I haven't lived in Miami in over 20 years now, which makes me feel like a tourist whenever I visit. So much has changed since I graduated from high school (I'm a Red Raider) that I don't even recognize certain places and things. For example, what happened to the Omni and the 163rd St Mall? Once upon a time both malls were THE place to be, now it seems they've become ghost towns while Aventura Mall has taken the roll as the "it" spot to shop and to be seen. Oh, and what is this Dolphin Mall that everyone speaks of?
As you travel south on I-95 and exit onto the HOV lane overpass near 163rd St, you get a great view of the downtown Miami skyline in the distance. It seems to have grown 10-fold since I was in high school. It's nice to see the amount of growth and development that has taken place in the city of Miami, especially in those areas that were once impoverished for so many years. Here are a few of my favorite images that I captured from my most recent visit to Miami. Though I could never live in South Florida again as my personal preferences and lifestyle demand a four-season climate, I will always enjoy it and appreciate it - as a tourist!
- Monica Simone
For an impromptu shoot, these images turned out really great! I just happened to have my camera with me at work when I captured these images of Robyn and her eldest son, Christopher. They had a great time hanging out together, and I was glad to have been able to capture the moment on camera. Robyn and Chris, you two are naturals!
- Moinca Simone
What a great time I had with Miss Hadiya and her mom Wendy. Hadiya is an aspiring actress, so I needed to give her some great head shots for her portfolio. The session went so well that I made it a family shoot and let mom get in on the action! From my experience some teens tend to be a bit camera shy during their photo session when parents are looking on, but Hadiya took it all in stride. Here are some of my favorite images from their session. Enjoy!
- Monica Simone
It amazes me how simple, little things that most people don't give a second thought can be so meaningful to others. Just like this image I captured this morning at daybreak. I happened to glance up through our family room window and noticed the amazing display of fuschia and purple clouds against the dark blue sky - absolutely gorgeous. I hurried to my closet, threw on some clothes, grabbed my camera and jumped in the car. On the way out the door all I said to my husband Jamal was, "photo op!" He knew the deal. By the time I made it to the perfect spot to shoot, the colors and patterns were even more brilliant than they were when they first caught my eye. As I clicked away, the sun rose and what was once a spectacle of nature's brilliance quickly faded away. Not many people would consider something as simple as a beautiful sunrise worthy of revel, let alone running out of the house at 6:30am to take pictures of it. It's the simple things in life that make you happy, and that's a philosophy we can all learn from.
- Monica Simone
