Winston D. Munnings

The journey into Photography often starts unexpectedly, and for many, myself included, it began when I was just thirteen years old. One day at my uncle's residence in South Beach, Nassau, Bahamas, I accidentally came across a copy of the world-renowned U.S. National Geographic Magazine. That magazine's breathtaking, iconic photographs IMMEDIATELY sparked my passion for and interest in visual storytelling. Although this early interest was incredibly intense, it took several decades before I fully committed to studying Photography as a visual art form.

My professional background is in Diplomacy. I spent almost twenty years in the Diplomatic 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 1984-1986.

Throughout my entire diplomatic career, however, I had the privilege and honor of serving two separate tours of duty at the Embassy of The Bahamas in Washington, D.C. My first tenure, spanning 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, I had the opportunity to work in U.S. diplomacy. I assisted in conveying important messages and building key relationships, which were crucial for the development of the newest independent Island Nation in the Caribbean.

After a four-year break, starting in 1980, from the Diplomatic Service to work in the private sector in The Bahamas, I returned to the Washington, DC Embassy from 1984 to 1986 as Second Secretary & Consul.

Thereafter, I held other diplomatic positions at the Bahamas' Consulate-General in Miami, Florida, first as Consul from 1986 to 1988 and as Consul General (Head of Mission) from 1988 until I was recalled after the Free National Movement (FNM) convincingly defeated the then-governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) during that (now) historic 1992 General Election.

In 1993, amid a rapidly shifting political landscape and evolving societal changes, I found myself at a crossroads in my diplomatic career. After much contemplation, I made the conscious but deliberate decision to formally resign my commission as Consul General, as I still held the title at that time, notwithstanding my recall, which was a direct consequence of the (then) NEW political order.

The newly formed Free National MovementAdministration appeared entirely uncertain about where to position me within its ‘Restructured’ diplomatic framework. This lack of clarity regarding my role, coupled with the dynamic nature of the toxic anti-PLP sentiments at the time, ultimately influenced my decision to step away and seek NEW opportunities that aligned more closely with my NEW professional aspirations and goals.

As previously mentioned, from 1980 to 1984, I had temporarily stepped away from my diplomatic career to return to The Bahamas. Specifically, I worked as an Assistant News Editor, honing my skills in news curation and editorial decision-making at ZNS News Network. In addition to this role, I also thrived as a radio and television anchor at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas.

After a two-year association with ZNS, I freelanced as a Bahamas-based Correspondent for United Press International (UPI), among other things. At the same time, I was a Staff Journalist with The Nassau Guardian Newspaper. This journalistic background significantly improved my storytelling skills and deepened my appreciation for capturing moments through images, even as a novice photographer at the time.

As my diplomatic career was approaching an inevitable conclusion, I made a deliberate decision to immerse myself in the world of photography fully.

This passion led me to pursue formal education, earning a Diploma in Professional Photography from the prestigious New York Institute of Photography. Additionally, I obtained a Diploma in Applied Photography from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale(A School of Professional Studies), a renowned institution known for its rigorous training and emphasis on practical applications in the field.

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This is a photo of myself and Sports Reporter Phil Smith (R) on the news set during a Saturday evening ZNS-TV 13 broadcast in 1981 Https://bit.ly/4fSLm8Q

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As a Photographer, one of the most noteworthy recognitions I've received 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

This award-winning capture of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels (below) also made ArtFlow Magazine's Annual Editor's Pick for 2012. Https://Bit.ly/4cWbRrW]

In 2020, I published “The View From My Window” (Finding Beauty In Your Own Backyard), a 68-page Bird-Feeder Photography Photo Guide >> Https://Bit.ly/46qSrtu