Cuban candids
I’m a reluctant portrait and street photographer. But a recent trip to the revolutionary island of Cuba pushed me into unusual territory.
This Caribbean land mass has a large and engaging population. The warm climate means that life often takes place outdoors. People gather in city squares and on street corners, meaning it’s relatively easy to capture images.
My tips for remaining undetected are a good zoom lens and an ability to pretend that you’re taking a photograph of something else. As you can see with some of these images, that didn’t always work.
But if this gives just a hint of the Cuban people’s essence, it was worth the effort.
Click first image to see the gallery
mikeosbornphoto 
beautiful pictures. thank you for sharing. :)
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Thank you Wendi, glad you enjoyed them.
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:) i really did. bless you!
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🙏
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These photos reminds me of Goa or Pondicherry in India ! Colours , buildings everything!
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Hi Sonali, thanks for coming by. Wow, that’s an interesting comparison. I’d like to go there and see it for myself ;)
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I am sure you will enjoy. Goa was under Portuguese occupation till 1961. So obvious influence. While Pondicherry was occupied by French. So European influence is very visible at both these places.
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I’ll add it to my long wishlist :)
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The Cuban people definitely drew my lens when I visited the island a few years ago, and you have summed them up beautifully. Thinker drew me in straight away; Special Brigadeer seems comfortable about you taking his photo; Doorway Man errs on the voyeuristic side… Is this a new style?! :) Great images, Mike! :)
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Hey Richard and thank you! Yes, the soldier guy ruined the candid premise somewhat, but what a relaxed and handsome face for a guy patrolling Che Guevara’s monument! The unfamiliarity helps me to move into this sort of material.
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Relaxed, handsome and Che Guevara! What more can you want from a beautiful island like Cuba?! ;)
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He was a bit of a sort! And yes, Doorway Guy was shot through the balcony of my homestay in Trinidad. My that was a vibrant neighbourhood!
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Haha! Nice! ;)
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Yay! Finally some great portraits of Cubans! Beautiful work, Mike. I really love these photos!
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Thanks Koos, it seems to be going down well! I am in love with at least two of them…
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I love ‘WiFi Hotspot’ and ‘Doorway Man’ a lot!
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Thanks Koos :) I gathered quite a few Ethiopian faces too but more on that another time 🇪🇹
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I’m looking forward to it!
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Love the colour contrast in WiFi Hotspot, Mike. And sometimes you DO just have to make a portrait/people shot :) You seem to be getting to some very different places at present, happy travels.
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Ah, WP doesn’t know who this is! But I’m putting my money on Lee :) Yes it’s more compelling when the faces are unfamiliar and new. I liked their setting very much too.
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