For more years than I can count I've wanted to make it to Oaxaca Mexico for the week long Day of the Dead celebration but it falls at a busy time of the year and I'm usually booked or teaching and before you know it the years fly past. Lucky for me Oaxaca is one of those magical places that changes slowly and the culture is strong enough to survive the onslaught of tourists.

This year I was determined to make it so I called my editor at Getty Images and they were excited about the story so off I went! As luck had it my buddy and world's best photographer Bob Krist was going to be in town as well as amazing photographer Ian Lloyd. With all that high caliber talent wandering around I had to be on my best game. The three of us piled into the tiny car of our fixer/translator Susan McGlynn and dashed around the beautiful countryside of Oaxaca enjoying one of the most authentic events in the world.

There were simply too many pictures to post in one blog so I will feature the best from each of the 7 days one post at a time. Enjoy!