Inspiration Monday: out shooting with friends! El Dia De Los Muertos (Muertos y Marigolds)

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

This is the 14th in my series of posts about people or things that inspire me to pursue my art.  So far I have posted mostly about individual people who’ve influenced me and motivated me to pursue this crazy passion of photography.  Today I had the marvelous fortune to join with old and new friends for a little photo-safary in the South Valley of Albuquerque for the annual Dia de los Muertos “Muertos y Marigolds” Parade.  Apparently in olden days marygolds, due to their strong and pleasing scent, were used to cover the smell of the dead being laid out for viewings and so they have been incorporated into the day of the dead celebrations.

This evening a gaggle of friends and acquaintances put on our best paparazzi attire and descended on the dead parade.  Having shot this event once before I had an idea of what to expect: rapidly moving subjects, changing and dappled light, and photo-ops both in front and behind me most of the time.  So I went armed with two cameras, my flash set to fill, and an idea of what I wanted to create.  On first perusal of my results I’m not sure I achieved what I wanted, but I did get more shots that I liked this time.  I hope you like them.  It was great fun shooting and completely inspiring to see all the great work coming out of the evening.  Thanks guys!!

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography

This last image is more along the lines of what I was intending to create-ghoulish images that bring to mind old scary movies and the darker side of this festival.  I had fun trying to get the right feel with this participant but she made me work for it.  I’m thinking of posting the series I’ve made of her in a day or two, so stay tuned!