I do miss the days when we used to drive into the countryside. We’d never know who we were going to run into, and the sessions were both instant and spontaneous. Great times with genuine people!
Showing posts with label Campo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Campo. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Man + House, Campo, Cuba
I do miss the days when we used to drive into the countryside. We’d never know who we were going to run into, and the sessions were both instant and spontaneous. Great times with genuine people!
Monday, December 26, 2022
Patricia + Railroad Tracks, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016
What would photography on the island be without Profe Gysleda and her students?
Let's just say that my interactions with her students are nothing short of miraculous. Here we are, welcomed into the most prestigious school for models in Havana, and allowed to interact equally with her students. These relationships over the years have turned into true friendships, and the collaborations are like times with friends.
Patricia is all the above and more, as this session in the countryside exemplifies. She brings a great attitude with her, as well as a great selection of clothing. Some say that this is anything but real photography, that photography in Cuba should be about photographing life as it presents itself in the streets. I say why not photograph the people as they would like to present themselves, as models and dancers and actors?
Well here is Patricia as a model, something that she has aspired to be in her young life. A incredible one truly in my humble opinion.
Young Girl + House, Crimea, Cuba, 2015
Driving into the Cuban countryside is a privilege, both because few can do so and also because of the people we meet. We arrived at this spot by happenstance, as we turned left off of the main road to venture. We met a man at a fruit stand and purchased a few items, all the while having a conversation and making his portrait. He told us of his village and invited us to visit. We decided to go and, long story short, ended up photographing this young girl's neighborhood. I'm grateful for her time, and the warmth that her family showed us during our times there. It's been many years since 2015 and I look forward to the possibility of visiting them once again in 2023.
Etsy
Young Boy + Rice Field, Manzanillo, Cuba, 2017
I remember this image like it was yesterday. We had driven out to the eastern part of the island and were concentrating on a family living in the city for the photography. We also were able to drive to the countryside and meet some wonderful people. This young boy actually lived in the city but liked to visit his grandparents in the countryside. Alejandro was able to pull up within 100 meters or so of the house, but was limited due to the muddy path.
So I decided to get out and walk the rest of the way to speak with the family. They were very kind and welcomed me onto their property. Their home was a traditional one, constructed of wood. Their grandson showed interest in the camera and so we decided to play around, as he grabbed this tool and headed into the rice field. It was a great experience and one for which I am forever grateful. This is what the island means to me, incredible people and honest interactions.
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Ballerina + Freeway Exit, Bauta, Cuba, 2015
I sincerely miss the days when we'd get in Alejandro's car and pick up the family well before sunrise, arriving at this spot a bit before sunrise. The dedication of the families impresses me to this day. Their admiration for the work and their affection for their children are something to behold truly. This young girl lives in a small town near the capital but is now attending the national school of ballet in the city. Even back then her talent was clearly visible.
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Patricia + Campo, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016
Beautiful memory of a great morning in the countryside with Patricia, missing yet another summer in Cuba due to the pandemic. Hope all are healthy and safe on the island!
Thank you @modaegos and team!
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Tamy + Baseball Field, Countryside, Cuba, 2018
Four Images of Tamy, Campo, Cuba, 2018
What makes these images even more incredible is that they were made within an hour or so one morning. For these images to have been possible, Tamy needed to be ready and we needed to reach this part of the countryside well before sunrise.
We decided on this neighborhood a day in advance, but the specific locations depended on how the light was in the morning. This made her professionalism that much more valuable. We used this location once in 2018 and never again. These prints were made in the darkroom yesterday, and toned in selenium this morning.
It was so early that the grass was soaked with the morning dew. Nonetheless Tamy was kind enough to walk onto the baseball field without hesitation, even with the animals in the distance. While these images are normally made in the city, to bring her unparalleled talents into the countryside made me proud. Dance after all is for everyone, from city dwellers to farmers.
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
El Arte de Patricia, Yudel y Gysleda, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016
¡hermosos recuerdos del año 2016!
¡gracias a Patricia y a Yudel R. Contreras Garcia por su arte!
PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/180mm combination, the print toned in Selenium.
Joven + Campo, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2018
Sometimes I love taking a square negative and filling up the space of an 11x14 print. That was the case with this young girl's portrait from the countryside of Cuba. It has been my honor to photograph her and her family for the past five years, and I hope that she and her family are safe during these difficult times.
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Hands of Laborer, Countryside, Cuba, 2018
The printing of my time in the Cuban countryside continues this week, reliving the memories made with each image is a remarkable experience. Each represents a day in my life, and a lesson learned from the subjects. Ask about an image and a conversation begins... the gift of photography continues.
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Cuban + Home, Countryside, Cuba, 2018
The printing of my time in the Cuban countryside continues this week, reliving the memories made with each image is a remarkable experience. Each of these images represents a day in my life, and a lesson learned from the subjects. Ask about an image and a conversation begins... the gift of photography continues.
This kind man was watching us photographing the house across the street and then returned with an incredible gift. Here we were parked on his land and he takes it upon himself to be the generous one. What a great man!
Friday, September 3, 2021
Negative + Couple, Countryside, Cuba, 2018
En el cuarto oscuro con los retratos del campo cubano... frente a mi cafetería preferida, mejor comida y servicio que los mejores hoteles de la ciudad.
Daughter of Farmer, Countryside, Cuba, 2017
As the cliche goes, there's a story behind every photograph and this one is a great example. A year earlier we were driving in the countryside looking for people when we saw a tree with a light bulb hanging from one of its branches. Once we stopped we also noticed a small bench. It was right across the street from this young woman's house, and her mother came out when she noticed us.
She was very sweet and was just wondering as to why we had stopped. We learned that she was responsible for the spot, making it so that she can sit peacefully in the evenings on the side of the road. She learned that I was a photographer and told me that her daughter really wanted to be a model. We were invited over to the house and ended up meeting her daughter, this young woman in the picture.
We exchanged information and tried our hardest to make it happen in the last week of my summer but weren't able to do so in 2017. When I went back to Cuba in 2018 I never forgot the promise to make a session happen. We called her family and drove the hour to her home for a talk. She was so happy to see us and we made plans for the next week.
When we arrived her boyfriend and mother were helping her get ready. Seeing the family sitting together to help her realize one of her wishes was heartwarming. What was even better was that in between our visits she became pregnant, and was very much looking forward to modeling for herself and her future baby. It was a great afternoon, an experience to remember thanks to this portrait.
Note: Medium-format negative printed onto 11x14 fiber paper and toned in selenium today.
Monday, August 30, 2021
Farmer + Hands, Campo, Cuba, 2018
There's something special about heading into the Cuban countryside. Normally we start well before sunrise and hope to find such a man in time for the perfect light. Sometimes we get lucky early, and get a chance to make a portrait after a conversation. He was great, made photographs leaning up against the Oldsmobile, some with and without his hat. His hands caught my attention, and I asked him to lift them for this image.
Rachel + Yudel, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016
Earlier last month Rachel reached out to me regarding these images, as it seemed she was missing them. It happened to be our last session in 2016, in one our favorite places outside of the city. Many of my friends from Cuba have had their images made here, and some with that beautiful, blue chair in the background. It feels great when a dear friend gets a hold of me years after a session, tells me that the photography had an effect on all those involved.
Thanks to Yudel R. Contreras Garcia for the beautiful, hand-made outfits... and to Gysleda Virginia De La Barca Vega for making all of this possible!
El mes pasado, Rachel me contactó con respecto a estas imágenes, ya que parecía que no las tenía. Resultó ser nuestra última sesión en 2016, en uno de nuestros lugares favoritos fuera de la ciudad. Muchos de mis amigos de Cuba se han hecho sus imágenes aquí, y algunos con esa hermosa silla azul de fondo. Se siente muy bien cuando un querido amigo me contacta años después de una sesión, me dice que la fotografía tuvo un efecto en todos.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Portrait in a Chair, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Algunos dirían que esta forma de fotografía no es documental, que mover una silla o tener una conversación sobre vestuario y peinado es ocultar la verdad. Algunos dicen que esto es artificial, mostrando algo diferente a la realidad.
Les digo que todo el mundo tiene sueños y que su realidad está fuera de su control. ¿Por qué no hablar con ella y entender cómo le gustaría que la fotografiaran? ¿Por qué deberíamos imponer las nociones del mundo de su país y su sociedad? ¿Qué pasa con sus pensamientos y sueños?
Esta joven viene del campo y vive en un pequeño grupo de casas de madera. La gente de la ciudad llama a estas comunidades 'llegan y ponen', viniendo a la ciudad desde los pueblos y construyendo casas improvisadas ilegalmente.
Sin embargo, son como migrantes en todas partes, buscando una vida mejor para sus familias. Conocimos a su comunidad mientras Idiovel me conducía por el campo y terminamos conduciendo hasta su pequeño pueblo. De alguna manera terminamos frente a la casa de sus abuelos y nos invitaron amablemente a entrar.
Durante las próximas semanas regresamos muchas veces, tuvimos múltiples sesiones de fotografía con la comunidad, grabamos un video musical para su primo (una aspirante a artista) e hicimos este retrato muy especial de una joven sin paralelo en su belleza y fuerza.
Note: Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination, printed in the darkroom onto Ilford 11x14 fiber paper, toned in selenium for permanence.
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Young Nica + Field, Miramar, Nicaragua, 2020
Going back to Nicaragua for me was like going back in time to a different life. My parents made a life for themselves in this beautiful land, and giving us the opportunity for a better future. An earthquake in 1972 destroyed all of that, but did not destroy our memories of it all. The people of this country embraced me like a brother and have allowed my photography to take root in the land of my birth. I will always be grateful to them now, and to their hospitality at the time of my parents' generation in this land.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Man + Horse, Countryside, Cuba, 2018
Hay unas semanas antes del verano en Cuba. Por supuesto, me gustaría hacer arte con los bailarines y modelos, pero también debemos incluir a los magníficos cubanos que viven fuera de la ciudad.
There are a few weeks before the summer in Cuba. Of course I would like to do art with the dancers and models, but we must also include the magnificent Cubans who live outside the city too!
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Un Poco de Color Con Anyel, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Justo antes de irme a la India, mi querido amigo David me envió tres rollos, tres rollos de mi tiempo en Cuba el verano pasado. Uno de los rollos era un rollo de color de mi último día, e incluía mi tiempo con Anyel y Anays. Aquí está para tus ojos Anyel, un escaneo inicial solo para tu revisión ... disfrute y sepa que crearemos más arte esté verano.
Just before I went to Lebanon, my dear friend David sent me three rolls, three rolls of my time in Cuba last summer. One of the rolls was a color roll from my last day, and it included my time with Anyel and Anays. Here it is for your eyes Anyel, an initial scan only for your review ... enjoy and know that we will create more art this summer.
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