Are you busy next January? I’ve been given the opportunity to lead a small-group photo trip to Havana, Cuba.
I was last in Havana in 2013, teaching for Santa Fe Workshops. But that was someone else’s curriculum. This time the program is ours to design, and we are planning a week of exploring, learning and lots of time behind the camera.
If that sounds like your thing, keep reading.
An Immersive Week
This is not the typical photo tour group, which invariably ends up as some version of a photo walk with everyone getting versions of the same pictures. I’m working with Focus On The Story, a D.C.-based organization for photographers. The trip leaders are myself and fellow journalist Joe Newman, whom I’ve known for over 30 years.
Our trip will be more of a small-team experience, and very photo-centric. It will include instructional time as well as plenty of time to explore on your own—or with a teammate, if you prefer.
We’ll always be out shooting at the edges of the day when the light is good, and at other times as dictated by the locations we have lined up. During the harsh light of midday, we’ll typically be in instructional mode. We’ll also be editing, comparing notes, evaluating what we can do better and preparing to go out and do it again.
Please note that this is not a lighting seminar. I am traveling very light—an X100F and a similar backup body just in case—and probably won’t even bring a flash. We’ll be more in photojournalist mode than studio mode.
In the evenings we’ll continue the conversation, perhaps over a mojito or a glass of Cuba’s famous dark rum. Nights in Havana are vibrant, with the sound of music filling the city. Its economic hardships may be well-known, but life and culture always find a way.
Finding Your Balance
We are traveling under a people-to-people license, which means you’ll get lots of interaction with locals throughout the week. You’ll also have time to absorb the city; to sit and watch the world go by. Whether along the Malecón or on the Paseo Prado, Cuban life is always on display.
To always be in 100% photo mode is to miss one of the most important parts of the travel experience. Taking the time to observe the city both creates memories and informs your approach as a photographer when you pick the camera back up.
The X-Factor
The “X” in X-Pedition is a nod to Fuji’s X series cameras. Small, light, quiet and unobtrusive, Fuji X series bodies are ideal travel cameras. I took a leap of faith on my first trip to Havana, bringing only a Fuji X100s with its fixed 35mm equivalent lens. In retrospect, it was a great decision. And it has changed the way I approach travel photography ever since.
So if you are also a Fuji shooter, you can expect tips and advice on how to get the most out of your cameras. Or to even borrow a lens if you like.
Do you have to be a Fuji shooter to come along? No, you don’t. (And don’t worry, we promise not to try to convert you.) But we do strongly suggest that you travel very light with respect to photo gear. It’s good travel photo advice in general, but especially in a place like Cuba where the economic disparity is a factor.
The Bigger Picture
Havana is a unique opportunity for photographers. It goes without saying that it is not going to stay unique for very long. The island is already experiencing rapid change.
Our goal with this trip is to help you grow as both travelers and photographers; to gain the skills and confidence to choose future destinations that are off the beaten path.
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This trip will sell out. So if you are interested in joining us, don’t sit on the fence too long. You can find full details and information on Focus On The Story’s X-Pedition Cuba page.
Hope to see you there.
Strobist
