Winningham spent four decades documenting Day of the Dead festivals across Mexico, from Pátzcuaro to Puebla, Michoacán, to Oaxaca. In the book, Winningham contrasts these celebrations, which vary dramatically by region and include diverse Day of the Dead rituals, “when the spirits of those who have died are granted divine permission to return to earth for one day of each year … where their family was waiting to welcome them.”
In this poignant memoir, Winningham chronicles a “voyage of personal discovery” that would “ultimately shape my understanding of life and death.” Having spent the first 15 years of his career photographing Texas in black and white, Winningham documents the Day of the Dead across Mexico and across the decades in vivid, glorious color.
Rice Professor of Photography Geoff Winningham has published his book, A Trail of Marvels/Sendero de Maravillas, A Memoir of Mexico and Days of the Dead.