Mia Kirshner

Mia Kirshner, 28, is one of the stars of the L Word, who has written a book titled I Live Here, about the lives of refugees and displaced people around the globe. Kirshner is seen on the Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus where she participated in the International Book Fair held this weekend.

Wish Book

The Fernandez Family from Argentina is a family of 10 from Argentina living in Hialeah. The family is part of the Wish Book program for the holidays. One things they are hoping to receive is better health care for Bryan Fernandez, 4, front, who is legally blind.

From left, Micaela Fernandez, 13, Bryan Fernandez, 4, dad Bernadbe Fernandez holding Carlos Fernandez, 4-months, Ludmila Fernandez, 3, mom Marcela Fernandez holding Priscila Fernandez, 2, and Alexis Fernandez, 5 sit on their couch inside their home Sunday afternoon. Not pictures are Camila Fernandez, 10 and Melany Fernandez, 8.

President-elect Obama

Obama town hall meeting in Boca Raton earlier in the campaign.

Protest

Many all around south Florida joined the Miami May Coalition in a march from the Dessalines Center to the Federal Immigration Building Thursday evening during International Workers Day to rally about the violation of workers, immigrant rights and the protest of the war.

America's Next Top Model

Anchal Joseph, 19, was a recent contestant on America's Next Top Model. Along with modeling she studies nuclear medicine at the Miami Dade College in Homestead. Joseph dreams of becoming a Victoria Secret model.

Community Awareness

Mariellis Galo, 3, attends a school board rally to keep Emerson Elementary open with mother Mariela Galo who's son is a 4th grader at the school. Congress woman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Miami-Dade School Board member Marta Perez meets with concerns members of the elementary school's PTA Wednesday morning at the United Methodist Church at 7900 SW 24th St.



From left, Miami-Dade School Board member Marta Perez, Congress woman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Dr. Ana M. Romers, meets with concerns members of Emerson Elementary school's PTA Wednesday morning at the United Methodist Church at 7900 SW 24th St. The district is considering closing down the A-rated school in an effort to save money.

Native American Month

As part of Native American Month the Kehewin Dance Troupe performs ritual Native American dances at the California Club Branch Library Friday morning.

Love-In festival

John Fialkowski,below, better know as "Rockin' Johnny" lays down beside a peace sign made of paper mushrooms during Sunday's Love-In festival. The 1960s-themed outdoor festival was held in Greynolds Park.

Virginia Tech

During a vigil ceremony held at FIU for students and faculty, a FIU student places a message on a memory board set up for victims of the shootings at Virginia Tech.

Basketball season begins

The Hialeah High women's basketball team holds a weekend practice Saturday afternoon before their first game Tuesday night.

The rumba group Los Herederos does a practice Wednesday at a house located off SW 8th Street. Los Herederos is the best and most authentic Cuban rumba group in Miami.

Until next year Art Basel...

South Beach appears deserted Monday afternoon after last week's Art Basel Festival.

Miami Fashion

David Bromstad, sits infront of one of his sculptures that he created Friday afternoon. Bromstad won the HGTV Design Star weekly reality competition and will have his first show airing in mid-March.


From left, Anu Madan and J.J. Pantztar compete in the Style Wars, a project-runway type fashion competition that has been touring the country. The event took place Saturday night at the White Room in Miami.


Model Kristin-Kat Pollock strikes a pose before being dressed by amateur fashion designers during Style Wars, a project-runway type fashion competition that has been touring the country.


Designer Rafael Cennamo works out of his store located at 235 Lincoln Road on South Beach.

Swamp Buggy Race

The semiannual Swamp Buggy Race held in Naples Florida Oct. 27 and 28 drew thousands of "Florida crackers."

Coach Snoop Dogg

Coach Snoop Dogg watches from the sidelines his team, the Snoop Dogg All Stars. Snoop Dogg's team play the South Florida All-Stars during the Snooper Bowl Saturday afternoon at the Orange Bowl.

Editoral Wedding Photography

I've brought my photojournalistic style into the world of wedding photography. Please view my new "wedding" Web site at:

http://www.intimatebridalportraits.com

My dad's 60th

We threw my dad a surprise 60th birthday party. It was a huge success. He was completely clueless. The morning after the party, we had a brunch for out-of-town guest, which included two of my dad's best friends growing up. I snapped this pictures of the three of them while they were sitting on the couch talking. The photograph makes me smile. I just think that it is so wonderful that after all this time, these three men still remain close even though they lives apart from each other. Friends are a true blessing in life.

Miami Ink

For the Herald, I covered an assignment about how reality TV has changed tourism in Miami. A prime example is our favorite tattoo artist, Ami James, famous from the reality show Miami Ink. I'm familiar with the show, but have never watched an episode. I was so embarrassed when I walked into the shop asking for Ami, which I pronounced AMY and asked if SHE was available. Opps. Wasn't there a girl on the show at some point??? In the picture, Miami Ink's reality star Ami James gets his picture taken by tourist at his shop located at 1344 Washington Ave.

Jr. Reid

On an assignment that I did for The Fader magazine, I got to hang out and photograph Jr. Reid with his crew while Reid shot a music video with Inner Circle in North Miami Beach.

Only 11 and #1

Sachia Vicery, 11, is number one in the country for 12 and under girls in tennis.

MIAMI'S ULTRA MUSIC FEST

Jon Secada

I LOVE HIS SONG...sing it with me now

'Cause I...
I don't wanna say it
I don't wanna find another way
Make it trough the day without you
I...
I, I can't resist
Tryna find exactly what I missed
It's just another day without you


08/10/07--EMILY HARRIS/FOR THE MIAMI HERALD-Grammy-award winning singer Jon Secada, left, and Dr. Gregory Gray, president of the MDCC Kendall campus participate in signing ceremony at the Miami Dade College Kendall Campus Friday afternoon. The singer is donating his salary back to the college so it can go to student scholarships.

The 4th of July

Fireworks are among my favorite things. Yesterday we celebrated the 4th of July on the beach. Our condo along with many others held their own firework displays. You could see fireworks going off all along the beach coast. Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Aventura, Miami --- each city had it's own show, and could be seen from our location. It's an incredible sight. My tripod broke at the last minute, so it was nearly impossible to take pictures of multiple explosions in the BULB setting of my camera. I did get this picture of the crowd out on the beach.

Stories to love.

Sometimes as a photographer you are lucky enough to cover a story with a really great message. The assignment that I received for the Colemans was for a column about love stories for the Miami Herald. The Coleman's will be married for 44 years on May 4th after meeting as toddlers in 1948. Rose Coleman, left and her husband William Coleman sit in front of their wall filled with pictures of children and grandchildren at their home in South Miami. The couple's love and respect for each other was a beautiful thing to witness, and left me feeling hopeful about true love and marriage.




The special Olympics is another great story that I was able to shoot. It was amazing for me to see a community come together for such an important event. Sidney Goldblumm, is cheered on by volunteers as he crosses the finish line during the 10 meter walk activity at the Special Olympics Miami-Dade County Summer Games at the FIU North Campus Sunday, March 3, 2007.




Dr. Joseph W. Underwood, far right, is Miami Senior High's TV and movie-making teacher. This was another great story that I covered. It took place a few days after the terrible tragedy that took place at Virginia Tech. In this picture is the moment when Underwood was announced that he'll be inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame during a surprise ceremony that took place in his classroom at Miami Senior High School Thursday morning. It was such a positive contrast to the school shooting in Virginia. It was really refreshing to get my mind of the bad news taking place in the country, and concentrating on this great moment for a great teacher.




People have so many wonderful stories to share. It is such a shame that most stories read or seen are negative. I covered a story about an art teacher/ after school chess coach, Webber J. Charles, of Edison Park Elementary School located in Miami, Florida. This art teacher took a generation of inner city kids and kept them off the streets by teaching them the game of chess. The kids were so excited to play, and to learn new moves. Even Charles mentioned to me that he couldn't believe how good these kids really were at playing chess. "They kick my butt sometimes," he said. In the pictures above Webber J. Charles, right, watches his student Joanne Pierre, 11, make her next game move during an after school chess practice at Edison Park Elementary School Thursday afternoon. In the picture below, Milton Canton, 11, practices his chess moves.

World Cup Soccer

This was the first time I shot professional soccer. The game was Canada vs. Haiti and took place inside Miami's Orange Bowl.