Winston D. Munnings
Former Diplomat, Journalist, and Photographer
The journey into Photography often starts unexpectedly, and for many, including myself, it began when I was just thirteen. One day at my uncle's house in South Beach, Nassau, Bahamas, I randomly picked up a copy of the famous U.S. National Geographic Magazine. Its stunning, iconic photos immediately sparked my passion for and fascination with visual storytelling.
My professional background is in diplomacy. I spent nearly twenty years as a Diplomat in the Foreign Service of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, briefly serving as an Alternate Bahamas Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C., from 1984 to 1986.
Throughout my diplomatic career, I have had the privilege of serving two separate tours of duty at the Embassy of The Bahamas in Washington, D.C. My first term, from 1974 to 1980, was as Third Secretary & Vice Consul, a significant period following the Bahamas' independence in 1973, just six months earlier. In this role, and as the Embassy's Information Officer, I had the opportunity to engage in U.S. diplomacy. I helped convey important information and build key relationships in the U.S. Congress and Senate, which were vital for the growth of the newly independent Caribbean Island nation.
After a four-year break from the Diplomatic Service in 1980 to work in the private sector in The Bahamas, I returned to the Washington, DC Embassy from 1984 to 1986 as Second Secretary & Consul.
After that, I held other diplomatic positions at the Bahamas' Consulate-General in Miami, Florida, first as Consul from 1986 to 1988, then as Consul General (Head of Mission) until I was recalled after the Free National Movement (FNM) defeated the then-governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) during the historic 1992 General Election.
In 1993, amidst a rapidly changing political landscape and shifts in the Central Government in Nassau, I found myself at a crossroads in my diplomatic career. After much reflection, I deliberately chose to resign my commission as Consul General, even though I still officially held the title (post-elections), following my Recall that was a direct result of the 1992 election outcome.
From 1980 to 1984, in the private sector, I worked as an Assistant News Editor at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB), enhancing my skills in news selection and editorial decision-making. In addition to this role, I also distinguished myself as a radio and television anchor.
After a two-year partnership with the BCB, I freelanced as a Bahamas-based Correspondent for United Press International (UPI). During that time, I also worked as a Staff Journalist for The Nassau Guardian. This unique journalistic experience (Print & Electronic News Media) significantly improved my storytelling skills as a writer. Additionally, it deepened my appreciation for capturing moments through images, which was especially meaningful to me as an emerging photographer.
As my diplomatic career neared its inevitable conclusion, I deliberately chose to immerse myself fully in photography.
This passion motivated me to pursue formal education in Photography, earning a Diploma in Professional Photography from the New York Institute of Photography. Additionally, I earned a Diploma in Applied Photography from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (A School of Professional Studies).
I now live a semi-retired life, working part-time with British Airways. Occasionally, however, I travel on writing or photography assignments that interest me. In this regard, I can be reached at [email protected] or by leaving a message at (305) 342-6668.
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This is a photo featuring Sports Reporter Phil Smith (R) and me on the news set during a Saturday evening ZNS-TV 13 broadcast in 1981.
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As a photographer, one of my most notable achievements was being selected as the cover story and featured in the September 2012 issue of the prestigious London-based ArtFlow Magazine.
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/447382
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This award-winning photograph of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels (below) also received ArtFlow Magazine's Annual Editor's Pick for 2012.
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In 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic, I published a 68-page Photo Guide titled The View From My Window (Finding Beauty In Your Own Backyard), which focuses on photographing birds at a backyard bird feeder. For more details, please visit Https://bit.ly/3nhXN7s or Https://Bit.ly/3Wflpbf