Cruces y Colores -- El Pante鏮 Desierto, a photo from Baja California Sur, Baja

Photographer's Note

This is the cemetery in La Paz. It was a bright day and many of the memorials had been freshly painted, per the custom of Dia de los Muertos. The colors in this shot were so vibrant that I have dialed down the saturation here -- something I very rarely do.

La Paz is in a desert climate -- they average 5 inches of rain per year. No grass grows in the cemetery. I was taken by the contrast between the colorful structures and the dusty ground.

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Critiques | Translate

muthusamy (83) 2013-04-01 8:42

Hello Russ!

You have presented the brilliantly composed picture of the cemetery (incorporating freshly painted memorials) in La Paz exposed on a sunny day. No grass but dusty ground. Yet the brightly (painted) colored structures look so beautiful, warm and vibrant.

Thank you for the excellent share.

Best wishes

Regards

Muthusamy

carlo62 (81265) 2013-04-01 9:20

Ciao Russ
devo dire che non avevo mai visto niente di simile.
Una bella condivisione, i colori di questo cimitero sono alquanto insoliti ed originali.
Saluti
Carlo

marabu61 (11587) 2013-04-01 9:30

Hello Russ
Now that is one hell of a cementery if you pardon my french.
To have such a bright and joyfull look on the end of life is really admirable. It looks sweet like the icing on a cake.
Great location, well spotted and nicely presented. Gorgeous light and thinking that you even desaturated the colors ....
have a good week
Daniel

No_One (4) 2013-06-01 8:53

Hi Russ,
I spend a lot of time in cemeteries (some of my friends call me The Ghoul) as they present such fascinating arrays of sculpture and memory. I have to admit though that the ones I find here in Ireland are quite different to this glorious scene of colour and celebration. Here, they are places of mourning, grey in colour and monolithic featuring statues of crying mothers, and severed columns. It is so refreshing to see a place of memory that is bright and colorful, and dare I say happy! This is almost like a little village, a new place for people to move to when the time has come. A wonderful subject and a brilliant photo to illustrate it. Thanks again!
Noel

jcpix (14030) 2013-06-03 20:09

Hi Russ,

Boy, does this ever blow away the general look and feel of a cemetery! There appears to be more of a carnival atmosphere than that of anything somber and reflective, certainly a different take on death. I like this though, it shows a lot of what I can only assume is the character of the city, culture and its people. Bright and colorful indeed, this is hard to miss...and I mean that in a good way. Thanks for showing us some of the customs and zest of la Paz. Have a nice evening.

All the best,

Jason

chrisg76 (1260) 2013-07-29 5:59

Hello dear Russ!
I like very much this photo!
I am impressed by the vivid colours of the memorials!
I know that Mexicans pay respect to their loved deceased very often and that they believe very strongly in the afterlife!
I think, for them, going to the cemetery is a habit, and that's why they keep the memorials in such a good condition!
This photo makes funerals look like a festivity!
Best Regards
Chris

elenimavrandoni (0) 2013-11-07 18:39

Russ, I've visited La Paz this last July and I liked the town very much..your picture is a great detail and great dedication to all our loved ones who are not with us anymore..
it is the first time that I see a colorful cemetery...nice and sunny too...
in reference to your last comment to my pic I would like to say that...I was eating my fresh fish on the top of the hill with my cousins and then I heard the sound of the trata...I looked around and I saw that picture....nothing was planned, no tripod, no special thinking or studying...just a simple capture of a beautiful moment
all the best
eleni