At Gothic Bite Magazine, we are proud to showcase the work of artists and photographers whose creativity helps bring the strange, beautiful, and unexplained to life. This week, we are pleased to welcome photographer Kelsey Milsap and share her work with our readers.

These photographs were taken on my birthday, a date that has always carried a deeper significance for me because it falls during the season of Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. While many celebrate birthdays as a time of personal reflection and new beginnings, I have always felt mine exists at a unique intersection between life, death, memory, and spirit.

Día de los Muertos is often misunderstood as a celebration of death itself, but to me it has always been about remembrance, connection, and love that transcends physical existence. It is a time when the veil between worlds feels thinner, when stories are shared, photographs are displayed, candles are lit, and those who have passed are welcomed back into our hearts and homes. The tradition reminds us that death does not erase the bonds we create during life.

Honoring and remembering the dead has become an important part of both my personal journey and my sense of purpose. Throughout my life, I have felt drawn toward exploring the mysteries that exist beyond the physical world. I find comfort in preserving memories, acknowledging those who came before us, and maintaining connections with loved ones who are no longer physically present.

One of the ways I explore that connection is through spirit boards. For me, they are not a novelty or a source of fear, but a tool for reflection, curiosity, and communication. Whether speaking with the memory of a loved one or reaching out to unknown energies, the experience serves as a reminder that there is still so much we do not fully understand about consciousness, spirit, and existence itself.

These image represent that fascination with the space between worlds. It captures a moment of stillness, beauty, and introspection during a season dedicated to remembrance. Shot on a day that marks both my birth and my connection to those who have passed on, it symbolizes the balance I strive to maintain between celebrating life and honoring those whose lives continue to influence my own.

To remember is an act of love. To honor the dead is to keep their stories alive. And for me, that practice is woven into the very fabric of who I am.