Did I ever tell you

Burial is one of the oldest of human rituals. From simple stone dolmens to the glory of the pyramids, humans have spent a lot of time and energy providing the deceased with a decent send-off. Flowers, flags, statues and figurines are the final gifts family members give to their departed. To pick out a gravestone for someone that we love, is the last gift we can give them, and often people chose something that really represents the person that has passed and how he lived his life, so that, when we visit their burial site, our spirits are touched even if we did not know the person who lied down there. These are the kind of markers that make us feel some of the pain the ones who were left behind must have felt.

While cemeteries are often only visited after a loved one has passed, they not only serve as important places to mourn. A cemetery is often filled with artistic sculptures that leave us with questions about our own mortality and our relationship with death. Graveyard monuments, headstones,sculptures and figurines stir our imagination and powerful emotions, and, with the help of composition and lighting, some of these century old statues seem stunningly alive. There is an inherent fascination in cemeteries. The gravestones are so varied, and some of them are quite old and tell a rich history.

'Taphophile' is the name given to someone who takes an interest in cemeteries, tombstones, or memory of past lives. I consider myself a bit of a taphophile, and I'm in good company: Famous historical figures including Friedrich Nietzsche and Mark Twain are said to have been fascinated with graveyards; Amanda Norman is a well-known English tapho-photographer; some say William Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe were taphophiles, all ruminating over life's unanswered questions as they strolled through the hallowed grounds.

- Cemetery near Silver Springs, Florida

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

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Florida - Where The Alligator Smiles

Today there are only two species of alligator on earth, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). Those who live in Florida have to share the space with a very large reptile, the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis). The name 'alligator' is widely believed to have come from the Spanish name 'el lagarto'. This eventually changed into "aligarto" and then "alligator" by English settlers.

The family Alligatoridae first appeared about 35 million years ago. After surviving nearly unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs, and having virtually no natural predators as adults today, alligators were headed for extinction only 20 years ago due to intense hunting from man. Protecting the species and alligator habitats has allowed the status to be changed from endangered to threatened. They are an important part of their ecosystem - they control the population of prey species, create peat through their nesting activities, and benefit several other species with 'alligator holes' and nests.

Alligators have inhabited Florida's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries. Because of their predatory nature and large size, they are known to occasionally attack pets, livestock and even humans. Although many Floridians have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists. However, all it takes is a little understanding of the alligator's needs and habits to continue a long-term coexistence. Knowing where the alligator lives, how he behaves and what we can do to avoid conflict with alligators is key to sharing the available space safely.

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

Order your "Florida - Where The Alligator Smiles"   Print at     Fine Art America
or directly from: CT-Graphics.com
Fine Art quality Photo canvas prints, framed prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, posters and greeting cards - Image Customization - Old or Damaged or Polaroid Photo Restoration - Conversion of Slides and Paper Pictures to Digital (CD/DVD)

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