Sunset for the Dead. Wednesday Walk at Old Cemetery (21 Images)

One of the nice features of that cemetery is that you can freely walk through the thickets there, you can step on herbs and break twigs, enjoying the savage freedom, and you don't feel yourself a villain - without fighting against the vegetation, grave monuments will be occupied and ruined by plants.

I like walking right into the shrubs at this cemetery to lose myself in the world where the death itself dies in the arms of ever-renewing nature.

Let me show you my old acquaintances and new findings from my walk on November 2, 2021 at Smolenskoye Cemetery, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Ninochka Kurochkina. Ninochka is an affectionate form for Nina, it is usual to use short names for kids' graves. It has a tree growing from it. Most graves around it have already turned into ground bulges, barely visible outlines.

One more grave of 1920-1930s (considering the design) with a newer cross.

Deformed, supposedly, by fallen trees.

The tree had consumed the fence and, then, died.

If there is a mysterious life after death within cemeteries, if a grave is a device for having a video call to the deceased, then some forgotten spirits are thankful to me for my visits. For example, this couple. We regularly meet each other. This time they posed to me with the sunset in the background.

Another couple, the Smurovs. Both were born in the 1880s but the man died in 1937 while the woman lived until 1983. It could be a story about the wife who lost her dearest husband and lived 50 years in solitude. Or it can a story of a woman who was freed from a tyrant. Or they were brother and sister. Graves can be a riddle.

One of the masterpieces of the cemetery. Alexandra Ratti, deceased in 1914.

One more character I visit (this time, decorated with a withered leaf). Sasha, deceased in 1944, an epic photograph on a luxurious grave rather in the traditions of the Russian nobility although 1944 was a harsh time in the stronghold of communism.

Then, someone decided to talk to me.

A cat or the master of the cemetery? Someone must guard the place, of course.

Talking to me, negotiating for food. Or telling a story of a dead?

We always understand things in a way we like.

It was getting dark meanwhile.

I decided to have a look at the world of the living.

Appealing orange light, I could hear singing.

Here, I noticed a quite tall, physically strong, stooped figure. His face was gloomy but rather peace-minded.

– Taking images of people is not blessed here, – he said, - shooting the exterior and interiors of the church is blessed.

He repeated twice, it was clear talking to a stranger was uneasy for him.

On my way out the cemetery, I found something adorable:

A great portrait with the flavor of the 1990s. These weathered colorful plastic flowers, either, made me think about the time of my teenagerhood.

I can imagine how she was loved by her family, how she was popular among her peers... But it looks nobody visited her for a long while. Maybe they let this beautiful girl go from their lives and focused on new happiness and everyday chores?

The photo walk at cemetery ended but I still felt inspired.

This is the power of photography: it awakes an ability to see beauty. And beauty heals the soul.

Or maybe this ability is the soul itself?

This is my entry for the #WednesdayWalk challenge by @tattoodjay.

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These are my photos, taken with Nikon D750 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G in Saint Petersburg, Russia on November 2, 2021. This is not a cross-post, the images were never published on the Internet.

Thank you for stopping by! 😎

Best regards,
@x-rain