"The Silent Narrative of West Lawn"

In the heart of Canton, West Lawn Cemetery stands as more than just a resting place; it is a permanent archive of the people who built this city. From the industrial legacies of names like Aultman, Harter, and Renkert to the quiet, unnamed watchers in stone, these grounds hold a narrative that often goes unheard in the rush of modern life.

Renkert Family Mausoleum

This ongoing series, captured for the Joe Albert Signature Series, is a study in texture, light, and legacy. Using the Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M, I’ve focused on the "bite" of the weathered granite and the soft, respectful isolation of these monuments. By working primarily in Black and White, we strip away the distractions of the present to find the timeless integrity of the past.

Whether it’s the imposing architecture of a family mausoleum or a simple, moss-covered veteran’s marker, each frame is an act of preservation. This project is about honoring the craftsmanship of those who carved these stones and the history of those who rest beneath them. It is an exploration of how we choose to be remembered—and how that memory evolves over centuries of Ohio winters.