Walking the Streets of Havana, a photo from La Habana, West

Photographer's Note

The photo is much clearer if you open and view it by right clicking.

There are so many shots I have from Cuba that I should have posted...so lets get to some of them.

For me, Havana was a photographic heaven. I spent 5 days here and loved every second of it. My camera was on fire haha. My love for abandoned buildings and buildings in repair, and my love of cars, this was a perfect match for me.

Its amazing to me how so many of the cities buildings are in decay, but they're still standing and most are still in use - pretty sad actually, that the locals have to live in these conditions.

Here is a simple street scene where old cars kept passing through (the occasional new car), and with the decaying buildings in the bg, I thought it would make an interesting visual.

The WS photo is my favorite, but I think most would prefer this one because there's more activity on the street. anyways...hope you like it

A day or two later when I revisited this street, there were kids playing baseball, trying to avoid the traffic.

ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, pajaran, Fis2, ikeharel, holmertz, pierrefonds, PaulVDV, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel, clic, jean113, ktanska, Royaldevon, adramad heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

ChrisJ (172378) 2021-07-14 22:37

Hi Craig

What would a shot of Havana be without the classic old cars the city is famous for? Several good examples captured in this shot. Excellent sharpness, colour and framing. Tfs!

COSTANTINO (117672) 2021-07-14 22:45

Hello dear Craig and have a nice time
and a happy evening
is this a scenery from a movie film
from old times????
an impressive capture from
Cuba s buildings with signs
of abandonce
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (148124) 2021-07-14 22:57

Hi Craig,
a good photo and mood of La Habana, old buildings, colors and old amairican var, well composed, nice sharpness and pleasnt sunlight, tfs.

pajaran (116947) 2021-07-14 23:26

Pozzdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan teskt ...
Lepo mesto sa automobilima i starom arhitekturom, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Lepa fotografija u radionci.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

ifege (49297) 2021-07-15 0:13

Hi Craig
A good classic scene from Havana which unfortunately I've still not managed to visit. Interesting things happening their at present.
cheers
Ian

Fis2 (171823) 2021-07-15 0:28

Witaj Craig!
Interesting view from Havana. His houses and cars are impression.
Good framing and colors.
I like this picture from daily life.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (114477) 2021-07-15 0:51

Cuba its a heaven for old cars photography, Craig.
Yet, besides the car we see those dilapidated facades that somehow still offer an attraction for photography.
Nicely combined.
Nowadays, Cuba is under civilian turmoil, as people yield for better life...
My best regards,
Ike

holmertz (103540) 2021-07-15 1:53

Hello Craig,
These buildings look far worse than anything I saw in the old parts of Rangoon or Hanoi. They seem to lack everything except a lot of charm to seduce photographers. I'd rather agree with you that the WS is a better composition, thanks to that very well placed car. There's not really that much activity in this one either, so not much is lost.
Best wishes,
Gert

lousat (139914) 2021-07-15 2:40

Hi Craig,I also prefer the photo in the WS and I do not understand why you have not reversed the parts ... heheh .. obviously this post makes me immensely happy, I have been 7 times in Cuba and I remember well every corner of the capital. Unfortunately, in the last few days bad news arrives, perhaps we are close to a new revolution, hoping that it does not end in the blood. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

pierrefonds (115436) 2021-07-15 4:36

Hi Craig,

Walking the street in the major cities of Cuba is an occasion to see a lot of old american cars. The point of view is showing the details of the old cars and of the buildings. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Tue (93328) 2021-07-15 5:57

Hello Craig,
A typical photo from Havana, I imagine, with those old, classic cars in the streets. The red ones stand out well from the old walls of the houses, which with some more maintenance would look so beautiful. The light was perfect.
Lars

PaulVDV (63440) 2021-07-15 11:20

Hello Craig,
Yes, you're right. The picture in the WS is the best.
You like to enter abandoned buildings. Were you also able to do this in Havana?
The top floor of the building on the right seems to be in a bit better condition. In any case, the facade has recently received some paint.
Attractive red-blue contrasts.
Best regards, Paul

worldcitizen (16226) 2021-07-15 16:43

Hello Craig,
Both this main photo and the one in the WS are great. The atmosphere is unmistakenly Cuban. The buildings are in such disrepair, but they still hint at better days from the past. I worry for anyone living in those structures. I know collapses are not an unusual occurrence in Cuba. The classic cars are amazing, too. Take care...

mcmtanyel (69101) 2021-07-15 18:06

Hello Craig,
The streets of Havana may not be this peaceful these days. Did you get to ride in one of those classic American cars there?
Regards,
MT

clic (76) 2021-07-16 13:01

Hello Craig
In Havana the car mechanics are very inventive, so can fix a vintage car using hair dryer parts!!
And so were you so, roaming away from the touristic district, to show the true distressed aspect of the outskirts.
Thanks for this moment of plain verity.
Cheers

jean113 (28249) 2021-07-16 13:49

Hello Craig, two interesting shots; I agree with you, I don't know why but I prefer the shot in the workshop.
I can imagine that you must have been in your element with so many sad decaying buildings. The buildings were obviously very grand many years ago.
Looking forward to more posts from Cuba.
Kind regards, Jean.

ktanska (45030) 2021-07-19 10:44

Hi Craig,
Yes, these scenes are wonderful. I agree with your choice of the main upload, although the closer car obstructs the other one. It is interesting to see fresh looking paint on the top floor on the right.
Kari

Royaldevon (86364) 2021-08-07 5:33

Hello Craig,

I don't know how I missed this but I have been very busy recently and haven't been posting as often as usual. Anyway, I love this and, like you, prefer the w/s. I don't know why you thought we would not like it so much!

You are right about the buildings. They do look as if they were once extremely beautiful and classy. What a pity they have been allowed to sink into such poor repair. However, they make a very atmospheric b/g, whilst the old cars make the focal points.
This is like a step back in time ... though it is quite modern!

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

kasianowak (17676) 2021-08-16 6:09

Too much choice... ;-)
I prefer the composition with just one car in WS but then, on the other hand, I prefer the "deux-couleurs" car in the main shot and also a bit more human presence. Both photos are excellent.
The buildings, indeed, seem only good for photography, less so for living in them. The conditions inside must be horrendous.

GyurMaster (25000) 2021-08-16 12:58

Hello Craig,

Its a Chevrolet Bell Air if I'm not mistakin'. As I see a I have a missed a great bunch of good photos. I will try to keep up in the following days.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

adramad (73410) 2021-08-17 10:56

Hi Craig.
Fantastic image that seems to show a city in the 50s, the houses with a beautiful style in another era, now it is a shame to see them in ruins, the cars have been well cared for and are kept in apparent good condition.
Wonderful colors in soft tones, excellent sharpness and splendid clarity.
Very well done. I like.
You have a good day.
Kind regards.
Luis.

BennyV (34748) 2021-09-24 9:01

A photographic heaven...you bet! We visited it a long, long, long time ago, the first "far away" trip me and my wife made. Back in the days I was just only beginning to be interested in taking pictures. Meanwhile that has changed (unlike Havanna, I hope).

Benny

tenretin (3275) 2021-12-04 10:37

Une destination encore préservée. Un joli cliché.
JP