"If music be the food of love,

play on" - William Shakespeare.

Today is World Music Day.

© nacho hernandez

"Sometimes you have to play a long time

to be able to play like yourself." - Miles Davis

© nacho hernandez

A year ago, in Washington DC

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Or, more exactly, a year and one day ago. I don't think Obama has had much time for celebrations and the initial expectation seems to be wearing thin. Still wishing him good luck.

Apollo 11

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Exactly forty years ago today, the command module of the Apollo 11 was orbiting the Moon with Michael Collins on board, while his colleagues Neil Amstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin did the original "Moon Walk".

Today, the only section of the Apollo 11 that came back to Earth greets visitors at the entrance of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC (a museum not to be missed if you are in that town).

Farewell Washington DC

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

As I pack and mop my own floors I realize two things:
1. I have accumulated too much junk over the years.
2. I will really miss this city.

I was going to do a list of all the things I like best and least in Washington but, the balance is so overwhelmingly positive that I will just say this: I will always carry this city in my heart.

That said, I am really looking forward to the future. During the next three months I will be based in Rio de Janeiro, and in September I will move to Manila, from where I will cover Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Stay tuned!

March on the Pentagon

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Last Saturday the streets of Washington DC saw the first big demonstration since Barack Obama is President. March 21st was the 6th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq and thousands of protesters marched to the Pentagon to mark the date.

In the image, a demonstrator carries the American flag upside-down, a code for "distress".

More images of demonstrations in the streets of Washington in my website.

Tibet

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Today, at a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC. March 10th 2009 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Tibetan's uprising in Lhasa, in 1959, an event that would ultimately lead to the flight of the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans into exile.

Protest in Washington DC

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Environmental groups lead by Greenpeace organized a march and a civil disobedience act in Washington yesterday. They blocked the entrances to the coal plant that heats the Capitol and the Congress office buildings, as a symbol of their fight against coal energy and to raise awareness about climate change. Very fittingly, when talking about climate change, we had one of the coldest days of the year (in March), and a snow blizzard during the night.

The streets of Washington continue to be a theater where the most diverse groups play out their frustrations regularly. You can see more images of protests in Washington in my website.

A new dawn for the USA?

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

A whoosh of fresh air blew through Washington DC this past week. 1.20.2009 will be remembered as the day when the system in this country was rebooted. It needed it badly.

I think that Barack Obama is honest, committed and has common sense by spades. He is cool too. A big, big change. The bad news for him is that the country is in shambles and the expectations are too high. The good news is that the bar has been set so low in the last eight years that it is almost impossible to do a worse job as President than his predecessor. Even if he tried. So, best of luck to Obama. We all need him to succeed.

In the image, the Washington Monument at dawn, a few hours before Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as 44th President of the United States of America. More images from inauguration week in my website www.nachohernandez.net

Obama's inauguration

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Washington is getting ready for Obama's inauguration. Tomorrow will be one of the biggest days in the history of the United States, and I will be witnessing and taking images of this historic day. Please send me an email if you need photos from the inauguration ceremony at the Mall in Washington DC.

Josef Koudelka

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez
(Photo in background: © Josef Koudelka)


Josef Koudelka, member of Magnum, last night at an exhibition of the famous photos he took in Prague in 1968. This was a great opportunity to listen to one of the legends of photography talking about his work.

Check out his portfolio.

Oh! bama

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Happy Halloween

Photo: © Nacho Hernandez

Back in the USA

Photos: © Nacho Hernandez


I am back in Washington DC, and everyone is talking about the same two things, all the time ...

Swan song for Hillary

Hillary supporters met yesterday in Washington DC to put pressure on the Democratic party leaders. It turned out to be a swan song for her campaign. The primaries were fun, but I am glad they are over ...

Memorial Day week-end in Washington DC

Graduation ceremony at Georgetown University

It was nice to go back to my Alma Mater...

Sahrawi - exhibition at the US Congress

On May 14th I will have an exhibition of my work from the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, at the US Congress. Reception from 6 pm - 8 pm, at the Rayburn Foyer, Rayburn Office building. Come by if you are in town!