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Family History Documents and Artefacts => Graveyards and Gravestones => Topic started by: Essenchill on Friday 17 January 20 14:52 GMT (UK)
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Hello, I am trying to identify the inscription on aged headstones and struggling. I have taken the photos with an iPhone so have high quality images I can zoom into and also invert the colours with but neither of these methods are helping at the moment. Any ideas or suggestions appreciated!
The grave is for Edward Robert Elmhirst Duckering who died in 1948.
Thanks
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I see from the long shadows that you have taken that you DID take them early or late in the day, which is recommended, but ideally you take them when the sun is obliquely on the inscription - so take them the opposite end of the day to your past visit.
Does this gravestone have the inscription engraved into the surface or does it stand proud]?.
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If you can't get there at the right time of day, one trick is to reflect sunlight across the stone with a mirror, or use a powerful torch or flash. I once achieved spectacular results with a torch at dusk on an engraved stone which was totally unreadable in daylight. I don't know whether I started a ghost scare among people passing the churchyard!
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Thanks Josey and Chris for both your ideas and suggestions, I will try again at different times of the day. I hadn’t thought about the torch option at all!
I think the wording was inscribed, however the top two lines do appear to have weathered by causing their own “extended shadows” downwards which almost suggests lead lettering or other embossing.
Thanks again for your help.
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I see from the long shadows that you have taken that you DID take them early or late in the day, which is recommended, but ideally you take them when the sun is obliquely on the inscription - so take them the opposite end of the day to your past visit.
Does this gravestone have the inscription engraved into the surface or does it stand proud]?.
Sorry but it the problem is the sun is behind the stone therefore the inscription is in the shade (look at the way the shadows fall slightly towards the front right of the pictures).
Cheers
Guy
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Hi, there. Another option is thin baking foil. Wrap it around and secure it by 'scrunching' it up or sellotaping it to itself (i.e. the foil). Then use a finger and/or a cloth to rub gently over the inscription to basically make an impression of the letters. Then remove and read. Good luck with your research. Simon.
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when the sun is obliquely on the inscription
Sorry but it the problem is the sun is behind the stone therefore the inscription is in the shade (look at the way the shadows fall slightly towards the front right of the pictures).
Cheers
Guy
This what I was pointing out, though obviously not so directly or eloquently.....