fotografu qala daqsek fuq wiccu.

Haga najdlu, "Keep up the good work!"

john fenech

Jun 8th 2010, 16:50

If the photo shoot was to advertise for undertakers and bereavement fashion the location might have made a modicum of sense, but in any case the adventure lacked both taste and respect to the location. All cemeteries and burial places are meant to be places of reverence irrespective of creed.

But on top of everything else the authorities came of age after the fact! The Directorate role is to prevent such events from happening and it is totally irresponsible to plead ignorance of the regulations- especially since they are the guardians of those regulations!

Mark Anthony Falzon

Jun 8th 2010, 16:43

The photograph is utterly disgusting and revolting.

victor rodenas

Jun 8th 2010, 16:30

As far as I know photography is not allowed in cemetries.I wonder what would have happened if there was a funeral taking place at that time.Is`nt a cemetry a sacred place after all. Did the Church say anything about it?????

J Abela

Jun 8th 2010, 16:23

Oh! xi skandlu! She has her legs showing! Give her a 'burqa'.

Noel Zarb

Jun 8th 2010, 16:21

I don't really think that this photo being depicted here is offensive in any way...actually quite nice