Cuba

I went where I wasn’t supposed to go. To beat the summer doldrums of New Orleans, I ventured off to Cuba with little more in mind than making some new character studies. I traveled around the island seeking photographs that told some basic truths about the people of our Spanish-speaking neighbor, and observed a stymied, yet most vibrant culture. Moving about the streets of Santiago, Baracoa, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Havana City, I was inspired by the words of Hemingway, who wrote: “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know. There are some things which cannot be learned quickly… and because it takes a man’s life to know them, the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and be only heritage he has to leave.”

Some day, long after Castro is gone, we Americans will be granted a clearer view of Cuba. For now, we must struggle for our understanding of this complex country. We must piece together isolated vignettes into a tantalizing whole. Having a few pictures around helps!

All photos are available for purchase as Archival Ink Jet prints.