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A Journey through Cuba

With Adorama and Sony Alpha

By Dave Krugman

December 4^th, 2019

A city of color

People often ask me what my favorite place I've photographed is, and the answer is inevitably, and without hesitation- Cuba. I'd always wanted to see this country, and I always had high hopes for what that experience would be like, despite the fact that our own government discourages travel here. I found the Cuban people to be incredibly hospitable, creative, curious, and kind to our small group of artists. People would invite us off the streets into their homes for coffee and open their worlds to our cameras, sending us off with suggestions and well wishes. I hope these frames I brought back from our trip can encourage others to make the same journey, and experience the magic this country has to offer.

The space between...

Doorways, alleys, windows and stairs- portals are everywhere and always provide great frames for the various scenes that play out in the shadows. I was always on the lookout for opportunities to use the local geometry and architecture.

Tobacco farms in Viñales

World famous Cuban cigars trace their lineage to this more rural region of Cuba. We spent a few days exploring the process of growing, harvesting, drying, and preparing these coveted products. The light inside the barns came through wide slats and made for a wonderful golden light. The farmers were kind enough to pose for some portraits during our lunch break.

Mid-day dominoes

Walking the streets all day, you are bound to stumble across scenes like this, people gathered together, being social and engaged with each other. Coming from New York, where everyone is constantly isolated on their phones, seeing these scenes was a welcome reminder about the importance of real life connections.

Streets in the evening

Once the sun went down, the atmosphere shifted. I'm always partial to night photography, the pools of light, the muted colors, the cinematic scenes that play out in the streets.

Afro-cuban dancers

One of the highlights of our trip was a dance performance in an abandoned theatre. Light spilled through cracks in the ceiling, and we were treated to an incredibly display of movement and color. Swirling shapes, backlit fabrics, and kinetic energy- dances from the distant past that swept us into the present.

Golden light of the Malecon

The famous Malecon, a coastal seawall and roadway, has some of the best golden hour light I've ever seen. Waves crash against the wall and throw a fine mist into the golden rays, which illuminate the edges of the old city.

Havana Panorama

From a vantage point high above the city, I decided to make a panorama of 14 photos. At full resolution, you can zoom in and relive the view in incredible detail.

A car culture like no other

Due to the United States trade embargo imposed on Cuba in 1960, many of the vehicles still in use today predate that decade. Before arriving, I thought it was something you'd see mostly on postcards. But the reality is these cars are incredibly well maintained and reworked and comprise a large portion of vehicles on the road. From a photographers standpoint, it's an incredible thing to witness.

Boxing with the youth

Another highlight of the trip was observing a boxing class where some local kids were learning the sport. It was such a dynamic environment, a gratifying challenge to work amongst the action, seeking images that could help tell this story.

Family pride

One home that we were waved into led to a story of a young man in a wheelchair. This family was visited by Fidel Castro and these photos they have were an immense source of pride. It reminded me how much weight we put on visual images, and how they are an extension of our memory and identity.

A brief downpour

Rain is always a muse for me, I love when the streets are soaked and the colors bleed into one another. We only got about fifteen minutes of rain on the whole trip, but I took that window to see how quickly I could capture the feeling.