Florida Gothic

I was in college when a girl told me she visited cemeteries for the pure joy of the experience. Honestly? I'd thought it was a little "pick me" of her (back before any influencers coined the phrase). I'd heard of people visiting on a spooky night or two for the pleasure of chasing ghosts, but never for the enjoyment of learning about the lives that were once lived. 

Decades later, I finally understand. There is something tragically romantic about meandering through the intricate stones of historic burial grounds. Now, I read the names, dust of my rusty arithmetic to gauge the length of their years, then yearning to know more about what those years held. 

I started photographing Florida cemeteries after coming across some gorgeous imagery on Pinterest with stones overflowing with Southern Gothic goodness. While Florida can be a little hit or miss when it comes to anything Southern, I've determined we have our own Florida Gothic aesthetic and I'm here for it. 

Some of these graveyards have an ominous atmosphere and I keep my time brief. Others, feel otherworldly in their sweetness. 

I've always loved a good Southern Gothic story and hope my work one day lends itself to that dark atmospheric complexity. There is something beautiful about connecting with stories of pain and overcoming hardship, there's a messy hope threaded through the raw humanity.