Friday 27 April 2012

Final CCE Study Tour Slideshow

Well, here are a few great shots submitted by my travelling photo-compadres on the last CCE Study Tour - and as you can see we got a great range of topics and styles plus some terrific images.
HDR car in the backstreets of Old Havana by Robin
Tobacco drying barn, Pinar del Rio, by Robin
Pic by Charles Jaggers
Pic by Leo Gasparet
Pic by Leo Gasparet
Pic by Leo Gasparet
Pic by Marietta
Pano pic by Natalie Hitchens
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Pic by Natalie Hitchens
Revellers in Old Havana pic by Natalie Hitchens
Bar bouncer, pic by Prue
Old woman pic by Prue
Old car in the rain, Havana by Prue
Storm over the Malecon, Carolyn Pettigrew
Local transport, Carolyn Pettigrew
Cuban kids in the rain, La Habana, Carolyn Pettigrew
Local transport by Graham Robinson
Local Habanero waiting for a photo opportunity, by Graham Robinson

Monday 23 April 2012

Cuban Model Shoot

As it's hard to get stuck straight into street photography, especially if you have never done it before, we decided to hire four Cuban models in Santiago de Cuba for a couple of hours portrait shooting. Actually this was an interesting concept in a socialist country - it turns out that they don't really do modelling as such, but fashion shows (red-headed Ruby had gold capped teeth and an eight-month old baby. So not your normal 'model'!).
It was hard work shooting in the street because, this being Cuba, everyone in the neighbourhood saw what was happening and came out of their houses to watch - but I think this ended up making it a more interesting experience. Here are some of the best results...

Pic by Leo G
Pic by Janice P
Pic by Janice P
Pic by Leo G
Pic by Leo G
Pic by Carolyn P
Pic by Carolyn P

Pic by Carolyn P
Pic shot by Prue
Nice off-centre portrait by Prue
Pic by Prue
Another nice off-centre shot by Prue

Saturday 21 April 2012

Cuba Student Slideshow

Pic by Janice Pearson
Pic by Prue
Pic by Prue
Pic by Carolyn Pettigrew
Pic by Leo Gasparet
Musician by Natalie Hitchens
Cubano by Leo Gasparet
Pic by Graham Robinson
Pic by Carolyn Pettigrew
Pic by Charles Jaggers
Pic by Charles Jaggers

Pic by Janice Pearson
Pic by the famous Graham Robinson

Jigsaw panorama by Graham Robinson
Pic by Natalie Hitchens

Friday 20 April 2012

Cuba

It’s really hard to describe Cuba because that word, and the country it describes, encompasses so much [recent] history. We all recognise the image of Che Guevera, a poster boy for social change and popular revolution, even if we really have no idea why his image is so globally reproduced.

 Even today Cubanos sport Che tattoos, the country remains dotted with vast billboard reminders of its tumultuous past and tourist shops groan under the weight of revolutionary memorabilia. First impression of the Habaneros, the inhabitants of Havana, is that they are like Brazilians. Passionate about life, music, socialising and of course, music. It’s no exaggeration to say that there’s music on every corner. Sure some of it resonates from tourist hotels and cafes, but wander into the residential backstreets and you’ll find people strumming guitars, singing and chatting for the pure joy of making music.

Here are a few first look snaps - Cuba really is a paradise for photographers!