Reframing Havana

Havana, more often than not, is seen through the lens of tourists. Their photos and videos perpetuate stereotypes about the island as they capture images of colorful, classic American cars, boldly painted buildings, and Cuban performers playing beautiful melodies of yesteryear. I knew that was not the only story Havana had to tell, so I decided to move there for a year in search of those stories. What I found in Havana was remarkable; I discovered that the city was ripe with visual stories. My vision for this series is to bring some of those stories to life in an unconventional way: stripping Havana of its color. This project aims to tell visual stories through black and white images, capturing raw and uninhibited emotions that transcend color. When viewed as a series, these images reframe Havana, revealing a city of richer and more complex realities that breaks away from the two-dimensional stereotypes of Havana as a tourist destination. Havana is so much more than that…