Capturing The Land That Time Forgot

by Robert Levy, MD
 
I’m now fully recovered from both the cold I recently caught while traveling throughout Cuba and from the exhilaration of having visited a country and a people literally standing on the brink of enormous cultural, social, and economic change.
 
If you want to feel loved, go to Cuba.  The Cuban people may have their “issues” with the U.S. Government and the hardships they’ve been forced to endure as a result of international political conflict, but when it comes to person-to-person interaction, Americans are welcomed everywhere.  The individual Cuban may have very little in the way of material comforts, but they’re eager to share what little they have.  
 
One of the objectives of this trip—led by the enormously gracious and generous Lorne Resnick, who is a skilled photographer, a seasoned traveler, and a compassionate human being—was, of course to practice my craft and to record compelling photographic imagery.  The other purpose was to experience sights, sounds, aromas, and passions of Cuba itself.  I managed to succeed at both. 
 
First, some brief “tourist” impressions...

• Cuban people are remarkably creative, energetic, warm, and inviting.  Their love of music, dance, and the arts is on display everywhere, and the photographic opportunities were truly unlimited.
• The nation’s infrastructure is a mess.  Plumbing, electricity, and sewage challenges are found everywhere you look. Drinking water was only available in bottles, as tap water runs brown with sediment.
• Cuisine is flavorful, and world class service can be found at every price level.  Paladars (restaurants operating in private homes) are found everywhere, many of world class quality.
• Transportation is available, if a bit “retro”.  Cobblestone streets are the norm, which makes walking an athletic activity. Horse-drawn carts are still found in the cities, as well as a fleet of automobiles harkening back to the 1940s and 1950s.  Some of these cars appear as fully-restored classics, others might be held together with chicken wire.
• Even in late December, I was constantly aware we were in the tropics.  High humidity and warm temperatures may be responsible for Cuba’s active night life, simply because the daytime heat is truly draining.

 
Now, for some “photographer” impressions...

• The Cuban people are visually impressive and attractive...but I arrived with untested portraiture skills.  In fact, I’ve had difficulty with the reality that a photographer—peering through a big glass lense—is actually an intruder into the lives of the subject.  Taking someone’s picture has always seemed to me to be a highly personal thing, but with the help of Lorne Resnick and others on the trip, I worked hard to overcome my inhibitions.
• I set a goal for myself to break through my own personal barriers, to step outside my personal comfort zone, and to genuinely and sincerely interact with my portrait subjects.  It wasn’t easy, but by the time we visited a Cuban dance troupe, I had gained the ability to establish the rapport needed to capture faces and expressions that I believe truly reveal the human spirit.  But I’ll let my photos speak for themselves and let others be the judge.
• Technically, I tried to travel a bit lighter this time.  Here’s what I took with me:
  • Sony A7Rii with 24-240 f3.5-6.3 Sony lens
  • Sony 16mm f2.8 wide angle
  • Sony FE f1.8 55mm (for portraits)
  • Sony ultra-wide converter
  • Gitzo Series 1 Traveler tripod w/ Gitzo GH1382QD head

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