Baseball Everywhere, a photo from La Habana, West

Photographer's Note

I ran into these kids playing baseball walking around the streets of Old Havana. These kids play with table legs and baseballs fashioned from tape or rubber bands. After this home run hit, the kids stopped playing and sat on the curb. I asked them why they stopped played, then one responded "No Mas." No more ball, no more baseball.

If you decide to go to Cuba, one of the best things you can bring is a can of tennis balls for situations like this.

richiegimmel, Prisley, horatiuTT, Wanda1 heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

richiegimmel (258) 2008-04-21 18:40

Very well composed. Baseball, communist/revolutionary propaganda, the worn down urban setting, the spirit of determination. It's hard to imagine a shot that better captures the essence of Cuba.

CaptainJack (0) 2008-04-21 21:34

Hi Mark

Wonderful "catcher-like" perspective here, showing us even the fat barrel of the "bat" in the follow through. It really shows the narrow alleys he had to hit at, along with his pals in the "field". Even has the watchful eyes from the famous figure on the poster, nice touch!

Jack

Morac (27725) 2008-04-21 21:53

Hello Mark,
Beautiful capture of scene of street of the daily life.
Very well composed.
Regards
Marc

wolf38 (30) 2008-04-21 22:22

Hello Mark. A photo of full dynamics and movement. Outstanding composes, worth seeing. A good photographic achievement. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Prisley (1485) 2008-04-21 22:48

Hi Mark,
Excellent advice I'll bear in mind! I remember bringing pens, crayola, clothes but no tourist guide ever advised to bring balls. They certainly should!
Here I'm totally fond of the POV and composition; the BG is fantastic and so sharp. The inclusion of the Che painting adds some more meaning there. The details of buildings in ruin is well shown. What a pity when you think about it!
Splendid serie of Cuba I wished I've made myself!!
Cheers,
Pris.

horatiuTT (4570) 2008-04-22 1:51

Fascinating perspective more than ever...the light is there once
more,the cuban textures and colors that I think make many
photographers go there...and there HE IS the "old man" on the
wall.Incredible scene Mark.
Horatiu

Wanda1 (15142) 2008-04-22 7:58

Hi Mark,
The light and shadow here are great and so is the movement of the bat being swung. A super street scene with the action in the foreground and the crumbling buildings in the background, I especially like the poster of Che Guevara.
Regards
Wanda

fabio_ts (13696) 2008-04-23 8:09

This one is another stunning work, all my compliments, the way how you have captured the gesture is sublime and composition is to the top.

ciao,
Fabio.

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-05-12 12:51

Hi Mark,
a good hint about the tennis balls, and an excellent photo. Great colours, nice scene..
Compliments, Christian

zmfactor (294) 2008-05-30 0:46

As a baseball fan in America, I've always heard of stories of kids in Cuba playing baseball with makeshift equipment. But your series on Cuba really adds some vivid images to my head. And this photo just sums it all up. Very nicely done.

marcoperu (120) 2009-01-23 8:52

Congratulations! All the essence of Cuba is here in one picture: baseball, the Che and the colonial streets of La Havana vieja. It's just like if I was overthere. The composition is really good and the movement of the bat isn't blured my the motion.