3.20.2010

Gracie & Amy II: Mount Holly Cemetery

You may remember at the beginning of my abandoned house shoot I mentioned some additional photos I did with Gracie and Amy earlier that day. Well I'm back to share those with you today! That single day was the most fun I've had in quite some time, and it had me wishing that all my days could be filled with that much fun, creativity, friends, and laughter. It seriously was a day I will cherish forever, and I'm so happy to have the memories to cling to.

Now, the photos. I dressed the girls up once again in some of my vintage pieces and took them to the historic Mount Holly Cemetery on Broadway (the Westminster Abbey of Arkansas) which houses the bodies of many native Arkansans significant in the fields of art, literature, religion, and politics, including four Confederate generals. When I can't find a place to take pictures, I always know I will find peace and quiet at this cemetery, and over the past year I've really grown to love and appreciate it for it's beautiful landscaping and incredible Gothic style monuments.









I realize I have offended one with this post already, and I want to go ahead and apologize upfront to anyone else who may be offended. It was never my intention to do so, and I suppose I have a different view on the beauty that lies within a cemetery. I see this as a beautiful thing and not as a disgrace to the bodies who are buried there, but again, I apologize to anyone else that disagrees with that.

On Gracie:
Vintage Blouse: Etsy $24
Vintage Skirt: Saver's $7
Shoes: Payless $15
Socks: Target $5
Suitcase: My boyfriends

On Amy:
Vintage Dress: Estate Sale $10
Vintage Purse: Thrift $1
Socks: Thrift $1
Shoes: Etsy $50

32 comments:

Desiree said...

These are beautiful. You are a talented photographer.

Wanderlust said...

The outfits are so nice, and I love the pictures! I spy with my little eye somebody who's got a good eye for pretty things.
:)

riennahera said...

It is so cool you are having such a great fun among the dead bodies buried in the ground. I really appreciate all you wonderful people who like to show off their amazing fashion sense with the tombs in the background.

To be fair, you are very pretty and stylish lassies,I am quite sure you are lovely and charming but alas,not very tactful.

riennahera said...

Well, you are pretty and the cemetery is beautiful, I however see something not quite in place when someone is laughing and lying next to the graves. Call me stupid, I feel really uneasy. And I would sure be pissed off if someone would do so i.e next to my grandpa's grave.

Other than that I do like your blog a lot ;)

Anonymous said...

I love the second and 3rd to last photos best. These are great!!! So beautiful indeed!! come dress up my friends for me! Or come be my friend! haha.

Thanks for the sweet comment you left me, by the way. It made me smile.

Anonymous said...

^P.S. Marvelous Things is Justice Pirate/Victoria (forgot to sign out of my main email address before commenting)

The Semi Sweet said...

Well I'm not offended. I know many people (including me) who find wandering through a cemetery to be almost comforting. I used to hang out in them in highschool and enjoyed just walking around. It's very historical.

And I love your photos. They look really cute in the vintage outfits.

Annalise said...

Beautiful photos. I too find cemeteries very inspiring places. There is a certain serenity and peacefulness that comes through in some of your images. Great job!
XOXO

Meggstatus said...

This may be harsh to say but- everyone dies. If there is a way one can find solace and peace with that fact than life tends to be much more meaningful. In a way, appreciating cemeteries for what they are is a way of celebrating life. Many times the sculptures in cemeteries are moving because of the time and energy put into them to remember their loved ones. Now I'm just rambling....

Personally I love these photo's. Keep doing what you're doing.

You always have the best accessories, these purses are fantastic!

Avalonne Hall said...

OMG please take photos of me, Starr! These photos are lovely, your friends dress very well and obviously you do :)

Amanda said...

Oh, Starr you are such a good photographer and stylist! These are amazing!

My Passport to Style said...

Gorgeous post and clothes as usual!Still time to enter my Topshop scarf giveaway over on My Passport to Style.Sharon xx

Ollie Otson said...

The second to last photo is haunting with that building with the bell tower and the tall graves in the background. I think your photos are beautiful, especially since they're all in vintage clothing.

I used to live across the street from a cemetary with people buried in it from before the Revolutionary War. I used to go there and walk around, sit and think, and even filmed a short film there for a class. I think there's nothing wrong with seeing the beauty in something people would generally think of as gothic and gloomy. Plus, you guys aren't even lying on graves or anything like that, you're on the walkways and benches. Obviously you're not disrespecting anything. If you were sitting on tombstones, that would be a different story, maybe.

Sara said...

I love the photos and the way you dressed the girls! I know that some people are offended, but there are worse things that people do. For instance, where I live, they decided to put an entire road in the middle of a cemetery. Which involved moving the bodies that had been there for hundreds of years! I think people enjoying themselves respectively like you girls were doing, is fully acceptable. I think most of the people that I know who have passed would appreciate random visitors, I say that you guys were doing fine. :)

Sally Jane Vintage said...

Girl - you've got nothing to apologize for! Your photo series is one of the best things I've seen on the web lately.

amanda said...

these are gorgeous! i love that you see the beauty of a place that could only be known as a place of sadness. the people buried in this cemetery probably lead wonderful lives and would appreciate you finding art in the every day. anyway, i especially love the closeup pic of the shoes and the one of the girl in the floral dress sitting in the flowers. so very pretty!

Phuong said...

Beautiful pictures! Amazing work!!

Maria Confer said...

These are so so beautiful. You take such lovely shoots Starr and your friends are gorgeous.

Oh, and I'm dying over the blossoms!! So pretty.

Lulu Letty

natasja said...

this is really lovely, you are beautiful

The Rainbow Secret said...

love the flower dress!

LyddieGal said...

Wow, I love this shoot!! There are so many amazing photos, but I really love the shadows of the flowers on the shoes!

Chic on the Cheap

Nubiasnonsense said...

I love your blog like a lot lol. You look great and your both so pretty the photos are great

Kristin said...

You are such an incredible stylist and photographer!

I think that artist finds inspiration everywhere....including a cemetery. I think it is all in how you view life and death. No offense taken here! :)

Mel said...

Hmm I never thought about photoshoots at a cemetery being disrespectful...nevertheless, I think you made it more romantic! I love the outfits, especially that floral dress!

Anonymous said...
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Nico said...

Starr, you're quite the artist, I'm always impressed by your photos!!! I think these are all amazing, keep doing what your're doing girl xo

sarah said...

You have nothing to apologise for - the photos are beautiful! In fact, it is of historical note that many Victorian era cemeteries were actually designed with the purpose of being respectfully used as park space for the enjoyment of the living. :)
I've long admired your blog and your dreamy photography. Your photos are lovely (those yellow blossoms!! They look so striking against the grey stone), and your friends are very pretty models!

Míriam Juan-Torres said...

They look great, love it :D
xoxo

Kelley Anne said...

I think its a great location. Your friends look amazing. I love the floral dress and the brown blouse. They look like they've stepped out of a She and Him video:) Just like Zooey.

merl said...

I can understand why some people might see this photo shoot as disrespectful. It would be easy to pass it off as some frivolous girls gallivanting around without realizing the emotional substance the place holds. However, you stated early on that you love the landscape and beautiful monuments. You were respectful of the bodies that lie beneath the ground, while providing them with some lovely company.

The photos are magnificent, and I say keep up the good work, because you're on my new stalker list ;)

Elizabeth, Delightfully Tacky said...

Don't worry. People will always find something to be offended about.
I for one think cemeteries are haunting and beautiful places. Taking pictures there has nothing to do with respecting or disrespecting those who are buried there. I would say if someone is actively mourning on the grounds, it might be rude and disrespectful to be gallivanting around near them (obviously).

All that being said. Lovely lovely photos.

guildedsecret. said...

once again, classic photos! you have an aptitude for finding hauntingly beautiful locations with outfits that match their charisma. your friends are just LOVELY and photograph perfectly as well.

xo.
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