Colby Waller is the owner of THOR Design Studio in Capitol Hill. The images below are part of his series “The Living and the Dead”, which he shot for graduate coursework at the Corcoran College of Art + Design.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.
One would think that when setting up a tripod and camera in a cemetery in the predawn hours that there would be nothing to experience except peace and solitude. But early this spring, as I was engrossed in this very task, out they came, shuffling and striding toward me through the darkness. At times, I would notice just a flicker of movement in the distance, barely worth considering. Then, with surprising speed and stealth, they would be upon me. The early risers: the joggers and walkers, the legions of dog walkers, these are the 24-hour inhabitants of Congressional Cemetery in Southeast DC and the basis of my photographic series, The Living and the Dead.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.
Congressional is, above all things, a unique social study. The curators of the grounds have purposefully modeled the renovation and resurgence of the space after the standard for 19th-century cemeteries. Back then, cemeteries were green spaces for people to enjoy. As a prime example, it’s worthwhile to note the table-style tombstones throughout the grounds – which were meant for picnics – or the modern network of walking paths burned into the grass by constant usage. And of course, there are the dogs: Congressional is the dog-walking capital of the capital and at all hours the place is a flurry of activity with chasing, fetching, and wrestling occurring amongst the tombstones.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.
The images in the gallery attempt to capture the intersection of the current neighborhood residents with the thousands of individuals buried at the cemetery over the past 200 years. In the images, the cemetery is permanent and fixed, the visitors are in motion and fleeting.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.
If you have never wandered Congressional, put it on your list. The chapel, the public vault, the Congressional cenotaphs, are all unique to the cemetery and worthy of exploration.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.
And as a prime example of the spirit of the grounds and the sense of community it promotes, this Saturday, October 6th, is the Dead Man’s Run 5k. The event will be held as a twilight run this year beginning at 6pm. You can learn more at the Congressional Cemetery website or sign up by clicking here.
Image by Colby Waller. Click to enlarge.