About the Image(s)

I photographed this in July, on my vacation the Old San Juan Puerta Rico. This image captures the intricate, geometric tapestry of the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photographed from an elevated perspective along the historic fort walls, the composition transforms hundreds of marble tombs and crosses into an abstract, repeating pattern of light, shadow, and architectural line. Shot in 590 nm infrared, the scene strips away natural color distractions to emphasize the raw textures of aged stone, structural geometry, and stark light.

How It Was Shot
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III paired with the M.Zuiko 14-42mm kit lens.

Compositional Technique: Positioned high above the grounds to compress the landscape, maximizing the diagonal leading lines and geometric repetition across the frame while utilizing a panoramic 16:9 aspect ratio to create a edge-to-edge pattern.

Processing Details
Monochrome Conversion & Tonal Separation: Processed in black and white to capitalize on the 590 nm light, converting bright infrared highlights and deep shadows into a high-contrast fine-art print.

Highlight & Shadow Management: Foreground tomb surfaces were carefully tone-mapped to pull back highlights, preserving delicate marble grain and veining without clipping. Shadows between rows were lifted slightly to maintain deep structure while preventing blocked-out blacks.

Texture & Local Contrast Enhancement: Micro-contrast, clarity, and targeted sharpening were applied across the concrete and marble surfaces to make every cross and monument snap with crisp, tactile detail across the entire frame.