Obama in Cuba and an Island still in the Stream
President Obama is the first sitting U.S. President to visit Cuba in 88 years.
With the historic political changes currently occurring between the
Obama administration and the Castro regime, Cuba is poised for change.
Over time we will see
cultural, socio-economic and structural changes to an island that has
been frozen in time for decades.
I spend time traveling to Cuba from 2005-2012 in discord with the United States embargo, documenting an island in the stream of politics, ideologies and imaginations. This is my fleeting attempt to capture one last time the Cuba that had lived in our imaginations while capturing the people, the lifestyle and the essence of the street.
This has left me with two conflicting views; Although Cuba is a country of immense beauty and passion, cultured and proud, it resonates with under tones of a gentle sadness that cannot be overlooked. It's a contrast I hope I managed to capture in "Island in the Stream."
I many ways my journeys to Cuba was my birth as a photographer. I had
been taking pictures for a few years already, toying with different
styles, subjects and approaches. There was so may things I loved to
photograph and so many techniques I was curious about learning. I was
always very aware of the camera, approaching everything in a very
intellectual way. Trying to control every aspect in order to create the
perfect moment. Inevitably it created very mediocre results. It was in
Cuba that for the first time I stopped thinking and began shooting with
instinct. A moment, and the snap of a shutter. It was almost like I
would take a picture even before I realized that there was something
worth photographing. To this day this series has some of my favorite
images. I’m not sure what magic the island and it’s people hold for me,
but I was addicted to it. I went back many times between 2005-2012.
I many ways my journeys to Cuba was my birth as a photographer. I had been taking pictures for a few years already, toying with different styles, subjects and approaches. There was so may things I loved to photograph and so many techniques I was curious about learning. I was always very aware of the camera, approaching everything in a very intellectual way. Trying to control every aspect in order to create the perfect moment. Inevitably it created very mediocre results. It was in Cuba that for the first time I stopped thinking and began shooting with instinct. A moment, and the snap of a shutter. It was almost like I would take a picture even before I realized that there was something worth photographing. To this day this series has some of my favorite images. I’m not sure what magic the island and it’s people hold for me, but I was addicted to it. I would go back many times between 2005-2012 to create “Island In the Stream” my photo-essay on Cuba
Prints are available for sale, you can contact me directly at info@marlonkrieger.com
