#danielkudish

In our Long Lens feature, we ask our members about a long-term project or photo essay they are working on. We want to encourage and discover the passion behind a portrait series or an essay that tells a story or highlights a social issue.

Your Shot photographer Daniel Kudish is a professional wedding photographer. He loves to photograph all over the world and last fall had the opportunity to attend National Geographic photographer David Alan Harvey’s workshop in Oaxaca. He spent eight days photographing the Day of the Dead or “Dia de Los Muertos” festivities, traveling to small towns and remote cemeteries.

Daniel was inspired by the people of Oaxaca and the pride they took in the celebration of their ancestors. He was challenged by David and was pushed to really capture the moments, saying “As an artist, I never feel like I am done growing, and am always thirsty to learn something new. I have always admired David’s career, and knew that he would be someone I would love to learn more from. My goal was to learn more about building a story, especially in a setting outside of weddings. David pushed me to capture images with more soul, emotion, and to shoot from the heart. It took me a few days to grasp the concept, but it eventually clicked with me.”