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 Countryside. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Countryside. 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 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.
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Trabajdores, Campo, Cuba, 2017
¡hermosos recuerdos del año 2017!
¡gracias a los trabajadores fuertes en el campo!
PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/100mm combination, the print toned in Selenium for permanence.
Lily + Countryside, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2018
Thanks to Profe Gysleda and her school ModaEgos, images of aspiring models in the countryside were made possible. This neighborhood is one in which my friend Alejandro has both family and friends. As a result we were able to walk around and find spaces for our sessions. This one spot is one of my favorites and has the most beautiful blue chair, as seen in the background. This young woman, Lily, did exceptionally well in light of her very sensitive eyes. All are appreciated and my hope is that these prints are a testament to their collective vision.
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.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Grandfather + Window, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
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.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Dancer + Freeway Exit, 16 x 20 Enlarged Proof, Bauta, Cuba, 2015
This was the third print from today in the darkroom, a 16x20 enlarged proof of a young ballerina in Bauta, Cuba. During that summer we drove further away from Havana looking for opportunities, and found a great connection in this beautiful town.
We were driving through the town when I wondered out loud to Alejandro about the possibility of a dance school. He doubted if this town had such a school. As he was speaking, this young girl was dressed in her dance outfit with two adults on the sidewalk. We stopped immediately and were informed that there was a school, and that it offered private lessons to serious students.
They pointed out the school to us and we headed that way. The teacher was very nice and told us to come back later, after he had spoken with the parents. When we did return this young girl and another were waiting in the park along with their parents. This is what makes photography so incredible, meeting people one minute and then creating the next.
The spot in the images is the exit off of the highway for the town. It looked so beautiful and we offered it to the parents as our set. They accepted and we had a great afternoon with the two families. At first she had doubts about her abilities, but she was perfect once the photography started. It's great to see her movements on one print, makes me feel that the enlarged proofs for Cuba are perfect!
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!
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Field of Icarus, Countryside, Nicaragua, 2019
Today was spent driving around the northern corner of Nicaragua. We drove by seemingly endless groups of homes, on a day when almost all were walking to and from church. We drove on smooth highways as well as roads covered with pebbles. On the same day we drove past dry grass fields with Icarus trees as well as dense forests with ancient trees. At almost any point the camera could have been set up and an image made. The beauty of this land is immeasurable. My hope is that the people within its borders can one day truly enjoy this beauty, while at the same time enjoying a better life for all.
Monday, December 14, 2020
Bailarina + Finca, Nicaragua, 2020
Hace un mes fue otro día en el cuarto oscuro, con los negativos de enero en Nicaragua. Tuve el honor de tener como colaboradora a la escuela privada de danza más increíble ... y especialmente a la talentosa María Trinidad. Tanto ella como su padre hicieron tanto para hacer posibles estas imágenes ... ¡y es solo el comienzo en la ciudad donde mi padre comenzó su vida en el hemisferio occidental!
Monday, December 7, 2020
Love x 5, Countryside, Cuba, 2016
It pays to look all around us when we walk, as these words appeared beneath me while photographing in the countryside. I had walked up to the patio of a house to photograph the chair, and saw this word repeated in different colors beneath my feet. I wondered about the person or persons who had written these, and the genius of different colors used. Years in the past they knew that this would be needed more than ever in the future.
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
El Campo, Cuba, 2018
Ya sea que estemos en Cuba o en India o en Kenia, es el campo lo más mágico. La única excepción es la ciudad de La Habana, porque dentro de veinte minutos más o menos estamos en un espacio como este. Podemos estacionar el coche y esperar un momento como este.
Y la luz por la mañana!
Monday, January 14, 2019
Cubano, Campo, cuba, 2018
Lo sorprendente de este país es que en la mañana podríamos estar en la ciudad con los bailarines más talentosos y luego en la tarde con la gente noble del campo.
En este retrato hay un hombre amable que se detuvo por un minuto para permitir que se hiciera su retrato. Como no teníamos nada planeado para la tarde, decidimos salir de la ciudad. Buscábamos personas que trabajaran con sus manos y encontramos a este hombre con su caballo.
Hablamos unos minutos y él accedió a ser fotografiado. La cámara estaba en el asiento trasero, lista para usar. Lo instalamos y rápidamente hicimos su retrato, para que él pudiera ir y alimentar a su caballo con la hierba que acababa de cortar.
Estos son los momentos mágicos para mí, tanto por la hora como por la memoria.
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Cuban, Countryside, Cuba, 2018
What is amazing about this country is that in the morning we could be in the city with the most talented dancers and then in the afternoon with the noble people of the countryside.
In this portrait is a gentle man who stopped for a minute to allow his portrait to be made. Since we had nothing planned for the afternoon we decided to drive out of the city. We were looking for people working with their hands, and found this man with his horse.
We spoke for a few minutes and he agreed to be photographed. The camera was in the back seat, ready to use. We set it up and quickly made his portrait, so that he could go and feed his horse with the grass he had just cut.
These are the magical moments for me, both because of the hour and also because of the memory.
Friday, December 21, 2018
El Rapido + Campo Florido, Cuba, 2018
Si alguien está interesado en los mejores bocadillos fuera de la ciudad, en el campo, este es el lugar para ir. La pareja siempre nos saluda con sonrisas, y su pan es fresco. Aquí los bocadillos son deliciosos, y el servicio rápido. El pueblo está hermosamente tranquilo, ya que generalmente nos detenemos aquí después de una mañana de fotografía en nuestro camino de regreso a La Habana. Incluso tienen mi sándwich favorito, pan con timba! Esta es mi tercera noche de escanear el trabajo del verano en Cuba, ¡y cada rollo se siente como la víspera de Navidad!
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If anyone is interested in the best sandwiches outside of the city, in the countryside, this is the spot to go. The couple always greets us with smiles, and their bread is fresh. Here the sandwiches is delicious, and the service quick. The town is beautifully quiet, as we usually stop here after a morning of photography on our way back to Havana. They even have my favorite sandwich, pan con timba! This is my third night of scanning the work from the summer in Cuba, and every roll feels like Christmas Eve!
Website
Note: This image was exposed with a Hasselblad 503 CW/100 mm lens.
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If anyone is interested in the best sandwiches outside of the city, in the countryside, this is the spot to go. The couple always greets us with smiles, and their bread is fresh. Here the sandwiches is delicious, and the service quick. The town is beautifully quiet, as we usually stop here after a morning of photography on our way back to Havana. They even have my favorite sandwich, pan con timba! This is my third night of scanning the work from the summer in Cuba, and every roll feels like Christmas Eve!
Website
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Darkroom + Nicaragua, November, 2018
Spent a few days in the darkroom this past week, and looking forward to the rest of November in that sweet space printing the work from Nicaragua. Here we have two dancers from the beautiful city of Léon. They presented themselves without hesitation and the images take my breath away almost one year later.
Note: Frame exposed with a Hasselblad 503 CW/60 mm lens combination.
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