My 'Best of 2012' Collection

It has been a year since I started this blog. Here is a look at some of my favorite assignments of 2012. I look forward to what 2013 has in store. Happy New Year!

[JOURN 495BJ] Border Angels- The Power of One

Since 1994, 10,000 people have died trying to cross the border between the United States and Mexico, according to Enrique Morones founder of Border Angels. Among those who attempted the journey are men, women and young children. Due to harsh weather conditions, tough terrain and often the expensive price migrants must pay to smugglers, however, many do not make it across.

Founded by Morones in 1986, Border Angels is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to undocumented immigrants. After bringing food and water to migrants who were living in the canyons of North County San Diego, Morones and the Border Angels expanded their operation by going out to the desert to place water near the recently constructed wall dividing the United States and Mexico, also known as Operation Gatekeeper.

“Before Operation Gatekeeper, one or two people died every month,” said Morones.

“After Operation Gatekeeper, one or two people die every day.”

Border Angels is also known for attending to a cemetery in Holtville, California to pray and place crosses that read “no olvidados” (not forgotten) on the graves of the 700 unidentified migrants laid to rest there.

San Francisco, the City by the Bay

A view of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point.

During summer, my family and I visited San Francisco for the first time. During our stay, we visited Alamo Square, Pier 39, the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and of course the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

We made the trip from San Diego by car. I can remember being on the freeway for hours admiring the rural-like landscapes along the way. Our 550 mile journey was long and tiresome. Meanwhile I had that photographer’s tingle in my fingers wishing I could get shots of the scenery before me but knowing we had to stay on the move.

Finally, we ended up making a stop in Patterson, CA to visit family. Only then, was I able to take a moment to photograph the apricot groves under the starlit sky.

My 'Best of 2011' Collection

RED TIDE- Billions of plankton called Lingulodinium polyedrum cause bioluminescence at Black's Beach, California on Oct. 1, 2011. More commonly referred to as “red tide,” the algae bloom wash ashore during late summer and have been seen to cause a neon blue glow rising from the waves like fire at night.

I hope to be launching my website by the end of this month and to compliment it I started a blog. As a photojournalist, I continue to push forward in my efforts to document that which is true and real in my surrounding environment. Each day, for me, represents a different opportunity to capture extraordinary moments and tell compelling stories. These are some of my favorite moments of 2011.
-Misael Virgen