Cuba – people
These photos of normal Cuban
people in their natural environment give some insight into a culture seldom
understood by Americans. It is a culture basically unchanged by political events
of the last half century. Economic problems result in a way of life reminiscent
of many years ago without influence of the internet, mass market television,
advertising, large stores and easy transportation. The economic resourcefulness,
close knit community, influence of religion, and pleasure derived from the basic
parts of life are comparable to some older or smaller places in the US.
The noticeable spirit that touches and flows from the society of the
people in Cuba is truly the attraction This resilient and genuine spirit, a
deeply rooted romanticism and pride of its populace, are conveyed in the
following photographs.
These photographs were made beginning in 2009 and are
currently continuing. Thelocations are the parts of Cuba that the tourists do
not visit in most of the provincial capitals, smaller communities, and simply
out in the country. The photographer travels and photographs by himself with
limited language skills, sometimes not knowing exactly where he is. He travels
as the Cubans do in the back of trucks, buses, horse drawn wagons, and catching
rides in private vehicles. He always stays in rented rooms with families rather
than hotels to continue to learn more of the day to day life.
read a 1500 word story about my 3 days visiting with a Cuban family in a small town in December 2012
watch a video of the opening of my exhibit in Havana October 2011