This haunting Day of The Dead altar, set up at the city's cultural center, features a framed photo of a deceased relative, probably a mother or grandmother. The altar is intended to entice the dead and assure that their souls actually return to take part in the remembrance. The flags in the background are cut by hand out of folded paper. I underexposed the context in this image, muting the brilliant colors of the flags, and reducing the visibility of the many other objects that surround the framed photograph. I wanted the woman’s serious expression to come through to us without distracting competition. The glass on the frame reflects the trees overhead, superimposing a symbol of nature upon the image of the dead woman and symbolizing the concept of the holiday itself: there is always life within death.