Cuba – a country where you can travel back in time and observe the social changes happening in the last few years. From the old cobbled streets of Havana, where American cars from the 1950s are just one of the attractions, to the sugar cane mills and cigar factories – Cuba is as colourful and rich in contrasts as it gets. Locals do not mind being photographed on the streets, during samba dancing or afternoon siestas. Colonial style old villas stand next to monuments of the Cuban revolution, and youngsters play alongside the elderly, who enjoy their evening rum.
Nikon Ambassador Arne Hodalič is the photo editor of National Geographic Magazine Slovenia. Originally studying biology in Ljubljana, his first trip to India in 1989 changed his professional career when his photos were published in a prestigious Swiss magazine, Animan. Since then he has travelled the world on photo-assignments. He is also a passionate adventurer and cave diver, participating in numerous sailing, mountaineering and caving expeditions. In 2008 he received an honorary doctorate at the University of Ljubljana, becoming a lecturer in photography and photojournalism. His photos and photo stories have appeared in books, exhibitions and many of the world’s most prestigious magazines, among others National Geographic Magazine, Life (USA), Time, Figaro Magazine, GEO, Paris Match, Marie Claire, Die Zeit, Cosmopolitan and Stern.
Upon arrival to Havana you will be picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel.
After dinner, Arne Hodalič will introduce the workshop and present his magnificent and inspiring work from Cuba.
Participants (those who want to) can submit seven of their photos for review by Arne.
We will start the day with an orientation walk through old Havana – from San Francisco de Asisi Square to Plaza de Armes, followed by a visit to modern day Havana.
Street photography will be the focus of our stay here, as the motifs are abundant: locals going about their everyday business, historical buildings with their amazing staircases and balconies…
We will visit one of the famous boxing schools and cigar factories in Havana.
Evenings will be dedicated to blue light photography, followed by classroom workshops.
In the morning, we drive to Cienfuegos and stop there for the main attractions: Jose Marti Park and Terry Theatre.
After lunch, we continue our drive along the seaside towards Trinidad.
We are spending two days in this colourful old town, bustling with American cars and local houses facing the streets, offering us a view inside through the famous grilled windows. Climb atop a city tower for a unique perspective.
In the afternoon of day 6, we drive to Sugar Mills Valley, photographing the sugar cane plantations and refineries. Colonial houses that used to belong to rich plantation owners are a must see as well.
After breakfast, we take the bus to the town of Santa Clara, where the past communist era is more present than anywhere else. We spend the night here.
After the morning street photography tour, we hop on the bus again and drive back to Havana’s capital city.
Participants have the day to themselves, wandering around Havana and capturing the moments that they might have missed at the beginning of our tour.
Evening dinner will be accompanied by the selection of the best photos from the trip, submitted by the participants.
Transfer to the airport will be provided.
“This is my first time in Cuba, and it’s my sixth or seventh workshop with Better Moments. Straight to Cuba, it was teaching point of view and learning a perspective which was pretty much focused on classroom one way. There were a lot of good lectures and it was more teaching this time than the other, which I appreciated a lot”.Catarina Kent, from Sweden, has participated in the Cuba, Bhutan, Tanzania, Steve McCurry, Söderåsen, Il Palio, Indochina and Burma workshops.
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GETTING THERE
Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Cuba, handling flights for more than 25 international airlines.
VISA
All visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay. All travellers must apply for a visa to Cuba at the nearest consulate of Cuba. It is the responsibility of each traveller to obtain all valid travel documents and visas before arrival at this destination.
WEATHER
This is the dry season and the most popular time to visit Cuba. It rains much less and because of this the temperature and humidity drop make conditions much more comfortable. Average temperature is 23 °C, with a high of 27 °C (day) and a low of 18 °C (night).
CURRENCY
Cuban convertible peso, Cuban peso
LANGUAGE
The official language is Spanish.
HEALTH
Check with your doctor which vaccinations or medications are recommended for this destination. Remember to plan well ahead with vaccinations. Allow up to six weeks to receive the full course, as some vaccinations require more than one dose, and some should not be given together.
QUICK GUIDE
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation under communist rule. From the old cobbled streets of the capital, Havana, where American cars from the 1950s are just one of the attractions, to the sugar cane mills and cigar factories – Cuba is as colourful and rich in contrasts as it gets. Locals do not mind being photographed on the streets, during samba dancing or afternoon siestas. Colonial style old villas stand next to monuments of the Cuban revolution, youngsters are playing alongside the elderly, who enjoy their evening rum. Cuba is a medley of sights and impressions and a paradise for photographers.
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