Donald Miralle

The most controversial photo I've taken was the one from 2004 at the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Houston where Justin Timberlake tore off the top of Janet Jackson. It was a photo shot for Getty Images and it was widely circulated around the Internet, appearing on the covers of Rolling Stone and New York Times.
 
Transcript: "Is there a controversial photo you've taken and what's the story behind it as a photographer? You try not to take controversial photos because if you have a controversial photo, maybe it's something you did in the capturing, the photo that makes a controversial. But in this case, probably the most controversial photo I took was the one 2004 at the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Houston where Justin Timberlake tore off the top of Janet Jackson and it became known as nipplegate. And it was one of the most searched images to at that point in 2004 and was the last time MTV produced a halftime show. But the image I shot at the time was shot for Getty Images. I was a staff photographer then and this image and sequences of it's old Millions of copies all over the Internet and including the covers of Rolling Stone and New York Times and most Publications ran that photo there. So that's probably the most controversial photo I've taken."

18 years ago, I was in a dangerous situation on the North Shore of Maui where I swam out with my underwater housing to take photos. The waves were getting bigger and I had to take a couple on the head to get back to shore. It was a pucker moment as I was scared if I would make it or not, but thankfully I did and there were people watching who were ready to call the police and lifeguards if needed.
 
Transcript: "What's the most dangerous situation? I've put myself in to get the shot. Yeah, I've been in some pretty hairy situations before, but if I think if there's one that sticks out in my mind where I really felt, you know, physical harm and danger might come to me, was probably about 16 years ago, or so maybe more probably closer to 18 years ago. I was on the North Shore of Maui. On a big day. I remember Jaws was breaking that day was a substantial North swell. And most of the, the brakes honolua Bay and everything on that side were closing out, I was at a break, all the windmills, around the corner, from honolua Bay. And I remember the entire Bay, some massive Bay was closed out. There's still some guys surfing. So I went out with my underwater housing, which at the time was not a digital, camera was a film camera. So this is probably around two thousand three or four and Phil camera, 36 exposures swam out. And I remember I swam out a couple hours into the building swell and about two or three hours while I was out there. I did one film change. And after my second film change, I was out there and the, the swell was really starting to build and easily, you know, double to Triple overhead waves, and I'm swimming around with my my fins and everything. Thing, we starting to close out. I remember the Surfers, we're starting to try to get out of the water and I found myself in the position where I had to take a couple on the head to get in and go over the falls and remember, just thinking myself, is this really worth it? What am I doing really? Felt my heart coming out of my throat and was definitely a pucker moment or I was scared if I was going to get back on land or not, but got back on land and crazy thing is, when I walked on the shore with my house, Seeing my fins. There is a couple people watching the entire situation saying, oh, we're about a call the the police and lifeguards because we weren't sure if you to make it in or not but made it. Okay. And lived to tell the tale"

I am interested in using a question platform because it is a great tool for experts to answer questions and for people to reference the same answers. It's also an opportunity to learn new things that you might not have thought of asking.
 
Transcript: "Ryan, Durkin asked as an expert, why are you interested in using any question? Well, I think having a platform, where leaders or people with knowledge, in their perspective Fields can answer questions on a platform and people can reference them is a great tool, I think as an expert in my field. I feel I kind of feel the same questions over and over. Over again. You know young photographers asking how to make it young photographers asking what I do you know from day to day or what are my biggest moments I've had. And I think having a place where all these these answers to these questions are, are kind of catalogued is a great place for people to learn and a great place for people to reference the same answers and questions the same. You a that's asked over and over again. So at the end, it is it's directly to the point and it waste less time for, you know, the expert and the person looking for the answers and it's kind of fun to also, learn about new things that you wouldn't have asked. I've kind of scroll through any questions and I see answers to things that I actually never thought of asking. So I think having this platform and having it as a resource for people, Will to learn things they want to learn about or things. They don't know about and are surprised to learn about is a great thing."

I like to relax and take some downtime by paddling surfing or swimming in the ocean. It's a great way to escape from reality and to watch the sunset and moon rise.
 
Transcript: "My favorite way to relax and downtime in between shooting is to get out in the ocean and either paddle surf, or Swim kind of Escape all the noise that you get on land and you just get out a couple of miles and just absolutely beautiful and quiet out here. It's a nice little break from reality and every now and then you see dolphins and whales and sharks and other things, that kind of put things in a perspective, but came out here tonight test To watch the sunset and the moon rise."

I love photography because it allows me to capture a moment in time and share my vision with the world. With the rise of social media, I have the opportunity to quickly spread my message and potentially even change the world. Every time I go out, I have the chance to create something different.
 
Transcript: "What I love about photography is as a photographer, you have a chance to go out and freeze time, and create a canvas of how you saw that moment in time and being able to create and put your eyes and filter on a moment that you saw and share that with the world, I believe makes it one of the most powerful forms of communication we have as human Things and especially with the Advent of Instagram, social media, you have an opportunity to share photos and video very quickly across many platforms and share your vision and maybe even, you know, change the world. If it's something really important that you take a photo of, I love photography because every time I go out, I have a chance to create something different."

To break out of a creative rut, I recharge my batteries by spending time with family, doing activities like swimming, paddle boarding, cycling, and running. I also compete in open ocean paddle board races to reset my focus and refresh my motivation. Additionally, I take on personal projects that interest me, which helps me keep wanting to do my work.
 
Transcript: "How do you break out of a creative rut? I think this was asked by Lucas Gilman. Great question, Lucas as a photographer and videographer. Now for almost 30 years it's really easy to get stuck in a rut or a funk personally. I recharge my battery by spending time at home, with my family, take time for myself every day to either exercise or get outside. Whether it's swimming paddle boarding, Surfing cycling, running whatever it is. It's getting time for myself to reset button every summer. Seasonally I compete in open ocean paddle board races in between Channel Islands. In the Hawaiian islands around locally, San Diego, and l.a. And those helped me kind of reset what my focus is and refresh what I want to do. You later on in the year, another thing I like to do too is take on personal projects, not commissioned work, but stuff. I want to shoot whether it's a long-term or short-term story photo essay someone or something. I find interesting just going out and seeking that out and planning. Something I want to shoot for myself personally. And that helps me after almost 30 years of doing this to keep on, wanting to do it."