Oct 29, 2021

📷 An Eye for Life #19 💀 Día de Muertos

Kirsten

After an extra week away because of health issues, I’m back talking about Día de Muertos. And of course, the usual focus on helping you discover other creatives around the world, plus ways to help people and planet.

Día de Muertos aka Day of the Dead

It started before I moved to Los Angeles but it wasn’t long after moving, that I really began to feel a bit obsessed with the concept of Día de Muertos. Which occurs annually around the same time as Halloween and is therefore often confused with it; but which is not the same at all, more on that later on.

I realize now that it is tied to my coping with loss. My need to concentrate on celebrating the life and love I felt for those who have gone, rather than on the gaping hole a loved one’s departure can leave.

Because at its core, at least from what I’ve experienced now attending events and talking to those who observe this tradition, I would tell you that Día de Muertos is a celebration.

a family display with marigolds and butterflies, two popular symbols

expressing love with butterflies, more marigolds and calaveras

Though it’s a complex tradition that would take real length to fully explain, it includes the building of [what I’d call] altars or shrines, that tell stories about loved ones. That pay tribute to who they were and how they lived. And that’s one of my favorite parts. According to National Geographic,

While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated all over Latin America with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons) …it is not a Mexican version of Halloween. Though related, the two annual events differ greatly in traditions and tone. Whereas Halloween is a dark night of terror and mischief, Day of the Dead festivities unfold over two days in an explosion of color and life-affirming joy. Sure, the theme is death, but the point is to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members. In 2008, UNESCO recognized the importance of Día de […] Muertos by adding the holiday to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

I published this article and the essay below, after we attended Día de Muertos in 2019. This weekend I’ll be attending an evening version and I hope to make it to Olvera Street. Stay tuned to my Twitter and website for new photos next week. If you’re in NYC, consider Mano a Mano.

Día de Muertos by Kirsten Alana Photography

www.kirstenalanaphotography.com

Elsewhere online since I last wrote

Sophie Carr

@SophieCarrPhoto

I have stood on this beach many times & it always thrills me. Tonight was no exception :) #Iceland https://t.co/ChEHTXJweY

1:00 PM - 20 Oct 2021

davidwallacephoto

@dwallacephoto

This one is the culmination of a lot of work. It’s a sign of the progress I’ve made. This would have been unthinkable to me when I started doing this 15mo ago. Happy with my progress. Excited for what’s to come.
#Waterfall #westvirginia #landscapephotography https://t.co/3H7Uwf1zuz

3:25 PM - 23 Oct 2021

Tony Menias

@Beloveful

My photo “Sail into the Sunset” Was chosen for @NatGeo Editor’s pick. So thankful! https://t.co/2N6c3rbTza

2:42 PM - 22 Oct 2021

One Year On by Jojobeans on Exposure

Jojobeans discovers a passion for photography because of a chance meeting with Nat Geo photographer, Jayaprakash Bojan.

thesweetsilversong.exposure.co

Rachel Elise Thomas - multimedia artist in Detroit

I really love her collage art and was so glad to discover her via Twitter!

rachelelisethomas.com

Let's Care Together

about People: by celebrating that Patagonia grantee Conservation Northwest closed a historic campaign to purchase over nine thousand acres of critical habitat in Washington and then transfer it directly to its Indigenous stewards, the Colville Tribes. Start reading one of these books to begin to understand how we address the problems of sexism, racism, and ageism.

…or ruminate on this:

Stop confusing inconvenience with oppression. - Aja Barber

about Planet: by checking off some of these action items or by subscribing with me to Tomorrow’s Air and defaulting to the most eco-friendly routes when planning local or international travel. If you’re a woman in the UK, you could consider making the switch to these reusable products.

I'll leave you with,

my latest post from Jordan about movies that have been filmed in Wadi Rum. Can you name them all? It includes Dune, in theaters now.

Ha det! Довиждане! Merci for reading. I hope to see you back here in two weeks for the 20th edition of An Eye for Life. 💛 ✨

To let me know that you enjoyed this, or anything else I create: please, click ‘Yes’ below where it asks ‘Did you enjoy this issue?’ or share it with a friend encouraging them to subscribe. 🙏

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Kirsten @kirstenalana

A periodic newsletter that helps you discover the work of creatives around the globe and ways you can help people + planet. Also includes notable online moments, photos, and an original short essay by Kirsten Alana.