SOM: We Can Do It !

She is Ms Jan, an AMAZING teacher at a Montessori school in Miami, in the role of "Rosie The Riveter" better known as the famous poster "We Can Do It".
An image that in the 1970s became an iconic symbol for women's rights struggles.

"I wouldn't call myself an amazing teacher... just someone who has a higher faith and followed my inner voice to quit my very lucrative job in advertising to pursue a Montessori teaching career. I truly believe in the goodness of people and starting them off on the right foot. I listen to my students and talk to them just as I do with any other person. I also have a great respect for my students and they in turn, have the same respect for me.
Much love, light and blessings!"

PD  Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company in 1942 to create a series of posters for the war effort. Its intent was to help recruit women to join the work force.


Ella es Ms. Jan, una excelente maestra de una escuela Montessori en Miami, interpretando a "Rosie The Riveter" mejor conocida como "We Can Do It" gracias al famoso afiche.
Esta imagen se convirtió en los años 70 en un simbolo para la lucha de los derechos de las mujeres.

"Yo no me llamaría una excelente maestra... solo alguien con una fe muy grande que siguió su voz interior y abandonó su lucrativa carrera en una empresa de publicidad para iniciar una labor de enseñanza Montessori. Creo firmemente en la bondad de la gente y en comenzar la vida con el pie derecho.
Yo escucho a mis estudiantes y les hablo igual que lo haría con cualquier adulto, les demuestro un gran respeto y en respuesta, ellos tienen el mismo respeto por mi.
Mucho amor, luz y bendiciones"

PD Howard Miller fue contratado en el año 1942 por la compañía Westinghouse para crear una serie de afiches de propaganda de guerra estadounidense para levantar la moral de los trabajadores. Su intención era ayudar a reclutar mujeres para unirse a la fuerza laboral.

SOM: Francis

She is Francis,from Venezuela. She is 20 years old, an advertising student, vegetarian and careful with nature.

“I just love people" 

"I believe we were born for a reason, I wish to positively  influence people through communication in order to create  awareness, putting my little grain of sand to make the world a better place to live”

I was captivated by her strength and passion of a dreamer in her twenties.

Francis, Go for it!

Ella es Francis, venezolana, tiene 20 años, estudiante de Publicidad, vegetariana, y cuidadosa con la naturaleza.

 “Yo amo la gente"

 "Creo que nacemos por una razón , deseo a través de la comunicación influenciar a las personas para crear una conciencia positiva, poniendo mi granito de arena que ayude hacer del mundo un  lugar mejor  para vivir.

Me cautivó su fuerza y pasión soñadora que tenemos a los 20 años.

SOM : Window Guy

I was sitting at my desk working when suddenly I felt something on the window.

When I turned there he was, just hanging .I waved and ran for my camera.

When he moved on to the next floor, I open the window and the camera follow him , when he saw my face barely out due to my vertigo, he gifted me this huge smile.

Sometimes all you need is a big smile like this to make your day, you can hold it in your memory and bring it back any time you need.

Estaba sentada en mi escritorio trabajando, cuando de repente senti algo en la ventana.

Voltee y ahí estaba estaba el, colgado de un arnes. Lo salude y corrí a buscar mi cámara.

Cuando bajo al otro piso, abrí la ventana y mi  lente valiente lo siguió, cuando vio mi cara apenas asomada lo que el vértigo me permitió me regaló esta gran sonrisa.

A veces es lo único  que hace falta para alegrarte el dia, la puedes guardar en tu memoria y recordarla en cualquier momento que la necesites.

SOM #treyusa photowalk

Miami's Dualism: Vibrant and Gloomy

la Dualidad de Miami, vibrante y lóbrega.

Miami's diversity

La diversidad de Miami.

SOM: As seen on Miami Beach

    In some South Beach Hotels, every morning at 6.35am souls  like her place the buckets for kids to play.

    En algunos hoteles de South Beach, todas las mañanas almas como esta, colocan los tobitos para que los niños jueguen.

Souls of Miami {Pretty in Pink}

 In December 2013, while looking for a picture for La Vuelta al Mundo (LVM) a group led by Jackie Rueda, I saw this lovely pretty woman totally dress in pink sitting at a bus stop.

 I couldn’t resist stealing  her picture from the car. The followed instant I realized I had to do it right, ask her for permission to take a better photo; one where I could see all the details that show she took great care in dressing up that day in the  Christmas spirit but in pink.

My “cuñi” was driving , she stopped and I jumped to the street to catch her before she left.

“you look so pretty, may I take a picture of you?” 

SOM “Do you work for The Miami Herald?”

“noooooo” I said, in order to break the ice I told her, my mom is 79 years old, how about you? she thought for a bit and smiling replied 

“I have exactly the opposite”.

En Diciembre 2013, buscando el color rosado para La Vuelta al Mundo (LVM) grupo dirigido por Jackie Rueda venía de tomar fotos con mi cuñada en un colegio, cuando vi a esta cuchitura de señora sentada en una parada de autobús.

No dude en tomarle mi típica foto robadita desde el carro. 

Pero se veía tan bella , toda rosadita y con todos los accesorios de navidad ,que quería tomarle más fotos, de cerca, para que se pudieran ver todos los detalles que tenía en su vestimenta.

Así que casi que salte del carro para llegar antes que el autobús,  le pregunté si le podía tomar una foto, contesto "tu trabajas para el Miami Herald?"

me reí y le dije noooooooo, para cortar un poquito el hielo le dije que mi mama tenia 79 años, que cuantos tenia ella.

Se me quedó viendo, sonrió y al ratico me dijo

"Tengo exactamente al revés"

SOULS of MIAMI

I was in New York on April 2010, in a plaza don’t even know the name, I saw among a lot of people this cute, old, white hair and long beard man, which I photographed for a while and he smiled back when he caught me .

I was happy with that , I loved the guy and the picture 

Years later, while looking through the photography book  “Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton, I found MY same guy and I learned …

“My wife’s name was Barbara, I used to call her Ba.
My name was Lawrence, she used to call me La.
When she died, I changed my name to Bala”

I felt completely different about this kindhearted man, I connected with him.
That was the turning point, inspiring me  to start my personal project.

In Spanish I would say “salvando las distancias” =)  I decided I would get over my shyness, and instead of stealing people’s photos ( like I usually do), I will talk to them adding that piece of life to my images while showing the soul of the city that I am in love with, MIAMI

I waited until I had the picture of this South Beach icon, to start this 52 week project titled Souls of Miami (SOM)

I have seen him for MANY years, wearing those shoes and a skirt, singing, smiling, talking with people and dancing….

 “why are you always this happy?” 
 “because I have Jesus and my music. When I’ll die I will be up here (pointing finger to the sky) dancing for you”

He asks passers by, to tell him the title of a song they like, and he immediately tells them the author and its release date... 

This is the mystery That I have  been watching every Saturday I pass by Lincoln Rd .

Shamrock Festival

crazy with colors @ Gabriel's school

Seagulls @ Miami River

Esto es lo que yo llamo un ratico robado a la vida... me escape de la montaña de trabajo que tenia a probar la camara que alquile por una semana y que me quiero comprar =) markiii con el 70/200 2.8

Autumn in Miami

Este post era para Octubre... Miami estaba vestido de rosado para apoyar la lucha contra el cancer de seno y la naturaleza tambien, estos hermosos arboles rosados, Palo Borracho o Chorisia speciosa estan floreados en Octubre por todo Miami; todavia quedan algunos, como las dos ultimas fotos que son de hace tres dias, un minuto antes de que empezara a llover.