Cayo Jutias
Cayo Jutias, just a short cab ride from Viñales, was my first glimpse of a proper beach in Cuba (I’m not counting the Malecón in Havana, a very different experience). This is facing almost directly into the Gulf of Mexico, from Cuba’s northwest coast (google map). It is remote, filled with solitude and the waters are very warm. Looking outside in Vancouver today, I had to post this simply because I wish I was back there right now.
NYC Street Art, Part II
You’ve seen the first, now here’s a second batch of NYC Street Art photos from my time in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Creative expression on the streets of America’s largest city and I’m sure this barely scratches the surface.
Two things of note: In my last Street Art post, I mentioned the intriguing ‘drip paintings’ discovered on the Williamsburg Bridge and elsewhere in Brooklyn. I’d never seen anything like them before. Below, top right, is another example. It so happens my pal Tim was in a NYC gallery the other day and came across similar portraits done on paper. He inquired and discovered the work was by New York artist Paul Richard. Now, I can’t say for sure it’s the same guy, but click on ‘Works on Paper’ on his site and compare.
Secondly, the image you see bottom centre is of an art project installed on the Williamsburg Bridge. (This bridge is a hot spot for street art – evidenced by a dedicated flickr pool). I found a video called The Bridge Comes Alive by Baji Lives! documenting the creation of this artwork. I wasn’t sure if this was a ‘sanctioned public art project’ or a clandestinely installed bit of authentic street art. Turns out it’s the latter and I’d say the bridge is better for it.
New York City, November, 2011.
Public Transportation
In Cuba, public transportation takes many forms. I was able to try most – taxi cabs, coco taxis, horse-drawn wagons, 1950s Ford convertibles, buses in all state of repair, and bicitaxis. While a 50-something Fairlane Skyliner is a classy way to get to the farther beaches near Viñales (more on that later), it was the humble bicitaxi that took us around the bigger cities when our legs tired from all the walking (Havana, for one, is massive). These things are smooth as butter – as long as you get the right one. Your driver (pedaller, actually) will make or break your trip. Either they have the right moves to get you around in one piece or you are jostled like an empty bottle on the high seas. If you are lucky, the speakers will be blasting the right tunes as well.
Fortunately, road users in Cuba are used to sharing and it’s not uncommon for horses, bikes, people and bicitaxis to all occupy the space of a single vehicle at any given time. And it all seems to work. Buses will brake for the old man on the cruiser, taxis will wait for the horse-drawn wagon to pass before turning. Patience seems to be the rule – after all, the more time you take in your journey, the more people you can stop to visit along the way.
Bicitaxi operator, photographed in La Habana Vieja, Cuba, December, 2011.
Golden Arches
Golden arches rise from the public water basins at Tanque de La Unión in Antigua, Guatemala, 2011.
Lago de Atitlán
This was my jaw-dropping first glimpse of Guatemala’s famous Lago de Atitlán when I arrived on it’s shores during dusk in Panajachel. Love at first sight!
Guatemala, November, 2011.
Bicycle Portrait: Gaining Momentum with Kati & Trevor
I am fortunate to work with my passions and extremely fortunate to combine two – bicycles and photography – with an incredible team at Momentum Magazine. Out of our office in Vancouver’s Chinatown we publish North America’s premier bicycle lifestyle magazine, and what has been a free publication is now launching on the newsstand for the first time this spring! After a lengthy production period and epic final push to deadline we’ve sent the issue to press this morning. It involved a ton of work on the editorial side and our design team at Switch Studio in Tempe, Arizona went above and beyond to present our best issue yet. Can’t wait to share with everyone when it’s out March 1!
As a small team, we have come to rely on the talent & generosity of our readers, contributors and interns. It’s a fantastic community I love being a part of. As Photo Editor, I work closely with our photo interns and we featured two standouts – Kati Jenson and Trevor Block – on our contributor’s page this issue. Keep an eye on these up and comers!
Scenes from the High Line
In a previous post I mentioned some of the interesting things you may see on a High Line walk, including a surprise ninja on the staircase. Strolling the park as the afternoon light changes to darkness, gathering areas become focal points for art, expression and discussion. Definitely one of my favourite places in New York City. Here are a few more scenes from the High Line, November, 2011.
Digital Tower
You can spend all your time just shooting interesting architecture while in New York. I was on the hunt for other images, but still found a few buildings that caught my eye. This one, near the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, reminded me of Douglas Coupland’s Digital Orca sculpture I’ve photographed in Vancouver, BC. A pixelated, digital tower in Manhattan.
New York City, 2011.
High Line Chic
Great friend, gracious host and new New Yorker, Tim Walker on the High Line in NYC, 2011.
Ninja on the High Line!
The High Line Park in Manhattan’s West Side is an incredible urban renewal project. The park runs along an elevated train line from the Meatpacking District north through Chelsea. It’s the perfect place to people watch – in my stroll from end to end I saw countless photo shoots, performance art pieces & musicians, a non-stop parade of colourful characters and, to top it off, a random ninja on the stairs. As the sun set, the place transformed into an open air social with great views and an even better vibe. It’s a must-see urban oasis in the big city and never the same place twice. More images to come…
Meeting Fires Creative 