This Wednesday we will continue to talk to Ed Umoja, a highly recommend photographer with the ability to leave you breathless when you see his photographs!

Edmund (Ed) Herman, the third of four siblings, is a native of the caribbean island of St. Lucia. In the early 1970′s Edmund met the great Gordon Parks who opened up the world of photography to young Edmund. His first published works were featured in his high school yearbook.

In 1992, Ed founded Umoja Photography to document the diversity, spirituality and beauty of the people around him. Every image preserves the character of the subject or genre allowing the viewer a window seat in. Ed continues to document the lives of leaders and people who change and influence our history with their actions. To date, Edmund’s work has appeard in various publications and events such as:

British Airways High life Magazine
P.E.P. News Paper

Action Martial Arts Magazine

The Amsterdam News

Carib News New York

Our Times Press

N.A.N Newsletter

The Final Call

Boom Collective Directory

The Noel/Scott Report

To Be African (TBA) website

Michael DePasquale Website

Abner Louima case legal photographs
He has created conceptual pieces such as The Gathering his rendition of the Last Supper, The Protectors”call to service”, The Protectors”warriors of peace” , Heaven on Earth, Voiceless and Harriet Tubman”Moses of the middle passage” just to name a few.

One of Mr. Herman’s conceptual images was selected for the cover of the book Stolen Women,Reclaiming our Sexuality, taking BackOur Lives, by Gail Elizabeth Wyatt and published by John Wiley & Sons Inc. Dr. Wyatt believed Ed’s photography represented the struggle to achieve sexual well-being and beauty in our culture.

Ed previously served as Chairman for the National Action Network (N.A.N.) photo department from (1996-2001). He was Reverend Al Sharpton’s personal photographer for five years and also worked on Rev. Sharptons last mayoral campaign where he photographed Dr. Betty Shabazz just before her untimely death.

In addition, to his above accomplishments, Mr. Herman’s photography business (Umoja) specializes in wedding packages, family portraits, catered affairs, fashion shows. For the past three years Mr. Herman has been the photographer of record for Hats by Bunn.com. Moshood, the Nigerian designer based in Brooklyn, was very impressed with Umoja’s work that he contracted with the company for two and a half years to document his fashion and apparel line. Because of Ed’s extensive fashion experience many models in the industry have him work on their portfolios.

Exhibitions:

Black History Photo Exhibit at Penn Station,New York City

Private exhibit in Brooklyn in December 1997

Amy Ruth’s Restaurant

N.A.N. Photo exhibit November 1999

Umoja’s Accomplishments:

Poster Series on Harriet Tubman

U.S.. Kodokan Society of Black Belts Member

Hall of Fame inductee of the Southeastern Hall of Fame Martial Arts Brotherhood

Co-Founder of Sisters in Harmony
Photographer for North American Federation of Martial Artist (N.A.F.M.A.)

Staff Photographer for R.A.F.L.

Photography work for movie 365 days of marching movie: http://www.365daysofmarchingmovie.com/home.html

World karate Union Hall of fame 2006-2009

Photographer for Battle at the Boardwalk 2006 Altantic City, New Jersey

Official photographer for the United States Kickboxing Assoc.(USKBA) Rahway, New Jersey 2005,2006

Creator of Warriors of Peace” the Poster Series”

Michael DePasquale action film academy photographer 2004,2005,2006

Martial Arts University photographer 2004,2005,2006

O’Sensei Ronald Duncan Cross training Camp photographer 2004,2005

Photographer for American legion Baseball 2005-2009 New York State Championship

Awarded the Detective Beatrice E. Thomas Community Service Award, February 2003 from the Essex County Sheriffs Department.
Elected to the Wall of Positive Men of color March 2003, by the Council of Elders of the Generation Center.

Promotional Photographs for Lady Smith Black Mambazo

Published photography for the book Global Expressions by Lisa Shepherd

Photographer for day that honored New York Jets player Wayne Cherbet in Garfield, New Jersey 1998

He currently calls New Jersey home. Umoja’s services are available by appointment.

Share your poetry or your music. Will be playing R&B, Hip-Hop and Old Skool. Tune in! The call in number is (347) 855-8245!