Havana, Cuba Street Photography: Life In The Caribbean Capital

Havana, Cuba street photography revealed a city of contrasts, with a rich history and decaying beauty full of amazingly resilient people.

About Havana

Visiting Cuba’s capital and strolling through its unique streets has been a lifelong dream of mine. I’ve always found its history fascinating. Spanish explorers originally established the city in the early 1500s. It eventually evolved into a strategic hub for trade and commerce in the Caribbean. Havana went through colonial rule, fought battles for independence, and navigated complex political changes over the centuries. Its dilapidating architecture, a blend of Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, vividly showcases its diverse past. Exploring Cuban heritage in this incredible city, from Old Havana’s cobblestone streets to the iconic Malecón along the sea, is an experience that I’ve been waiting for years to do.

Havana, Cuba Street Photography

I wandered around Havana with my camera at hand waiting to capture all the wonder and beauty of that city. It is as if the buildings fought a paint-stained war, and all emerged victorious. The crumbling of beauty in the architectural aspect only enhances its appeal; those facades that are weatherworn speak hundreds of tales. Each of these vintage buildings towers along the pavement and over its people was like a precious time capsule. Havana, Cuba street photography is much like getting to travel back in time and capture an old way of life.

However, here is the juxtaposition – Although it was a bustling environment people seemed somewhat tired. The individuals, timid almost humble beings glide through the hues of this disorder with a certain gentility. It is visible in their eyes, a combination of the past and toughness. Even though there is a touch of inquisitive side glances, as soon as you break the ice it’s like catching up with old buddies. At first, I was very reluctant about doing street photography here but once I started speaking to people that changed. They would talk and laugh with me, revealing a bit of their life to me.

With my photos, I tried to capture the strained relationship between beauty and decay. This city is full of fascinating contradictions. The old colonial buildings that are all over Havana looked like they were once part of an ancient city. I couldn’t stop wondering what this city had looked like during its prime. Since this was my first time here, I felt like a tourist in awe of every sight. This made it a bit hard for me to fully focus on my Havana, Cuba street photography. I wanted to experience everything this city had to offer without being disrespectful. After my 2 days here, before I left to visit other cities, I felt very happy with several of the photos I was able to capture.

Here’s a cityscape photo of Havana, showing the capital building at the top of the hill:

Categories: Caribbean Islands Photography Street Photography Travel Photography

Tags: Caribbean Cuba Havana Leica Photography Photos Street Photography Travel Photography