Encounters in Cuba
I have been a photographer for over 45 years. I am a retired visiting nurse now working as a free-lance photographer for a local paper.
I have traveled to Cuba three times before the most recent trip to East Cuba. The first three trips were to Havana, Vinales and Trinidad (Cuba). This was the first time I was in East Cuba. We flew into Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Gibara and left from Camaguey.
After walking around for hours, photographing people and architecture, it came to me that I love to photograph people. For me it is the connection with those I photograph, that I find most interesting and meaningful.
When asked, *what do you like to photograph?* I used to say anything and everything. It became so clear to me this time in Cuba, my fourth time, that it is the people I love to photograph. Getting to know them, to talk to them, asking permission to photograph them and respecting those that shake their heads no.
I met one young man, who was in the street with his phone, photographing flowers he stacked, near a puddle. His friends were in the background. It was such a great image. We talked, and I found out he is a photography student.
My group went along our way to another street, this young man ran after me to give me a paper with his Instagram info. I was so touched that he did that.
The next morning when I was out walking, he again found me and gave me a 16×20 image he had taken and printed in school. It was an image with a ballerina in the middle of the street. I was so touched by his actions. We are now friends on Facebook and Instagram.
I have included the image of him with his phone, he and his friends and other people I connected with. I also include a photo of me holding the print he gave me.
More of my images can be viewed on my website. www.customphotonotes.com
If you are interested in joining me on my next photographic trip to Cuba in December, click here: https://yourcubatravel.com/cuba-a-photographic-journey
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
The landscape photos are stunning!