I think you can see her love of community building in these portraits of local Cubans pitching in to rebuild houses destroyed by the hurricanes in the autumn of 2005.
This February 19-26, 2014, take your photography to the next level on our one-of-a-kind travel workshop to Santiago de Cuba. Experience contemporary Cuban life off the resorts. Through the art of photography,connect with the incredibly warm, open and photogenic Cuban people in a trip of a lifetime.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Oxanna Adams, Photo Cuba! Student
Oxanna has joined us for many courses at TKP and is also a regular renter of the darkroom. It was so cool to have her with us in Cuba. It's really neat traveling with people you know, like bringing a little piece of home with you. Oxanna is a very active and passionate protector of our community. I wonder what she thought of the community dynamics in our favorite little Cuban town?
I think you can see her love of community building in these portraits of local Cubans pitching in to rebuild houses destroyed by the hurricanes in the autumn of 2005.
I think you can see her love of community building in these portraits of local Cubans pitching in to rebuild houses destroyed by the hurricanes in the autumn of 2005.
Bob Liptrap: PhotoCuba! Student
Bob is not only one of our most avid students, he's also one of our instructors. Bob Teaches some of our landscape photography workshops. He's also a retired Veterinary Doctor and professor with a soft spot for elephants.
Break time on day 2. Serendipity - its the calmness that appeals to me.
Taken on day 3. Trina pointed out the richness of colour and to be ever ready- so I took it.
Done on day 2. A number of adults and children on street with 4 photographers "shooting" in all directions.
Santiago-de-Cuba. From an era when decoration was still important.
Square in Santiago-de-Cuba. Is the echo of blue in the window deliberate?
There is something symbolic about the posture - why are we drawn to the ocean?
Break time on day 2. Serendipity - its the calmness that appeals to me.
Taken on day 3. Trina pointed out the richness of colour and to be ever ready- so I took it. 
Done on day 2. A number of adults and children on street with 4 photographers "shooting" in all directions. 
Santiago-de-Cuba. From an era when decoration was still important. 
Square in Santiago-de-Cuba. Is the echo of blue in the window deliberate? 
There is something symbolic about the posture - why are we drawn to the ocean?
PhotoCuba! Student Ruth Howard
Ruth is an avid travel photographer who had recently returned from a long trip through Asia. She was delighted to discover that on her first day in Cuba she made some of her best pictures ever! Wow! ... and that was before we even started teaching! Must have been a combo of the open Cuban vibe and the excited group of photographers' vibe! ... plus, of course, Ruth's own evolution as an artist.
Ruth is part of a collaborative photo team with her husband, Alan Madras. (I know they're married because we shot their wedding!) They have a website showcasing their Travel Photography at http://www.connaughtplacestudio.ca/. You can also read about their upcoming exhibition there!
Ruth is part of a collaborative photo team with her husband, Alan Madras. (I know they're married because we shot their wedding!) They have a website showcasing their Travel Photography at http://www.connaughtplacestudio.ca/. You can also read about their upcoming exhibition there!
PhotoCuba! Student Niels Hansen
Niels has been involved with our studio for years. He is an ongoing student, he's evolved to also be our framer, and he's our Rent-a-Dad when we need something repaired around the studio that we don't know how to do ourselves. Niels was deeply moved by the Cuban situation, and truly connected with some Cuban people through his role as a photographer. Normally Niels is a landscape photographer, and as you can see this course has helped him to unleash his talent for portraiture and reportage.
PhotoCuba! Student Eldis Oliva Cordero
One of our students couldn't make it to PhotoCuba! 2006 at the last minute and asked Trina to donate her spot to a Cuban. Eldis was that Cuban. Eldis was lent a digital camera for the course and he made a lot of really beautiful images. Here they are:
1st Photo Cuba Exhibit in Chivirico
Our delivery angels arrived from their mission to bring our student's photos to Cuba for an art show! German, the gallery director, asked us to create a show to bring there. Alan and Ruth two of our Photo Cuba students were kind enough to bring the matted prints with them on their recent return the Cuban town of Chivirico, the wonderful little town where we held the Photo Cuba! workshop. This is their account...
Hi, Guys -
I'm sure you're eager to hear how your/our opening went at the gallery in Chivirico, so here goes... We got through customs with no problem, despite our angst re the valuable cargo we were carrying. Perhaps it was because we entered via VIP that everything went so smoothly?
Left to right: Arisdán, Ruth, Juan Carlos, Alan, and Carlos, most of the core team for the show.
Anyway, Sunday night we met up with the usual suspects - Carlos, Arisdan, Juan Carlos - and after hugs and some more hugs, we arranged to set up the show the next day. With everyone's assistance, including that of Norbey, the photos were hung relatively quickly. After much deliberation on the part of German (whom we did not see after that, as he had to go to a conference in Santiago) and Norbey, the photos were hung according to the age of the subjects. It did make a statement. It was interesting to watch the two artists moving the display around till they were satisfied with the placements.
While the work was going on, people were wandering in and out, so the show had an informal following right from the beginning. Grandmas were dragged in by the little boys. Mothers came in, babes in arms. The old. The young. They all dropped by. Pointing, smiling, laughing. It was a real high for everyone! Oh, I forgot to mention the delighted reactions of our immediate group when they first opened the package of our photos.
The next couple of days were the lead up to The Opening. Carlos tacked up around the village posters that Scott had sent along with us. We stuck one on the window of the bar at the hotel. Sierra Mar photocopied and hung posters in their three restaurants. The local journalist gave us some publicity, though we're not exactly sure in what capacity. Carlos alluded to different things he was arranging (a band? a dj with recorded music? rum?). Along the length of the porch, some women, whom we think were from the library, strung paper flags and paper lanterns and chains that they'd made from newspaper. This was to be An Event!
Thursday at 8, it all came together. The folklorica band (The Aguilleras) inside, and the dj with his speakers and turntable on the porch (do they still call it a turntable?). A woman in-the-know took hold of the mike and reminded the townspeople of the importance of the occasion and encouraged people to come on in. And they did. We were told by several people that there had never been so many people in the gallery before. Norbey was thrilled and said he hoped that this would bring in more people when they had there own exhibits in the future. The band played on, Norbey made a wonderful speech, which we understood enough to tell you that he was extolling the virtues of photography as an art (Alan photoed the speech - copies on request) and that he was warmly thanking the Canadian photographers for their contributions.
Speaking of contributions, on behalf of the group, we donated to the gallery the equipment for hanging stuff: metal tape measure, fishing line, nails, tape, scissors, hammer and other stuff. (Of all the gifts that we left behind, I think that the little hammer that German had asked us to bring was the biggest hit; his smile lit up the gallery.) We also supplied the rum for The Opening, but I doubt there’s any left for next time. Not to worry, there seems to be an almost limitless supply on Cayo Damas, the little island, and it’s only a paddle away. There was a spoken word performance and lots and lots of acclaim and applause for everyone (including all of you) and everything!!!
The rum flowed. Glasses were clinked in congratulations. And the crowd overflowed onto the porch. A tango, or two, was danced spontaneously - this is Cuba, after all.
So, the matting around your pictures is slightly smudged. Fondling does that.
A tourist asked if your photos were for sale. We said "No." "Pity" was the response. But, hey, what a compliment!
Was the evening a success? You bet! Poor Norbey was so tired and so eager to close up for the night so he could go home to his family, but he let the last stragglers have a last look, and he let us drag the evening on a little longer before we finally let him lock the doors and call it a night.
When I went by the next day, he was there. He was still smiling.
The subjects of our photos and their families (that means pretty well everyone in town, I guess) have thoroughly enjoyed their fifteen minutes of fame. Now it seems that everyone wants a piece of the action and everyone wants their photo taken. (Several times over.) With hopes of hanging in the gallery next time 'round. I think we'll have to ask Carlos to coach them not to ruin the Kodak (there's an anachronism for you) moment by excitedly informing our subjects that the camera is trained on them. Plays havoc with what would've been the perfect shot.
In closing, everyone is fine. Arisdan and his wife seem to be on the mend and are "starting over". By the way, his English is improving in leaps and bounds (Carlos has been tutoring him). Juan Carlos is as sweet and lovely as ever and has just been granted programming papers. Eldis is working on fulfilling his dreams re photography; he wants to document the before and after changes that are coming to town. The gas station has been painted and has new modern pumps (though the cash register wasn't working, so the station was temporarily inoperable.) The lady in the next village - the woman who'd had the thyroid op - has recovered and is full of smiles. Dr. Leo at the mud baths is scheduled to go on a long-term mission to Venezuela, possibly leaving before February. He's sad that he's going to have to leave his wife and baby for eleven months at a time, with a month's leave between missions for the first two years. He's fretting that the turbine for his water pump at home will cost five months salary to replace. He'd like a little camera. He's philosophical. He's fine. And man, oh man, does he give an extraordinary massage.
Gladys's baby is due in about two months. She's finding it increasingly difficult to walk up and down the mountain road - wow, it's so hot there and not even summer yet - those with cars, including tourists, help her as much as possible. She'll be working one more month and hopes to be back at work in October/November, in time for the next tourist season. Yoli, Dora, Sandra, Glenis and the rest of the gang are well and as lovely and loving as ever. Some concern over jobs and income over the slow summer season. The main concern seems to be that they'll have to live on fish till the fall. They and rest of the staff bent over backwards for us.
Hmmmm. What else? It was different without you guys there. Sure, we had fun, but it just wasn't the same. Thanks for letting us take care of things on your behalf. For those of you going back in February, we know that you're going to enjoy returning as part of the Chivirico family. As for the first-timers, for sure they're in for a treat.
In answer to your question, yes, we took zillions of photos to document this pivotal event in all our lives. We're working on narrowing the pics down to our "Best Ofs". When Scott and Trina get back from their fact-finding mission in Italy we'll arrange to let you have a look at the new photos. Maybe at Shirley's party in May?
Oh, we delivered the photos that some of you sent along with us. Squeals of delight from everyone, along with requests that we take even more pictures. Their having to wait till February for the next delivery seems of little consequence to the people. Time kind of stands still in Chivirico.
So much more to tell, but all for now,
Love,
Chao-ciao
Alan and Ruth
Hi, Guys -
I'm sure you're eager to hear how your/our opening went at the gallery in Chivirico, so here goes... We got through customs with no problem, despite our angst re the valuable cargo we were carrying. Perhaps it was because we entered via VIP that everything went so smoothly?
Left to right: Arisdán, Ruth, Juan Carlos, Alan, and Carlos, most of the core team for the show.
Anyway, Sunday night we met up with the usual suspects - Carlos, Arisdan, Juan Carlos - and after hugs and some more hugs, we arranged to set up the show the next day. With everyone's assistance, including that of Norbey, the photos were hung relatively quickly. After much deliberation on the part of German (whom we did not see after that, as he had to go to a conference in Santiago) and Norbey, the photos were hung according to the age of the subjects. It did make a statement. It was interesting to watch the two artists moving the display around till they were satisfied with the placements.
While the work was going on, people were wandering in and out, so the show had an informal following right from the beginning. Grandmas were dragged in by the little boys. Mothers came in, babes in arms. The old. The young. They all dropped by. Pointing, smiling, laughing. It was a real high for everyone! Oh, I forgot to mention the delighted reactions of our immediate group when they first opened the package of our photos.
The next couple of days were the lead up to The Opening. Carlos tacked up around the village posters that Scott had sent along with us. We stuck one on the window of the bar at the hotel. Sierra Mar photocopied and hung posters in their three restaurants. The local journalist gave us some publicity, though we're not exactly sure in what capacity. Carlos alluded to different things he was arranging (a band? a dj with recorded music? rum?). Along the length of the porch, some women, whom we think were from the library, strung paper flags and paper lanterns and chains that they'd made from newspaper. This was to be An Event!
Thursday at 8, it all came together. The folklorica band (The Aguilleras) inside, and the dj with his speakers and turntable on the porch (do they still call it a turntable?). A woman in-the-know took hold of the mike and reminded the townspeople of the importance of the occasion and encouraged people to come on in. And they did. We were told by several people that there had never been so many people in the gallery before. Norbey was thrilled and said he hoped that this would bring in more people when they had there own exhibits in the future. The band played on, Norbey made a wonderful speech, which we understood enough to tell you that he was extolling the virtues of photography as an art (Alan photoed the speech - copies on request) and that he was warmly thanking the Canadian photographers for their contributions.
Speaking of contributions, on behalf of the group, we donated to the gallery the equipment for hanging stuff: metal tape measure, fishing line, nails, tape, scissors, hammer and other stuff. (Of all the gifts that we left behind, I think that the little hammer that German had asked us to bring was the biggest hit; his smile lit up the gallery.) We also supplied the rum for The Opening, but I doubt there’s any left for next time. Not to worry, there seems to be an almost limitless supply on Cayo Damas, the little island, and it’s only a paddle away. There was a spoken word performance and lots and lots of acclaim and applause for everyone (including all of you) and everything!!!
The rum flowed. Glasses were clinked in congratulations. And the crowd overflowed onto the porch. A tango, or two, was danced spontaneously - this is Cuba, after all.
So, the matting around your pictures is slightly smudged. Fondling does that.
A tourist asked if your photos were for sale. We said "No." "Pity" was the response. But, hey, what a compliment!
Was the evening a success? You bet! Poor Norbey was so tired and so eager to close up for the night so he could go home to his family, but he let the last stragglers have a last look, and he let us drag the evening on a little longer before we finally let him lock the doors and call it a night.
When I went by the next day, he was there. He was still smiling.
The subjects of our photos and their families (that means pretty well everyone in town, I guess) have thoroughly enjoyed their fifteen minutes of fame. Now it seems that everyone wants a piece of the action and everyone wants their photo taken. (Several times over.) With hopes of hanging in the gallery next time 'round. I think we'll have to ask Carlos to coach them not to ruin the Kodak (there's an anachronism for you) moment by excitedly informing our subjects that the camera is trained on them. Plays havoc with what would've been the perfect shot.
In closing, everyone is fine. Arisdan and his wife seem to be on the mend and are "starting over". By the way, his English is improving in leaps and bounds (Carlos has been tutoring him). Juan Carlos is as sweet and lovely as ever and has just been granted programming papers. Eldis is working on fulfilling his dreams re photography; he wants to document the before and after changes that are coming to town. The gas station has been painted and has new modern pumps (though the cash register wasn't working, so the station was temporarily inoperable.) The lady in the next village - the woman who'd had the thyroid op - has recovered and is full of smiles. Dr. Leo at the mud baths is scheduled to go on a long-term mission to Venezuela, possibly leaving before February. He's sad that he's going to have to leave his wife and baby for eleven months at a time, with a month's leave between missions for the first two years. He's fretting that the turbine for his water pump at home will cost five months salary to replace. He'd like a little camera. He's philosophical. He's fine. And man, oh man, does he give an extraordinary massage.
Gladys's baby is due in about two months. She's finding it increasingly difficult to walk up and down the mountain road - wow, it's so hot there and not even summer yet - those with cars, including tourists, help her as much as possible. She'll be working one more month and hopes to be back at work in October/November, in time for the next tourist season. Yoli, Dora, Sandra, Glenis and the rest of the gang are well and as lovely and loving as ever. Some concern over jobs and income over the slow summer season. The main concern seems to be that they'll have to live on fish till the fall. They and rest of the staff bent over backwards for us.
Hmmmm. What else? It was different without you guys there. Sure, we had fun, but it just wasn't the same. Thanks for letting us take care of things on your behalf. For those of you going back in February, we know that you're going to enjoy returning as part of the Chivirico family. As for the first-timers, for sure they're in for a treat.
In answer to your question, yes, we took zillions of photos to document this pivotal event in all our lives. We're working on narrowing the pics down to our "Best Ofs". When Scott and Trina get back from their fact-finding mission in Italy we'll arrange to let you have a look at the new photos. Maybe at Shirley's party in May?
Oh, we delivered the photos that some of you sent along with us. Squeals of delight from everyone, along with requests that we take even more pictures. Their having to wait till February for the next delivery seems of little consequence to the people. Time kind of stands still in Chivirico.
So much more to tell, but all for now,
Love,
Chao-ciao
Alan and Ruth
Shirley Hunt
Shirley had the unfortunate combination of being chatty and knowing how to speak Spanish. The first day she found that conversing was distracting her subjects from the photographic experience. However, next day she didn't let on how much she could speak and found it way easier to get those candid moments.Here's what Shirley had to say about her experience in Cuba:
Just stumbled upon a great pamphlet reminding me why I shouldn't buy bottle water, and I think it fits nicely into the Cuban experience. One of the things that impressed me a lot about Cuba was how inventive they were, re-using pop bottles for beer cups, washing out plastic bags for re-use, fixing everything rather than throwing it away. So much we can learn from that!
So here's my cause or my beef;
Bottled water companies are pumping water out of our groundwater streams aquifers, or sometimes directly from our taps, and then selling it back to us for exorbitant prices. After a very short life, most water bottles end up in the landfill sites, and the toxins from the plastic leaches into the soil, threatening the water table. Most bottles are not recycled, and most companies will not pay the added expense of using recycled plastic.
Student: Darlene Lamb
Darlene, a grandmother, described the Photo Cuba! trip as a highlight of her life. Wow! Her focus for the workshop was "sensuality." People are drawn to her like a magnet because of her loving and sensitive positive energy. The Cubans love her as much as we do, and it shows in the intimacy of her pictures.
PhotoCuba! Student Gerry Lodder
Gerry had so much fun on this trip that the locals nicknamed him "Loco." We've been teasing him about that ever since.
Scott's Illustration of our 2006 Gang!
Click Pic for larger view.
Hola!
Okay, I finally got my act together to post this collage of portraits I made from the Photo Cuba workshop. If you happen to be one of these characters that means you participated in the workshop... Yay! Wasn't that fun? If you're not pictured in the above collage you still have a chance to get in the workshop for next year! Yay again! There are still a few spots left. The workshop runs February 4-11 of 2007. I know it seems like a long way away but that's what's so great, because you have time to book it off and put some money aside! Click this link for more information and registration; http://www.trinakoster.com/workshops/schedule.cfm?eventID=200.
Cool things about Cuba... great music, great dancing, great dark rum, wonderful open welcoming people, warm weather, beautiful snorkeling, and goats... lots of goats.
Hola!Okay, I finally got my act together to post this collage of portraits I made from the Photo Cuba workshop. If you happen to be one of these characters that means you participated in the workshop... Yay! Wasn't that fun? If you're not pictured in the above collage you still have a chance to get in the workshop for next year! Yay again! There are still a few spots left. The workshop runs February 4-11 of 2007. I know it seems like a long way away but that's what's so great, because you have time to book it off and put some money aside! Click this link for more information and registration; http://www.trinakoster.com/workshops/schedule.cfm?eventID=200.
Cool things about Cuba... great music, great dancing, great dark rum, wonderful open welcoming people, warm weather, beautiful snorkeling, and goats... lots of goats.
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