www.photocubaworkshop.com
Travel with Purpose! Get off the resort and experience the real Cuba! Meet wonderful people and connect with culture through photography.
With her 18 years experience as a portrait photographer, Trina will lead you in photography lessons on visual storytelling, the decisive moment, composition, sculpting light and capturing gestures. An emphasis will be made on connecting with people while immersing yourself in a new culture.
This workshop is suitable for image makers coming from different levels of photography. If you are a beginner, you will not be lost; if you are advanced you will not be held back, as each person will have their photographs personally reviewed and critiques customized to your level.
Throughout the week our team of instructors will give you feedback on your images. You will greatly benefit from this diverse group of artists.
Along with Trina, the Photo Cuba team includes photographer and author Laura Taylor (www.lauraelisetaylor.com), Photoshop expert and illustrator Scott Mooney (www.moon-man.com), and surrealistic Cuban painter, German Portuondo (http://germanportuondo.blogspot.com/). German (pronounced “her-man”) is also a professor of Fine Art, and director of the Guillermo Collazo Galeria de Arte in Chivirico (in the village where we stay). In particular, German brings great insight and a truly unique Cuban perspective to the students understanding of their images.
By collaborating with local Cuban photo guides, we will help you to quickly connect to real people and the rhythm of daily life in Cuba. Chivirico is not a touristy town, instead you will find babies, school kids, seniors, fisherman, bakers, commuters, dogs, chickens and pigs going about their lives in the most natural of ways. These kinds of photographic opportunities usually reserved for professional journalists will be an abundant part of our program. (Please note, Cuba is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean to walk around on)
Since you will be immersed in Cuban life through photography, Laura and German will teach you some basic Spanish to help you communicate with your subjects. There will also be lectures on Cuban culture, music, dance and art to enhance your Cuban experience.
Los Galeones is a sweet little hotel situated between the Caribbean Sea and the famous Sierra Mountain Range. Chivirico is next door to Umbaro, where Castro and his comrades lead THE Revolution. On top of the small mountain is our laid back hotel where you can take a dip in the pool , enjoy a 360 degree view, gorgeous sunsets and friendly staff. The hotel also has a private beach with snorkeling.
Our night time activities include sipping back Mojitos, while listening to one of the many fabulous musicians that play nightly at the hotel. This is a fun, socially interactive experience for people of all ages, singles and couples. We encourage travel companions to join us during meal times. Although this is a group workshop, participants should feel at ease knowing solitude time will be respected.
At the end of the week we will continue our adventure in downtown Santiago de Cuba, staying in the city centre at the Casa Granda Hotel. Our time there will include a guided tour of the streets of Santiago with options to visit the best museums and galleries. There will be a sunset photo shoot at El Morro Castle. Following that we will enjoy an authentic Cuban feast on a rooftop terrace overlooking the historic city and then continue the celebration at a local Salsa dance club afterwards. We will have options go to the farmer’s market, visit the Centro de Arte Gallery and enjoy a spin around the city in a “coco-cab”.
Our Photo Cuba experience will wrap up with a slideshow celebrating the images from the week. This slideshow will go on to exhibit at the local gallery so the people in the community can enjoy the photos of themselves.
Since the inception of Photo Cuba, Chivirico now has a photo club “Photo Che”. In the past, students have brought donations of digital photo and computer equipment and art supplies to help support the arts in the community. We encourage your participation in this program as a way of giving back culturally.
Photo Cuba is an adventure into the heart of Cuban culture, to a place that, as one student said, “has soul”. A creative experience you’ll never forget is waiting to embrace you!
For more information please visit the “Gallery” page on www.photocubaworkshop.com. There you will be able to see photos from previous students, images of the hotel, village and instructors.
To reserve your spot or if you have any questions please call Trina at 519-767-2948 or email info@trinakoster.com.
*Please note Los Galeones Hotel is on top of a large, steep hill. You will be required to walk up and down the hill daily. Unfortunately, it is not very easy to get up the hill by cab. Therefore, this trip is best suited to people who are able to do the daily climb!
