#gothsintrees

Janus Herrera submitted these photos with the comment: "For your consideration: Kindly note that we are desert goths, and as such, trees in cemeteries are hard to find.  Finding trees that will support three goths at the same time adds a second layer of complexity here, but we have sent you our best.  The cemetery visit came after the larger cottonwood tree, so our winged friend had enjoyed some tequila at a local Mexican restaurant in between and declined to make the second ascent.  With appreciation for the fine collection you have cultivated and wishes for a witchy 2026!"

I think everyone can agree that this is some fine work from these three desert goth friends. I share their pain in trying to locate a decent cemetery with a climbable tree and I don't even live in a desert, just an ol' town where cemetery landscaping is predominately extremely maintainable shrubs or small, spindly trees that won't take the weight of a reasonable sized bird, let alone a reasonable sized goth.

Our desert friends have provided two photos with different trees and locations but both feature well-dressed goths at a range of good heights up the trees. Obviously, we have some issues with daylight here, but at least two of goths are sporting appropriate UV blocking eyewear. No one is smiling and I appreciate some tequila enjoyment during the tree climbing experience (and applaud the sensible post-tequila safety considerations).

when you're goth as fuck but it's frolicking time

Anonymous submitted this photo with the comment “Net goth picnic late 90’s”. Ahh the 90s net goths. I sooo wanted to be one but my early attempts at joining the local community were futile as I clearly WASN’T GOTH ENOUGH and they could tell by my 3 posts to a message-board and my (admittedly extremely silly) username. It was back in the day when goths liked to surround themselves with extremely ornate wrought iron gates patrolled by a very sad old goth dude who proudly announced that NONE SHALL PASS unless you could recite the words to a very dull and obscure song by a dull and obscure local goth band who played once in an underground bunker before you were born. GOD FORBID that you were into something like industrial electro because that wasn’t goth, you imbecile! Yes, I’m still bitter and it’s 20-something years on. I know baby-goths younger than my bitterness. 

Moving on to the photo, I have to give bonus points for the age of this one. It has the unmistakably shocking quality of the 90s shit point-and-click film camera. We have 8(?) goths up the tree, which is an excellent feat, and ~40 on-ground supporting cast members. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of smiling going on but we have to assume they’re drunk. They’re out in the daylight and we have to assume that they’re only wearing SPF 15, if anything at all, although 90s foundation was very thick and did provide some UV coverage. 

Dan Herbert submitted this photo with the comment “Me up a Leamington Spa tree. Early 90s”.

I especially appreciate a 90s goth up a tree because it validates the vague existence of this blog (although it’s more of a blob than a blog these days) by providing some photographic evidence that goths have likely been getting up trees since there have been trees and surly black wearers in close proximity to one another. If someone could provide evidence of Victorian era black-wearing friends up trees that would entice me to post more often. Maybe. 

This goth reminds me of the guitarist from my older brother’s teenage grunge band from the 90s. Pretty sure he wasn’t in the UK at that time unless he knew about some kind of tree-related portal that was accessible only to stoned people. That’d be right. The atmosphere here is dark and dingy but it’s not night time. The goth isn’t smiling and is a good height up a gnarled oak(?!) tree. Excellent.

Emily submitted this photo with the comment "World Goth day picnic 2013". She also submitted it with the comment “World goth day picnic 2016-2017?  An oldy but a goody.”

Whenever it was, I think we can agree that it was a good year and likely a very enjoyable picnic. Goths mostly don’t admit that something was a good time until 2-3 years after the event happened. Frankly, it's not appropriate to admit it. That is unless it was the first time they went out to a gig or club after lockdowns and then it was all “THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE, I LOVE YOUSE ALL!” (obviously, these are Australian goths) and then immediately reinstated the 2-3 year wait for good-time acknowledgement as is right and proper.

Our goth here has chosen to observe World Goth Day up a tree.  I appreciate their warm and practical yet stylish outfit for the Northern hemisphere May weather.  Bonus points for platform boots of a practical height, patterned trousers, and most excellent goth Dame Edna cat-eye sunglasses.  There’s no smiling and they’re a good height up the tree.  They’re out in the daylight but it appears to be an overcast day, so reduced chance of UV exposure. 

crookedxhill submitted this photo with the comment “This was taken by my friend Fae at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.”

Here we have another attempt by a submitter to conceal the fact that the goth is clearly out on a sunny day by making the photo greyscale.  I appreciate that they went to all that effort to select a filter, but I’m afraid points must be deducted.  I will not be tricked, swindled, cheated!  I have eyes and a lot of greyscale-filter induced fury, apparently.

Our goth is a good height up their cemetery tree and they’re not smiling. They’re wearing a fetching outfit and accessories. I enjoy the footwear-highlighting pose so the boots are displayed to their full advantage. I have boot envy. Bonus points for the cemetery and excellent boots.

Catherine Noire submitted this photo with no comment.

What we have here is a goth up a tree in a forest clutching a scythe. I assume they're just taking a breather from a hard day's work harvesting souls or perhaps their successful and darkly elegant lawn mowing business (which would take longer than your standard landscaper but would be much more calming to witness).

Our goth is relatively high up what appears to be a fallen tree in a forest. She's not smiling but is out in daylight. Bonus points for the glorious shroud situation and scythe. I hope this activity went through some sort of risk assessment process before the photo was taken.