Sharing today a portfolio of Cuban portrait photography. I’m calling this series, “Resilient Spirits: Portraits from Cuba.”
Though it’s merely ninety miles from the Florida shores, Cuba seems worlds away. It’s a place suspended between history and the present, where every building, street, and corner carries layers of time. I called it “beautiful decay,” as it’s a place where they had many revolutions once, but painted over each one. That paint reflects the resilience of the Cuban people, who seem to bemoan, “Oh, another revolution on Tuesday? Great, we’ll take up ballroom dancing and share mojitoes while you tend to that ideological soup.” Their words and wisdom seem to echo down the cobblestone streets of Old Havana like the Cuban songs we know so well.
The Cuban people all seem to carry the same resilience: weary yet vibrant, moving through life with music, laughter, strong coffee, and a joy that refuses to be hidden.
As a photographer, I am drawn to those who are different. My work celebrates colorful hats, mischievous eyes, unusual stories, vibrant souls. These are subjects I actively seek out. Practicing permission-based portraiture is an honor for me. I get to share these souls with the world, to celebrate their vibrancy.
In Cuba, I fully immersed myself, unplugging from the Internet and schedules, relying on a paper map and my high school Spanish, letting the days unfold. In those moments, time disappeared and I shared the space and the stories of these resilient people.
These portraits are not just images of faces; they are brief encounters, glimpses into lives lived with dignity, humor, and strength. Resilient Spirits: Portraits from Cuba is an attempt to honor those moments, to hold onto the light, color, and humanity generously shared by the people, and to share that spirit with you.
Until next time…
