Sign the Petition to Protect Kid’s Yoga Program in Encinitas Schools!

From TheYogaBlog:

“In case you missed it, there has been a lot of controversy lately regarding a kid’s Yoga Program in Encinitas’ schools. (Click hereand here for a full back story). A significantly large group of parents have voiced enough concern and frustration with the program that it is in jeopardy of being cut. They believe Yoga is inherently religious and pushes children to practice Hinduism in school. Large Media outlets such as The Huffington Post andThe Associated Press have reported on this situation; it has received a significant amount of national attention.

Now the parents are threatening a lawsuit unless the program is cut.

As a Yogi and Yoga teacher myself, I have always believed in the universality of a good practice on the mat. Uniting both the body and the mind, Yoga has been shown to reduce stress levels by bringing a sense of calmness to the practitioner and produce a cascade of wonderful effects…including mental clarity and increased concentration. And in my opinion, the school board was most likely well aware of these proven effects when they decided to implement the program. After all, isn’t part of the job of a good teacher to provide students with the tools necessary to succeed in their studies? Especially when it comes to mental awareness and concentration.

Yoga is not inherently religious; it can be spiritual if you want it to be, just like anything…but that does not mean it is religious indoctrination.

I hope you will take some time to sign this petition and help me encourage the Encinitas School Board to keep this program. Perhaps if we get enough signatures we can make an impact on the back room discussions…and maybe even sway the opinion of some of the parents who are adamantly opposed to it. If there was ever a cause that the Yoga community should consider rallying around, it would be kid’s Yoga.

This petition goes directly to the email inbox of Timothy Baird, the superintendent of the Encinitas School District.”

Please go to this link http://theyogablog.com/protect-kids-yoga-program/  and scroll to the petition box where it takes less than a minute to type your name in. Thanks!!!

Free Gift and Free Shipping for thinktank photo gear!!!

Get your holiday shopping done early, order thinktank photo gear as a friend of Donald Miralle Photography and qualify for free shipping and a free gift with your order! If you don’t already own some of the awesome thinktank products, they make the best bags, straps and accessories for pros and consumers out there. To get there holiday deal just go to http://www.thinktankphoto.com/affiliates.aspx?code=WS-628 and start ordering!

The NPPA Biz Blitz Roundtable on The State of The Photo Industry

If you’re in SoCal tomorrow pop your head into the Kona Gallery in San Clemente for the NPPA Biz Blitz Roundtable for good discussion, good people and great photography. BYOB!

WHAT? NPPA Biz Blitz Roundtable on The State of The Photo Industry

WHERE? Kona Gallery + Photo-Journalsim Center – 412 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA, U.S. 92672 exit 75 on I-5

Which hopes to have a new show by ART BREWER up and also the Best of DOUBLEtruck Exhibtion and a showing of some of the BOP 2012 Award Winners, as well as the proflic essay by AL SATTERWHITE: the Racers. The 3 KONA gallery spaces will be packed with amaZing Photography, Art and Journalism. Worth the trip by themselves:) www.TheKonaGallery.com

WHEN? Friday the 16th (yes tommorow). From 18:00 till 22:00 and it is FREE!  BYOB

Join Panelists:

Sports Legend and in NPPA BOP Show at Gallery: DONALD MIRALLE

Commercial and Editorial Legend: AL SATTERWHITE

ASMP President SHAWN HENRY

Legendary, former Time Magazine Contract Photographer: ART GRACE

Portrait Photographer Extraordinary and ASMP Board Member: KEVIN LOCK

Environmental Photographer, Rights Adovcate and ASMP Board Member: JENNA CLOSE

And a  few last minute surprises…

You do not need to be a NPPA member, all are welcome.

 

To register or learn more on THE EVENT:

https://www.nppa.org/news/25966

Nats Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Year

 

Photo by Donald Miralle for the Washington Nationals

From the first moment I met Bryce Harper two years ago at Spring training for the Washington Nationals, I knew this guy was going to be great. For a three hour shoot, he did whatever I asked of him on cue, gave 100% effort and focus for every take, and was a consummate professional and a joy to work with. Today when he was named National League Rookie of the Year, which is not only huge for him indivdually, but also for his team, the fans, the league and the sport. It’s great to see an athlete with so much hype coming out of high school to live up to the hype. Nice read on the curlyw blog here about Harper and here are some pictures from my three shoots I had with him, couldn’t be happier for the new NL Rookie of the Year.

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Kirk Douglas Portraits

Actor Kirk Douglass poses for a portrait at his home on November 7, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.

Kirk Douglas is an American Film Icon and Legend, and is one of the last surviving actors from Hollywood’s “Golden Age”. He is no. 17 on AFI’s greatest male American screen legends of all time, making him the highest-ranking living person on that list. He’s appeared in such classic movies as Spartacus, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Lust for Life.

So when I got a request from his Alma Mater St. Lawrence University to shoot him at his home in Beverly Hills, I jumped at the chance. It’s not every day you get to shoot a Hollywood Legend in his house! Kirk and his wife just recently graciously donated 5 million to the University to extend the scholarship program for ethnic minority students.  Born Issur Danielovitch, Douglas was a son of jewish immigrants raised in the New York area. Legend has it that as a young man Douglas jumped off the back of a turnip truck at the University, talked his way into the school, and received a loan which he paid back working part-time as a gardener and janitor. There is just a myriad of wonderful and interesting stories from Kirk Douglas’s life, but other than his indelible mark he has left on Hollywood, it may be his mission as Hollywood’s most generous philanthropist that he may be remembered most for (he has donated 50 million this year alone to multiple charities and non-profits!).

So it was no surprise when we showed up to the beautiful Douglas residence in Beverly Hills, California, walking distance to Sunset Blvd and the famous Beverly Hills Hotel, that I would not be impressed with this man. Even though he suffered a stroke several years back slightly impairing his speech, I could understand everything he said and could see he was as sharp as a knife. We didn’t have much time to get this done, so my assistant and I walked into his house ready to shoot with a Nikon D800, 24-70mm lens, PocketWizard Plus III synched to a Profoto 7b pack and light with a beauty dish + diffuser. He graciously invited us into his house where we met his wife and assistant, and led us directly to this first spot where he wanted to set up a shot. His house was beautifully but not extravagantly decorated with art that you would recognize, masks and relics from around the world, and pictures of his family (yes there were a couple of Catherine Zita-Jones and Michael Douglas). He took us to beautiful and quaint garden area where we set up a shot in front of an incredible sculpture of multiple busts of himself, and a bench nearly where we shot several of Kirk his wife Anne, and the president of St. Lawrence University and his wife. After a couple minutes of shooting and telling him that my favorite movies he starred in were Spartacus and Lust for Life (where he played a tortured Vincent Van Gogh and should have received an Oscar for his performance), we shook hands again and left.

It was a pleasure to shoot one of the Hollywood greats that I grew up watching and admiring on the big screen, and was worth the four hour roundtrip drive in LA traffic from San Diego.

The Bello Family Relief Effort

One of our close friends Al Bello and his family, recently survived Hurricane Sandy. Their house cannot say the same. They live in Merrick, NY which is located on Long Island. Last year, their home sustained catastrophic damage from Hurricane Irene. Just in the past couple of months, they completed the rebuild of their home from that storm only to have this larger storm come through and destroy the entire first floor again. As of 11/5/12, Al and his family are still without heat or electricity.

For those of you who don’t know Al he is a world-class photographer for Getty Images, and a selfless person who is always there to help out others. He is married to one of the sweetest human beings, Debbie, and they have two beautiful kids Nicole and Daniel. They have faced great adversity in the past couple of years, but you will never hear Al complain about it. Ever.

They face another long road of dealing with insurance, FEMA, contractors, temporary relocation, etc. When I asked Al last week “What can we do to help you guys?”, he replied “Can you build me a house?” Our hearts are breaking for them and we want to help. We can’t build a house but we can help to raise money for their family to help offset some of the financial burden from this repeat tragedy.

We have set up a benevolent fund for the Bello family at Comercia Bank. Donations can be made the following ways:

1. Send via paypal account AlBello55@yahoo.com

2. Wiring funds (routing # 121137522 and account #1894689049)

3. Making a deposit at any Comerica branch to account #1894689049 (Account name: The Bello Family Relief Fund)

4. Mailing a check to us made out to The Bello Family Relief Fund.
C/o Lauren Miralle
Farmers Insurance
5751 Palmer Way Ste. H1
Carlsbad, CA 92010

100% of the funds donated will go directly to the Bellos. We have set up a facebook page for this athttp://www.facebook.com/TheBelloFamilyReliefEffort and please feel free to pass it along to anyone who you think can help. I know there are so many people who need our help in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and thank you for taking the time to care for this incredible family!!!

 

Best,

 

The Miralles

Eastern Sierras

The aspens at Convict Lake showing their brilliant fall colors. F5.6, 1/40 of Sec, 200ASA.

 

Just enjoyed a much needed vacation in Mammoth Lakes with family. I forgot how beautiful it is up there in the Eastern Sierras, really a special place. Here are some pics I took with my Nikon D800 and 24-70mm lens in between taking hikes, biking, fishing and paddling…enjoy!

 

Moonrise over the foothills F4.5, 1/100th of Sec, 200ASA.

 

 

Fall on Diablo Creek. F22, 2.5 Sec, 50ASA.

 

Bode, a gold-rush ghost town . F11, 200th Sec, 50ASA.

 

My 4 year old son Micah in snow. 

 

 

Night Dive with Manta Rays

MANTARAYSHORT

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Here’s a couple minutes of video shot with my GoPro Hero2 from a recent night dive with 12ft Reef Manta Rays off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Beautiful and docile creatures that feed on the plankton attracted to our torches, and an average-sized manta is estimated to consume 44–66 lb of plankton per day and can get up to 18ft and 1500lbs! You can see each manta rays individual markings on their underside which act as a fingerprint for identification, and the more time you spend with them in their environment you really get the feeling that they are very intelligent animals. Superfun dive and I recommend it to anyone who has the chance, it’s like being on another planet for an hour.

PGA Tour 2030 – Micah Miralle

Look out Rory and Tiger, my 4 year-old Micah swung a golf club for the first time at the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course the other day and showed some skills! Not bad for the first time out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59RGozskyWo

And the nice butt shake at the end of this one :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXFIZkPEp18

PHOTO OF THE DAY – 2011 IRONMAN

KONA, HI – OCTOBER 8:   A general view of the mass swim start for the the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship on October 8, 2011 at Kailua Bay in Kona, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle) Canon EOS-1D Mark III Lens: 15mm Aperture: F5 Shutter 1/1000th sec ISO:640