Note: This workshop will run longer so that we can photograph the Day of the Dead festivities.

Day of the Dead in Mexico is a uniquely beautiful and joyful three-day festival—a time when families come together, prepare special foods, and create colorful altars in celebration of loved ones who have died. Our week begins with photographing the various preparations for Halloween and Day of the Dead in San Miguel de Allende. In the classroom, we review the use of our cameras in manual mode, practice techniques for approaching and photographing people, and discuss how to photograph in low light situations. To deepen our understanding of what we are witnessing, a cultural expert joins us to discuss the significance of Day of the Dead, and we make our own class altar to honor loved ones.

On the afternoon of Day of the Dead, we photograph the festivities in San Miguel’s main cemetery, where families gather with food and drink, decorate grave sites with marigolds, play music, and dance. We cover additional topics such as digital camera settings, composition, how to use flash unobtrusively, and metering. Each day also includes an edit and critique session focusing on the photographs taken the previous day.