This image, the last of a series of three I have posted here of San Miguel’s Day of The Dead La Katrina Parade, is entirely different in both concept and execution than the two that precede it. I wanted to emphasize the nature of the costume, so backed away a bit to include the huge hat and long beads that express the Victorian era in which the Katrina story is set. This woman stopped to pose for the many photographers that surrounded her as she reached the steps of The Parroquia, San Miguel’s brilliantly illuminated parish church. I did not move my camera at all. The shutter stayed open for a full second, which normally should have blurred the entire image due to “camera shake.” As it turned out, the softly focused background of lighted church did blur, adding much energy to the image. However the subject herself remains visible. Why? I never use flash, preferring the qualities of natural light. However other photographers shooting this same subject were using their own flashes, and one of them illuminated the woman for a very brief part of the time that my shutter remained open. That neighborly burst of flash was enough to produce a clear image of her hat, painted face, and beads. The long veil she wears creates the faint pattern on her face and neck. This image is less abstract than the others. But when viewed together with them, it adds important context for the La Katrina parade itself.