The Human Condition
This past February, three other club members and I participated in a street photography workshop held in Havana, Cuba led by Dan Callis. We spent a week walking the streets of old Havana where much of daily life is spent outside. We photographed what can be described as the human condition. This photo is one example which I entered in the Prince Edward Island Photography Club’s 34th annual photo show at The Guild’s gallery this past June. Out of 102 submissions this photo won 2nd place overall Best in Show, and 1st place in the Photographer’s Choice category. It is titled “Still Waiting”.
The people were at a medical clinic waiting to be seen. The area was open to the street. As I passed by I held up my camera to indicate that I’d like to take a photo. The lady seated at the front nodded consent. I only took the one shot before moving on. Upon later review I realized how fortunate I was to have acquired such a good composition. The eye contact and lighting were perfect. I converted it to black and white so as to emphasize the people and their situation and not be distracted by the varied clothing colours. “When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. When you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls.” —Ted Grant (photojournalist photographer)
The club is having an open house night at their next meeting on September 27 in Charlottetown. My photo was used in the announcement published in The BUZZ. http://buzzon.com/index.php/whats-going-on/today/icalrepeat.detail/2016/09/27/73524/-/pei-photography-club-open-house
Two other photos I took during the Havana workshop were entered in the show and received awards. “For Sale, Needs Some Work” won 1st Place Best in Show, and 2nd place in Photographer’s Choice category. Anyone who has been to Cuba is aware that most vehicles are vintage. This one is quite dilapidated but Cubans are very resourceful so I have no doubt this man will continue to work away at this restoration project.
During the workshop we traveled to Vinales, the tobacco growing region of Cuba. These men walked made many trips to the drying barn with poles laden with tobacco leaves. The others in my group were inside the barn taking photos but my camera didn’t have enough ISO capability to handle the low lighting. As it turned out moving outside allowed me to photograph these workers as shown in this final photo called “The Next Step”. It won 3rd Place Best in Show, and 1st place in Farming category.