As a photographer and painter, I look for ways to add dimension to my work, I photograph nudes, earth and rusted steel; I add layers to the surface: wax, encaustic medium, pigment, charcoal and rust which I then scrape and texture to reveal what lies underneath. The Torso series deals with the change and transformation that occur in our bodies as we age and just as light passes through the layers of wax it also encapsulates those moments in time. I work with heat, tools and fire.

Bed and Breakfast selected will depend on availability at the time of registration deadline and group rooming needs.

Photographing Cuba: All Invited

Facilitation by Elena de la Ville

April 23-29, 2018

Limited to 8 participants

Registration Deadline - December 1, 2017

Be inspired to photograph the amazing city of Havana and the Valley of Viñales in Cuba through the guiding eyes of professor Elena de la Ville and faculty from the Creative Photography School of Havana. Our journey will start with a seminar facilitated by a faculty member of the Creative Photography School of Havana, followed by a visit to the Fototeca for an encounter with Cuban photographers. The program includes guided visits to Old Havana to explore colonial and republican eras architecture, art centers and plazas and an 18-hour photo workshop with the participation of Cuban photographers and students who will interact with US delegates during the program.


The Workshop

The workshop has been designed to give the photographer a deeper understanding of photography in the context of the city of Havana and the natural environment for the Valley of Viñales in Cuba. City architecture, environmental portraits and a sense of place will provide highly photogenic subjects. You will learn how to recognize and capture not only the surrounding aesthetics, but also the feelings of the architecture, panoramic views, and the Cuban people.  To conclude the workshop we will meet with Cuban photographers for a critique of the work and to share our learning. Each day of the workshop morning photo critique sessions for feedback and discussion, followed by lunch and afternoon guided fieldwork for photo shoots.


Equipment and Material Needed

  • Digital camera with lenses and manual
  • Memory cards
  • Laptop with charger
  • Tripod or monopod


The Facilitator - Elena De La Ville

 









Program Package Fees







What is included?


  • Photography workshop facilitated by Elena De La Ville
  • Conference by Cuban photographer
  • Final review and critique of photographic work with Cuban photographers
  • Ground transportation from and to airport
  • Ground transportation from B&B to daily lunch sites and photo shoot sites
  • Panoramic tour of Havana
  • Six nights at B&B
  • All breakfasts and 2 dinners
  • Guided walking visit to Old Havana with a Cuban architect
  • Transportation and guided visit to the Town and Valley of Viñales
  • Face-to-Face orientation before departure
  • Travel Guide with tips for a safe and fun trip
  • Emailed information about sites to be visited
  • Bilingual Program Leader traveling with the group
  • Educational / people-to people license to travel
  • Tips for B&B staff, servers in included meals, docents and driver


What is not included? (Estimates)


  • $300 (estimate) round trip airfare to Havana from Tampa with Southwest Airlines

        Air tickets will be individually booked online with Southwest Airlines using miles or a credit card;  

        health insurance while in Cuba is included in the airfare.

  • $50 Cuban tourist visa

        Travelers will be able to buy the Cuban visa online before departure or at the Southwest check-in

        counter at the airport on the day of departure

  • 6 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Airfare for connecting flight to - from Tampa, if traveling to Florida from another state
  • Tampa hotel the night before departure, if traveling to Florida from another state
  • Trip interruption and cancellation insurance


For a Registration Packet

Please visit our
Contact Us page and provide all required Information. As soon as we hear from you, we will email a registration packet with required forms and instructions. You can also call us at 978-998-0039.


Payment Options - Program Package

Cashier's Check or Credit Card
PLEASE VISIT OUR
PAYMENT PAGE

Timetable for Registration and Payments
     
Registration Documents Deadline
50% of Program Package Cost

45 days before departure

50% balance due of Program Package Cost
           
Cancellation Policy

Cancellations after registration and before 2nd payment- 50% refund
Cancellations after 2nd payment - no refund


Itinerary

Our program will start at a hotel near Tampa Airport the night before departure. That evening we will meet for an orientation at the hotel. (Optional for local delegates)


DAY 1


Our flight from Tampa to Havana will take one hour. Once in Havana we will be on our way to accommodations at our B&B for a luggage drop, followed by a panoramic tour of the city and lunch in Old Havana. After lunch we will have some time to explore Old Havana before we do check-in at the BB and enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening.

DAY 2

After breakfast we will have a conference with a professional Cuban photographer to exchange ideas about Cuban and US photographic experiences and perspectives. After breakfast we will explore Old Havana, which was founded in 1519. An architect-historian will guide the group when visiting Cathedral, Arms and San Francisco. As part of this visit we will visit the Cuban Fototeca for an exchange with Cuban photographers. The mission of the Fototeca de Cuba is to contribute, through a systematic and specialized work in the development and assessment of the Cuban photography, as an expression of Cuban national culture.


DAY 3 - Workshop Session 1

In the morning we will start the workshop talking about workshop objectives, personal expectations and logistics for a successful program. The session will continue with technical instructions for afternoon photo shoot with the daily participation of two Cuban photographers. After the session we will travel to a specific site in Havana for lunch and an afternoon photo shoot session.

DAY 4 - Workshop Session 2


After breakfast our morning session will be dedicated to an overview of Day 1 experiences, a critique of photos selected for discussion and individual support. After the session we will travel to a specific site in Havana for lunch and an afternoon photo shoot session.

DAY 5 - Workshop Session 3

This is the day when we travel west of Havana to the amazing Valley of Viñales in the Pinar del Rio province. The valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 because of the area’s natural beauty and the inhabitants’ use of traditional agricultural techniques. In Viñales we will have two photo sessions, one in town and another one in an observation point to capture the magnificent views of the valley.

DAY 6 - Workshop Session 4

After breakfast our morning session will be dedicated to an overview of Days 2 and 3 experiences, a critique of photos selected for discussion and individual support. After the session we will travel to a specific site in Havana for lunch and an afternoon photo shoot session. In the evening we will meet for a farewell dinner.

DAY 7 - Workshop Session 5


In the morning we will have a final workshop evaluation and critique with Cuban photographers who participated in the workshop. After lunch we will transfer to José Martí International Airport for departure.