In 1999, Anna Mia Davidson packed up 100 rolls of Tri-X film, an old Leica M4-P, two lenses and headed to Cuba to photograph the grittier reality of Cuban life that lurked beneath its colorful surface. Davidson expresses the importance of having a unique point of view to guide her as she made multiple trips over several years, documenting the island nation through some of its most turbulent times.
In this PIX 2015 talk, Davidson’s photos guide you through a Cuba you’ve not likely seen. She purposely eschewed the temptation of color film to ‘focus on finding the essence of the culture in quiet moments; the emotions unimpaired by the appeal of color.’ Davidson’s work spans the entirety of the culture, from the homes, families and streets of Havana to the fields, valleys and farmers of the countryside. Woven in amongst her photographs are hints to the looming presence of the Castro regime and the stark contrasts of Cuban and American culture.
Watch the talk and visit Davidson’s website to see more of her work in Cuba and beyond.
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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)