Out of Darkness.... Light!

This is one of the first shots that began my fascination with cemeteries.  Every one is unique and beautiful.  This one is in my home town of Paradise, California.

My favorite element of this photo is the symmetry of the two markers evenly spaced on either side of the tree.  Obviously, I created the black and white portion after the fact, but I think it adds to the dramatic theme of the photo.  I wanted to express how the death on and below the ground became vibrant life above the ground, thus visually expressing the cycle of life.