Where They Live – Pablo

He looks like a gangster and I have told him so, but he’s really a nice guy. I’ve known Pablo for over two years.

He stands on a bad leg all night as a guide/security guard/coordinator for all things and nothing in particular. He sort of made a position for himself in front of the American Theater and Casa de la Musica in Havana. He barely survives on the tips from tourists for tours of the theater, for hailing them a taxi or a bici, or for information.

I finally took him up on his desire to show the world where he has to live.

Because of his bad leg Pablo needs help with the two flights of stairs to be able to get to his work. He asked the government years ago for a ground floor apartment, but he’s repeatedly told that he has to wait.

I climbed the stairs to an open area in the middle of the building.

Pablo came out to greet me.

Living room

Bedroom

A television that no longer works.

Kitchen area with gas stove.

Bathroom and shower.

There is a loft with another mattress, but the floor was so weak that I did not go up.

 

 

 

 

Cardboard

Pushing a home-made cart with used roller bearings for wheels, this man covers a lot of ground collecting cardboard for recycling. I’m sure it doesn’t pay much, but in Cuba every little bit helps.

On this day, I found him almost 3  kilometers from his home in Centro Habana. Keep in mind that many streets are not good and his cart does not roll well.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Somewhere under this pile of ropes, strings and flattened boxes is the cart he pushes daily.

 

Where They Live – Avarista

Avarista is an 81-year-old living in Centro Havana. She tells us that she is former film star. Her screen name was Arri Teresa Bruzo.

 

Her apartment is hidden in the interior of one of the huge old buildings in Havana.

Like almost all the living spaces on the ground floor, the air is thick with the odor of mold and mildew.

 

Where They Live – Luisa

The little spark-plug named Luisa keeps her age a secret. She’s always talking and always asking for something. She lives with her daughter is a small two room apartment on San Miguel in Havana Centro.

Havana Nights

This collection of  images  was submitted to the International Photographic Competition of the Professional Photographers of America in August of 2018 and judged as a non-event album .

These images were made in Havana during 2017 and the first half of 2018. Most were hand-held and shot at a very high ISO with only the available light. Nothing was posed or set up because I wanted to capture the mood of the city after dark.

 

Wait

Slow down

Wait

Observe

Savor the moment

Something will usually happen.

If not, move on.

I was enjoying the artwork on the wall when this man walked by, stopped, and turned around.

I waited for someone interesting to pass by this wall. The color and stripes on this man’s clothing complimented the background.

Kids will always do something interesting.

I liked the blue truck against the blue background and then a woman in blue walked into the scene.

I was trying to document the construction in Havana. This woman shows the difficulty people had just to walk the streets.

It was interesting enough to see a trailer of fans being unloaded, but then I got a wave.

There is this attraction to the “Beatles” in Cuba. I stood across from this poster in Camaguey and simply waited for subjects to pass by.

I loved the colors and patterns framing this old couple in Havana.

Sure enough, this woman stopped right in front of this wall. I could not have placed her better, myself.

Hmmmm …..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk On By

Generally, I like to walk slowly and observe. Sometimes, however, I’ll stop in front of a background that I like and wait. It’s usually not long before someone interesting will walk on by.

 

Colina Lenin

In the Havana municipality of Regla is the hill of Lenin. At 25 meters, the hill is the highest point within several kilometers. Great views of La Habana can be had from the summit.

On this site is a bronze sculpture of Lenin’s face created by the Cuban artist Thelma Marin. Surrounding the bronze sculpture are twelve white human figures, symbolizing solidarity with the October Revolution in Russia

 

Where did they go ?

On my most recent trip to Habana, my friends and I tried to visit a family we met a few months before. We found the correct building and doorway, but were told that the family no longer lived there. We were offered entry and a tour by the current occupant, as if to assure us that our family friends were gone.

It turned out that most of the building was abandoned. We were guided four rooms deep and three floors up through a maze of stairs and doorways until we emerged on the roof. We were within one block of the new hotel construction on the Prado.

I found myself wondering if this old building would be rebuilt or torn down to make room for another new hotel. I also wondered where all the families had gone.

Taxis

A fun look at some of the RED taxis I found in La Habana.

Classic

 

Tourist Taxis

 

Cuban Taxi

 

Restoration

 

Headaches

 

Style