In South Texas, and in much of Latin America, we celebrate Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, on November 1 and 2. It is a time to honor and respect those who came before us, ancestors, friends and relatives who have passed away into the next life.

Last year, my friendsat the San Antonio Express-News made a Dia de los Muertos altar for photographers. The year 2004 had been one of loss for the photography world. There were the names you know, like Eddie Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson, and there were those known regionally, like Gordon Yoder.

A Day of the Dead altar is a personal reflection of those who have had an impact on your life. It
incorporates aspects of their personality with their photos, and items that remind us of them. The combined personalities of the people who have impacted us add up to a reflection of our own personality.

Most of the photographers who have impacted me are still with us, so thankfully they don't make it to my Day of the Dead Altar (but if they dress up and ring my door bell and I will give them candy). My photo altar would contain mostly photographers that I didn't know and a couple that I had the good fortune to meet.

I would have to begin with Louis Daguerre and Joseph Niepce, whose vision brought us photography in the first place. Alfred Eisenstadt took photography and journalism and made them one. Margaret Bourke-White showed us that women can do hard-hitting photojournalism and she was an inspiration to me. More recently, Eddie Adams showed us not just how to be better photojournalists, but the importance of giving back through the legacy of his workshops.

Most of these photographers didn't know that they would be influencing us so profoundly. Likewise, we never know who we will influence or how. As we go about our lives, mostly focused on our families and our jobs, we don't realize that someone might be watching us, looking to us as an example.