In their own words

Each week, World News America features 'First Person', a signature series where people from all walks of life tell their individual stories.

THE ART OF OIL

For the last decade, Edward Burtynsky has been capturing the world of oil and gas and now displays a collection of 55 colour landscapes at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

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Artist Edward Burtynsky

ISLAMIC REVOLUTION: MAN BEHIND THE CAMERA

The recent protests in Tehran have been both passionate and violent, but this is not the first time such scenes have unfolded. In 1979 photojournalist David Burnett captured with his camera the Islamic revolution which toppled the shah. In this first person account he spoke to us about the images he has now compiled in his new book "44 Days."

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Photojournalist David Burnett

KEN BURNS: A FILM MAKING LEGEND

Ken Burns has captivated audiences with his narrative film making style. Now he is producing a documentary on the history of America's national parks. In this first person account we spoke to him about his new project.

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Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns

DINING WITH A TOP FOOD CRITIC

Watch this personal account from one of America's most powerful food critics. Frank Bruni is hanging up his palate and his pen after 5 years at the New York Times and is out with a new book titled "Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater".

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Frank Bruni, New York food critic

DISAPPEARING MAN

It's difficult for a public official to simply disappear, even for a few hours. But you're about to meet a man who's in the business of making people go 'poof!' He's not a magician and he's not a hit man. Frank Ahearne helps people who want to drop off the grid. In this first person account he shares his knack for helping clients start all over again.

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Frank Ahearne, Disappearing Man

RIDING AWAY FROM ACADEMIA

Going from a philosopher to a mechanic is not exactly the normal career transition, but former PhD graduate from the University of Chicago, Matthew Crawford, has just done this. In this first person account we visited him in his Richmond, Virginia repair shop and spoke to him about his new book, "shop class as soulcraft."

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Matthew Crawford, Former PhD student now mechanic

HOW TO MATCH WINE, FOOD AND BUDGET

Picking the right bottle of wine can often be a nerve racking experience. Emily Wines, is an appropriately named New York sommelier whose job is to make sure that even recession palates can find a good Burgundy or Pinot. In this first person account Ms. Wines walks us through the art of making the perfect match of grape, food and budget.

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Lisa Wines, New York sommelier

CAPTURING HISTORY A PICTURE AT A TIME

Andrew Carroll is determined that many more Americans will know about their country's past, and particularly about quirky, previously obscure events and locations. He calls his project "Here is Where..." and he is traveling through all 50 states photographing and writing about long-forgotten people and places. In this First Person account, Andrew provides examples of the historical 'nuggets' he's unearthing.

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Andrew Carroll photographer of history

A FOUNDING FATHER OF 'WOODSTOCK'

'Woodstock' is a music concert held in rural town of Bethel, New York. It has been running since 1969. However, this event would not have occurred if the organisers had not had a permit. In this first person we spoke to Elliot Tiber the man with permission to run a music festival at the time.

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Elliot Tiber Woodstock Founding Father

AUDIO AND VISUAL TREASURES

In Virginia, a former bomb shelter houses the most comprehensive collection of audio visual materials in the country. It is called the National Audio Visual Conservation Center. In this first person account, the chief of the campus, Patrick Loughney, takes us on a tour of the facility.

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National Audio Visual Conservation Center

A PRESIDENTIAL PERFORMANCE

The Comedy show "Second City" hails from Chicago and has recently put on a sketch about President Obama. Actor Seth Weitberg, who plays White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, gave his take on the show.

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Actor Seth Weitberg about comedy show Second City

AN ARTIST WITH LUNAR INSPIRATION

Only twelve men have stepped on the moon. One of them was Alan Bean who in 1969 spent nearly eight hours on the lunar surface as an astronaut aboard Apollo 12. Since then he has been trying to recapture the experience through art.

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Alan Bean Apollo 12 astronaut

40 YEARS SINCE STONEWALL RIOTS

It has been 40 years since an uprising known as the Stonewall riots helped launch the gay rights movement in the United States. In this first person we spoke to Jerry Hoose who took part in this rebellion.

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Gay activist Jerry Hoose

NEW YORK FOODIE: EAT LESS MEAT

New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman calls on people to reduce their meat consumption to save the planet from global warming.

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Mark Bittman on food and climate change

LENNON'S LOVE FOR THE BIG APPLE

John Lennon lived in Manhattan during most of the 1970s and embraced all the Big Apple had to offer. He had a special relationship with the city that is now being celebrated in a new exhibit. In this first person account we spoke to the associate curator Craig Inciardi.

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John Lennon and New York City

YOUSSOU N'DOUR - A SINGING GENIUS

Youssou N'Dour has entertained millions with his unique blend of music, appearing on stage with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Sting. In this first person he tells us what inspires him.

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Revolutionary singer

THE POWER OF THE PICTURE EDITOR

The picture editor is a vital behind the scenes force in the creation of any TV piece, and our own Bill McKenna was recently named "editor of the year" by the White House News Photographers Association.

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Picture power

THE GENIUS BEHIND THE GUGGENHEIM

The Guggenheim Museum in New York is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exhibition showcasing the creative genius of its designer Frank Lloyd Wright. Exhibition curator Thomas Krens describes the man, the museum and the unique architectural vision.

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An iconic building

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Students at the American University of Paris are graduating during an economic recession. AUP President Celeste Schenck seeks to calm their fears. She tells the graduates that they do not need to be perfect, they will make mistakes and should learn from them.

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Learning life's lessons

THE REAL BALTIMORE?

Crime in the Baltimore underworld was graphically portrayed in the hit TV show The Wire, but critics complained it was too brutal and damning. Peter Herman has been a crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun since 1994. We follow him on the beat.

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A crime scene in Baltimore

A DIFFERENT DRUMBEAT

Zakir Hussain has been called the world's finest tabla player. He started playing the 300-year-old Indian drums at the tender age of three. But being a maestro runs in the family, as he followed in the footsteps of his late father Ustad Alla Rakha.

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A mystical music experience

THE COST OF CUBA'S TRAVEL BAN

Armando Garcia has helped Cuban exiles fly home for the past 30 years through his travel agency in Miami. He has struggled to keep the firm open in the face of a firebomb attack and harassment. But he's hopeful that a new era of freer travel can be ushered in.

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Hoping for a normal business