Day of the Dead...

[rpcrowe]

El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in many communities that have a Hispanic heritage. In San Diego's Old Town they prepare for the celebration with face painting...

[Mike Buckley]

I really like the second one. The look in her eyes and lips immediately speaks volumes to me.

By the way, I visited Oaxaca, Mexico, a few years ago to experience the celebration of the Day of the Dead. It was a fabulous experience, both photographically and being with the locals. I can't recommend highly enough that others go there during the celebration.

[rpcrowe]

I was invited with a Filipino family to their cemetery in Manila, Philippines for the night ceremony on the Day of the Dead. The cemetery was filled with Filipino families havng picnics on their loved ones graves and thereby sharing the holiday with the departed. It was wonderfuly photogenic but, I had only a cheap P&S film camera with me which was not up to the task...

[Donald]

Thank you Richard. Not only have I enjoyed the images, but I have been informed and educated as well.

The portrait is very good, but I do like the intimacy captured in the first one, where the concentration given to the task at hand is very evident.

[rpcrowe]

Many face paintings decorated only half a face. I am not sure about the reason for this but, I was told that it signifies the connection between the dead and the living.





Decorated paper mache skeletons were also very popular

[Mike Buckley]

Those last three are also very nice! They make me want to return to Mexico for the celebrations!

I only wish that the brush tip were as sharp as the hand in the first one, but I'm not positive without seeing it that way that it would really make a difference.