Nestor Hernández facts for kids

Nestor Hernández (born 1961 – died May 13, 2006) was an American photographer. He was also a photojournalist, which means he used photos to tell news stories. Nestor was of Cuban descent and lived in Washington, DC. He was famous for his "street photography." This means he took pictures of everyday life in his Washington, DC neighborhood. He also captured scenes from Cuba, Ghana, and Mali. In these countries, he even led art projects for kids and young adults.

Nestor Hernández: A Photographer's Journey

Nestor Hernández was born in 1961 in Washington, DC. His father was Afro-Cuban, and his mother was African-American. He grew up in the DC area. He didn't know much about his Afro-Cuban family history or relatives in Cuba at first.

How Nestor Started Photography

Nestor first learned about photography in high school. He joined a special program called the Urban Journalism Workshop. This workshop was part of the D.C. public schools. It helped him discover his passion for taking pictures.

Nestor's Career in Photography

Nestor worked for 15 years as a photographer. He took pictures for the Capital Children’s Museum. Later, he became the main photographer for the Washington, D.C. public school system. His amazing photos appeared in many different publications.

Where Nestor's Photos Were Shown

Nestor's photographs were shown in many places. They appeared in galleries, art spaces, and museums. You could see his work in the Washington, D.C. area. His photos were also displayed in other American cities. He even had exhibitions in Havana, Cuba, and Accra, Ghana. Many newspapers and magazines published his professional photos. These included The Metro Herald and Port of Harlem magazine.

Awards and Recognition

Nestor Hernández received several important awards for his work. These awards recognized his talent and contributions.

Awards for His Art

In 2002, he won the "Outstanding Emerging Artist" award. The next year, in 2003, he received an Artist Fellowship Grant. Both of these awards came from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Awards for Community Service

In 1998, Nestor was given the "Community Service Award." This award was from the Exposure Group. This group is an association for African American Photographers. In 2001, the same association chose him as "Photographer of the Year."

Exhibitions of Nestor's Work

Nestor Hernández's photographs were featured in many exhibitions. These shows allowed people to see his unique view of the world.

• 1999 - Inside Cuba: A Photographic Journey, Center for Collaborative Art and Visual Education (CAVE), Washington, DC
• 2000 - Forever Young: A Portrait of the Black Child, Capital Children's Museum, Washington, DC
• 2002 - In the Arms of the Elders, Anacostia Smithsonian Museum, Washington, DC
• 2003 - Cuba Now!, Sumner School Museum and Archives, Washington, DC
• 2003 - De Aqui y de Alla (From Here and From There) - Contemporary Cuban Artists, Fraser Gallery, Bethesda, Maryland
• 2004 - Walking to their own beat: Afro-Cuban Musicians and the Black Identity, Latin American Youth Center, Washington, DC
• 2005 - Our Children, Our World, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
• 2006 - Love, Loss and Longing: The Impact of U.S. Travel Policy on Cuban-American Families, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA
• 2007 - Nestor Hernandez Memorial Survey, International Visions Gallery, Washington, DC