Another day in the darkroom with the Cuban negatives, this one of a scene of contrasts, a classic from Italy with a ray of sunshine gently hitting it.
PS Negative exposed with a Fuji GA645i, the print toned in Selenium.
Showing posts with label Street Photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Street Photography. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Fiat + Dusk in the City, Havana, Cuba, 2018
Another day in the darkroom with the Cuban negatives, this one of a scene of contrasts, a classic from Italy with a ray of sunshine gently hitting it.
Friday, January 8, 2021
Mango Habana + La Noche, Habana, Cuba, 2018
El verano pasado por la noche caminé por las calles, buscando luz en las calles. Fue una experiencia increíble, más fácil que fotografiar los edificios durante días.
Esta isla siempre me ha enseñado valiosas lecciones, las familias me han tratado bien, como un hermano y un hijo. La paciencia ha sido una lección que me ha permitido ver mi trabajo de una manera diferente.
La paciencia del verano pasado me permitió pasar menos tiempo detrás de la cámara y más tiempo con mis amigos. Tomar un descanso para descansar durante el día me permitió caminar por la noche, viendo la ciudad sin luces y sin turistas.
Algo sobre la noche hizo que mis conversaciones con la gente de esta ciudad fueran muy diferentes. Las conversaciones fueron más relajadas, sin el intercambio habitual entre turista y habitante. Las imágenes tienen una sensación diferente, y me alegro de haber aprovechado la oportunidad para hacer imágenes por la noche.
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Last summer I walked the streets at night, looking for light in the streets. It was an incredible experience, easier than photographing the buildings during the days.
This island has always taught me valuable lessons, the families have treated me well, like a brother and son. Patience has been one lesson, which has allowed me to look at my work in a different way.
This past summer patience allowed me to spend less time behind the camera and more time with my friends. Taking a break to rest during the day allowed me to walk around at night, seeing the city without lights and without tourists.
Something about the night made my conversations with the people of this city much different. The conversations were more relaxed, without the usual exchange between tourist and inhabitant. The images have a different sensation, and I am glad to have taken the chance to make images at nighttime.
Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 503CW/100 mm combination.
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Granizado y Año Nuevo, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
These empty bottles are what's left of 2020. My hope is that bright, sugary liquids fill these bottles soon, as symbols of a better year ahead. Hopefully soon we can stand together around this cart and purchase a 5 peso cup of that most refreshing mixture!
Estas botellas vacías son lo que queda de 2020. Mi esperanza es que los líquidos brillantes y azucarados llenen estas botellas pronto, como símbolo de un año mejor. ¡Con suerte, pronto estaremos juntos alrededor de este carrito y compraremos una taza de 5 pesos de la mezcla más refrescante!
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Siete, La Habana, Cuba, 2008
Lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo ... ¡siempre hay uno de cada personaje en cada calle! Me pregunto qué pensaría el niño de la izquierda sobre su gesto tantos años después. Si alguien lo conoce y le gustaría compartir esta fotografía con él, ¿puede hacerme saber qué piensa?
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Billy + Notebook, La Habana, Cuba, 2005
I write this post in English because Billy is an English teacher in Cuba, as well as my first Spanish teacher on the island. Your comment on the previous post affected me sincerely, like all of your communication regarding our past. You have a way with words which I admire very much, truly.
Without you the early work would have been impossible. The memories of us walking the streets and striking up conversations are very special to me. It was spontaneous, we never knew the people we would meet on our way, and the photographs we would make.
Here you are in this image, speaking with the people and writing down the names of the ones photographed. Every single one of these notebooks is still with me, perhaps next time I will bring them and we can visit the families from so long ago. Cuba has certainly changed, but as you know the people have fond memories of our visits.
Cosset + Barrio, La Habana, Cuba, 2005
Justo este año nos reconectamos después de unos años de diferencia, y hablamos como si nuestra última reunión fuera ayer. Nos conocemos desde hace más de 15 años y en su barrio hay decenas de niños que hemos fotografiado. Los nombres son tan familiares como los de mi familia.
La primera vez que la conocimos fue cuando estábamos caminando por su calle, hacia la calle principal. Estaba de pie frente a su casa cuando la vimos. Ella sonrió y seguimos caminando, luego nos detuvimos y nos dimos la vuelta para hablar con su familia. Al principio, ella se negó a ser fotografiada, pero sentí que realmente quería hacerlo.
Yo y Billy dijimos gracias y seguimos caminando. Miré hacia atrás después de unos pasos y la vi hablando con un hombre al otro lado de la calle. Ese hombre amable y fuerte nos pidió que regresáramos, y Cosset nos dio permiso para fotografiarla a ella y a los niños de su barrio. Esta serie de fotografías fue de ese primer día, tal como nos conocimos.
¡El mes pasado me preguntó sobre mi próxima visita, y compartimos la esperanza de que sea pronto en el futuro!
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Farmer + Field, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020
Thanks to David from Dodge-Chrome, Inc. for processing all of my film from this most important year. This past visit to India was my first time in over a decade that a 35mm camera was taken with me, and the results have confirmed my faith in this beautiful format. Soon to be in the darkroom printing this!
Monday, November 16, 2020
Suley + EGOS, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Continuamos con los retratos de hace dos años con este de Suley Martínez Hernández. Al igual que con los demás, Suley está asociada con la magnífica escuela de modelado EGOS, la creación de la maestra Gysleda Virginia De La Barca Vega.
Dos años parecen toda una vida, pero esta imagen recupera los recuerdos de inmediato. Nos organizamos en la escuela y, cuando las modelos estuvieron listas, salimos a la calle. Si bien los turistas generalmente miran los edificios y las mujeres con cigarros, esta vez no tuvieron otra opción y tuvieron que mirar a este grupo de mujeres hermosas y fuertes.
Estábamos caminando cerca de la escuela cuando vimos esta esquina. La luz era en realidad un reflejo de una ventana más arriba. Fue perfecto, y Suley, como siempre, aceptó el desafío. Se acercó a la esquina e hicimos una docena de imágenes con varias expresiones. Ella era y es magnífica.
Hemos colaborado muchas veces, y ella siempre ha sido creativa, independientemente del socio para la sesión. Espero un 2020 mejor y un 2021 que incluya una visita a la isla.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Karla y Museo, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Hace dos años, este lugar era muy familiar para muchos de mis amigos, y especialmente para Karla y sus amigas de EGOS. A veces, en La Habana, los lugares más fáciles de incluir son muy públicos, como ocurre con el Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
Todos me disculpo por repetir el lugar, pero la escultura fue irresistible para mí. Fue creado en 1953 por la artista Rita Longa, y se llama 'Forma, Espacio y Luz."
“Ritmo, movimiento, gracia, refinamiento y elegancia son algunas de las cualidades que definen la calidad orgánica de las piezas creadas por este artista”.
Parecía inspirar a todos los que actuaban frente a él, incluida mi querida amiga Karla. Gracias a Idiovel, llegamos temprano a la ciudad y colaboramos en tres lugares a pie, mientras nos dirigíamos al museo. Terminamos nuestra mañana aquí, y Karla fue lo suficientemente valiente como para soportar la fuerte luz del sol para producir esta imagen.
Gracias, como siempre, a la Profe Gysleda Virginia De La Barca Vega... para todo!
Friday, October 30, 2020
Melissa + Puerta, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Hace 15 años, mis únicas conversaciones con mi familia en la isla ocurrieron cuando yo estaba en la isla. Ahora, con las redes sociales, estas conversaciones ocurren a diario, como mi conversación con Melissa Montalvo Hernández la semana pasada. Fue agradable ponerse al día y me recordó aquellos momentos en que podíamos caminar por las calles de esa magnífica Habana con una cámara, cuando teníamos la libertad de detenernos como deseábamos y crear imágenes.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Granizado + Edificios, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Mis amigos cubanos conocen el significado de esta imagen. Un verano en la isla no es un verano sin visitas diarias a este puesto y a otros en la ciudad. Hay algo especial en esas botellas, especialmente en esas tardes calientes y húmedas ... ¡y es por eso que todas están vacías!
My Cuban friends know the signifance of this image. A summer on the island is not a summer without daily visits to this stand, and others around the city. There is something special in those bottles, especially on those hot and humid afternoons... and that's why all of them are empty!
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Dos Modelos + Perro, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Gracias a Yudel R. Contreras Garcia tuvimos el arte más increíble para nuestra sesión frente al museo. Luna y Laura fueron las estrellas esa mañana y caminamos a algunos lugares, desde la Embajada de España hasta el Hotel Sevilla y el Museo de Bella Artes.
Entre estos lugares famosos se encontraba la entrada de apartamento más hermosa, en la que hicimos esta fotografía. Estaba al lado de una parada de autobús y cuando la gente pasaba, miraron a estas dos mujeres talentosas, vestidas con el arte de Yudel. Cuando terminamos la docena de fotografías, un perro se sentó junto a las muchachas, ¡y fue un gran modelo!
Hicimos doce imágenes y luego caminamos al hotel para la siguiente parte de la sesión. Esta imagen se hizo gracias al talento y la paciencia de estos dos hermosas amigas, y me siento honrada de haber sido su fotógrafo por un día.
Gracias a Gysleda Virginia De La Barca Vega por todo!
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Thanks to Yudel we had the most incredible art for our session in front of the museum. Grettel and Laura were the stars on that morning and we walked to a few places, from the Spanish Embassy to the Sevilla Hotel to the Museo de Bella Artes.
In between these famous places there was the most beautiful apartment entrance, in which we made this photograph. It was next to a bus stop and as people walked by they looked over at these two talented women, dressed in Yudel's art. As we finished the dozen photographs a dog sat next to the women, and was a great model!
We made twelve images and then walked to the hotel for the next part of the session. This image was made thanks to the talents and patience of these two beautiful friends, and I am honored to have been their photographer for a day.
Website
Monday, October 22, 2018
Young Student + Window, Koranic Madrasa, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018
This past year in India witnessed the opening of the realization of something quite special, the opening of a new school for girls in Uttar Pradesh under the guidance of Nirvanavan Foundation. Five years after my first visit to the region we have come together in an interfaith manner to promote the education of girls in a region where such is oftentimes missing.
This young girl attends a madrasa in her village as well. The headmaster is a cousin to our leader in the region, and we were invited to see the school for ourselves. For the moment the madrasa concentrates on Koranic training, as well as Arabic lessons. We hope in the near future that we can gain enough support to also begin a school within this madrasa... a school where this young student may have access to a fuller curriculum which includes Hindi, Urdu, Science, Mathematics, Art and so on.
Her school stands on its own in the middle of wheat fields, and this windows faces one of those fields. It faces south with the sun setting to our right in viewing her portrait. We walked into the four classrooms and asked the girls of each classroom to follow us into this unused space. The windows let in the most beautiful light. The camera was set against the wall and the tripod had to be tilted between each exposure to advance the film.
She sat down so patiently for a roll of film. The entire time her bright eyes remained focused intently on the lens, never wavering for one second. This is even more incredible in light of the scene, two complete strangers there to make her portrait perhaps for the first time in her life.
Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 503 CW/100 mm lens combination and scanned roughly through the clear sleeve for preview only.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Two Students + Classroom, Panipat, Haryana, India, 2017
Our host in Uttar Pradesh invited us to visit his school in the neighboring state of Haryana since we were visiting the region to document the local schools. We had known each other since 2013, when his family hosted us during our documentation of the Muzaffarnagar refugee crisis.
So one morning we left his village and drove out to the school. We were received warmly and were of course offered tea to start our morning. All of the students looked at us in dismay, as they rarely received visitors from the outside. This was especially true for the girls.
Our hosts told us about the school, that it supported the local communities which were made up mainly of migrants from further east in India. They had travelled to Panipat in search of work, mainly in the local garment industry. Their children were in need of education, and our host's friend had taken it upon himself to make this happen. He organized the effort to build the school over a dozen years ago, and also put together the funding... a remarkable feat considering the socioeconomic nature of the region.
After our conversation they offered us access to photograph the children, and we immediately took it. The hours of the school made it difficult to photograph early, so we made portraits with indirect light as the children stood in front of their classrooms. My presumption was that they would be shy. However they were anything but shy, allowing themselves to smile and laugh in front of their friends.
We photographed all of the classrooms, every single one of the students. This was a testament to the trust the staff had in our host, for doing so in an islamic center of learning is anything but straightforward. We have since then photographed this school several times, and next year will be establishing a sewing center within its campus for the elder sisters of these very students through the hard work of Nirvanavan Foundation.
Website
Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Syrian Refugee + Garden, Zahle, Lebanon, 2017
The generation before her gave birth to my photography over twenty years ago, as a taxi driver dropped me off near to this camp. The generosity of the Syrians living in these tents was immediately felt as the women invited me to have some tea. Ever since that first moment the children of this community have been documented, their stories recorded.
The boys who used to give me trouble have now become the leaders of the camps. Instead of teasing me, they referred to me as Uncle Halim and attended to me as they would attend to their elders. The transformation was unlike any in my photographic experience, perhaps showing me the future of my work in the various communities as time passes.
This year was different than previous years, since the conflict in Syria has changed the region entirely. The number of Syrians seeking safety in Lebanon has increased dramatically, and amongst them may exist those intent on doing harm to an outsider.
Thus my Uncle asked to come along for my first visit this summer. We drove to the camp and realized that the families had relocated due to construction. They were about one mile away, and a little further from the main road. We arrived and were immediately greeted by those young boys who had become the leaders. Immediately hugs and kisses were exchanged, and smiles were on everyone's faces. My Uncle was relieved and comfortable enough to allow me to visit on my own for the rest of my time.
This young girl was of course unborn at the time of my early work, and has energized my work once again in the region. To know her language is such a relief, unlike my work in other countries. Watching her react as we speak is priceless, hearing her story firsthand without translation is irreplaceable.
Website
Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Students + Rooftop, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017
For those of us involved with this new school, and for those interested in joining, these two students share their smiles. Thanks to the guidance of Nirvana and the hard work of his team at Nirvanavan Foundation, much of the groundwork has already been accomplished and we are poised to join Imdadullah and his community in Shamli District.
While the education of the students is of primary importance, we have arranged to establish sewing centers in four villages as well. This will provide an alternative to the parents who may feel uncomfortable sending their girls to secondary schools far away from their villages, as is the case in this region.
The school in which these two stand will also be painted beautifully this year, as a gesture of goodwill to a community which has given so much. The children are truly selfless and give of themselves without hesitation. Their elders have been so kind, and have taught me many lessons over the past four years.
Early next year I will join these very girls in this room, and share the love from this very circle with them... thank you all!
Website
Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Young Students + Window Light, Shamli District, UP, India, 2017
Once again a portrait of two students is being shared with those of us involved in their new school. Thanks to Nirvana and his team at Nirvanavan Foundation the possibility of this school was born, and thanks to those tagged within this post that possibility has turned into a reality.
My photographic work began in this district thanks to Asrar, who had taken me there to document the thousands of refugees from the recent Muzaffarnagar riots. This was one village which we visited, and I fell in love with the area. While the children were of course beautiful and the environment surrounding the homes took my breath away, it was the generous nature of the supporting families which impressed me most.
So last year Nirvana provided me with incredible insight, making it clear to me that something needed to be done. The local elders did the same, asking for our help in the education of their grandchildren. This was the impetus in bringing the new school to your attention, and thanks to your generosity the first donation has already been sent, while the second donation is only a few weeks from being sent as well. This will allow us to remain on schedule, and all can rest assured that the first two years' worth of budget has already been put aside.
Website
Congratulations to all, and thank you in advance for allowing me to tag you!
Monday, July 3, 2017
Daughter of Sheikh, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2009
On the 11th of August in 2009 her portrait was made, over a dozen years after my photography was born in her camp. She and her family lived in Lebanon as migrants, and her father was in charge of negotiating between the Lebanese farmers and the Syrian laborers in his encampment. Her community had one foot in Lebanon, and the other in Syria.
She has two older sisters who had been photographed by me previously, when they were allowed to be photographed... and two younger sisters who photographed freely with us at the time of this portrait. She is the most precious of girls, and words fail me in describing my feelings for her and her family. She is like a daughter to me, and my upcoming trip to Lebanon is filled with the hope of seeing her again.
One day as we finished our photography and were walking back to her tent, we shared the most incredible conversation out in the open, yet out of hearing range from the community. It will remain in my memory for life, and is what drives this work forward. Such experiences are priceless and demonstrate how special this path in life truly is.
Website
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Eduardo + Rolleiflex, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, 2016
To be a photographer on the island is difficult enough, but to be one working exclusively with film is something entirely different. This incredible man, a dear friend and brother, works in a hotel to supplement his love of photography. He works in all three formats, from 35mm to the field camera, and also develops his film in his own darkroom.
As he walks in the streets of the city, most Cubans believe that he is a tourist, until he responds to them in their native tongue. He is one of the few on the island who wants nothing to do with leaving, and embraces his life fully. He is an artist without comparison, and moves to his own rhythm. He speaks to the guests in the hotel in well over four languages and is the man photographers visit when arriving to Cuba.
I am honored to call him my brother, and to know that he always comes along to collaborate when we offer a session with our families. Here he is with his favorite street camera, with that familiar zest for life.
Website
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Best Friends, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017
For those coming together on behalf of these young girls' school, their portrait is being shared. This was made during our initial visit last week, as Nirvana and his team joined in on the conversation regarding the new curriculum in these young students' school. Their combined portrait was made after the formal portraits on film, providing the girls with a chance to be more spontaneous with their expressions.
...spontaneous they were!
The variety of expressions made me review my approach, and from this point forward such portraits will also be recorded with film. It is an exciting time, mainly for the school of course... but also from my standpoint photographically. My hope is that these portraits convey a sense of the excitement in the air for those of us interested in this work.
These portraits were also made possible with the sincere cooperation of the community and our hosts. The name of our headmaster from the school is missing out of respect for his desire for privacy, but he needs to be mentioned for without him none of this would even be possible.
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