Street Photography in Cuba
Last month, I fulfilled a longtime dream by spending two weeks in Cuba. The trip had been on my bucket list for years, and I dedicated many hours to planning each stop of our route. This included figuring out logistics like the availability of Internet, gasoline, or ATMs. While many travel blogs provide this type of practical information, I struggled to find advice on the Do's and Don'ts of photography in Cuba, particularly with the intent of documenting everyday life in the streets rather than just capturing touristy sights. Drawing from my recent experience, this blog aims to share insights into street photography in Cuba.
How Safe is it to Carry a Camera in Cuba?
Carrying a camera in Cuba is, in my opinion, very safe. Throughout 80% of my time there, I had a mid-sized camera in hand, and I never felt someone could snatch it from me. Tourism significantly contributes to Cuba's economy, bringing in hard currencies like the Dollar or Euro. Therefore, Cubans are keen on maintaining a positive reputation for being a safe country. Rather than being interested in stealing your camera, locals are more likely to approach you to sell something or ask for smaller items that are hard to find in Cuba, like Ibuprofen, tissues, or pens.
Said that, common-sense rules still apply:
Do not leave your camera or camera bag unattended.
Carry your backpack or sling in front of you in crowds.
Consider using a wrist strap rather than a neck strap to keep your camera closer.
Avoid carrying your camera openly at night, especially in dark streets.
Put away your camera in situations that make you feel uneasy.
Most hotels and even Airbnbs we stayed in had a small safe in the room, which I used to store my camera gear when not in use.
How Safe is it to Do Street Photography in Cuba?
From my experience, street photography in Cuba is a very safe and pleasant experience. In two weeks, I encountered no negative reactions from locals. Most Cubans observed my activity with curiosity, probably wondering why a European found their everyday surroundings photo-worthy. In fact, during our visit to Santa Clara, a stop on our route, I overheard a boy saying, “Why does she photograph this sh*t?” to his friend when I took a photo of a propaganda mural for Fidel Castro.
Occasionally, when establishing eye contact with people, they approached me to ask for money, medicine, or candies. Cuba's extreme poverty means locals often see tourists as a resource, a reality we acknowledged by bringing medicine and other needed goods to distribute.
Given Cuba's visible poverty, having a clear ethical-moral compass as a street photographer proved crucial to me. I personally refrain from capturing images of extreme poverty, individuals in vulnerable situations, or private moments such as religious ceremonies or celebrations where I wouldn't want to be photographed myself. Additionally, I avoid taking pictures of police, government buildings, or airports. If you're interested in specific subjects or themes, or simply want to be on the safe side, I suggest researching local laws and restrictions beforehand. As a photographer, my primary goal is to document everyday scenes with genuine interest, empathy, and sometimes, a bit of humor.
What Camera Gear Should I Bring to Cuba?
This depends on your personal style of photography, setup, previous experiences, preferred way of shooting and traveling, etc. If you plan to explore a city on foot, consider a light setup to avoid carrying extra weight. In my case, I brought my Canon EOS M6 Mark II and the EF-M 18-150mm Zoom lens. While I usually prefer prime lenses, I had no idea what types of scenes to expect in Cuba, so I erred on the side of caution with a more versatile Zoom lens. This choice proved right for me. However, if you're accustomed to a fixed focal length, one or two prime lenses may suffice. Keep in mind that in cities like Havana or Trinidad, where streets are narrow and crowded, a wide-angle lens might be better suited for capturing the broader context of a scene.
Lastly, be aware that bringing a lot of photography equipment may attract attention at customs, potentially leading authorities to believe you’re a professional photographer or photojournalist, which requires special permits. As is often the case with photography gear and photography in general, less is more—there will always be shots you miss and others you capture beautifully, regardless of the camera you're using in that moment.
What Are Good Locations for Street Photography in Cuba?
During our trip, we explored three cities: Havana, Santa Clara, and Trinidad. Of the three, Havana stood out as the most captivating and photogenic, typical of capital cities. In Havana, the historic district of Habana Vieja became my favorite for leisurely photo strolls. As mentioned earlier, Havana's streets are often narrow, bustling with both pedestrians and cars, which presented a challenge in creating clean and uncluttered compositions—my personal preference over crowded scenes. If, like me, you prefer less busy environments for taking pictures, consider exploring the Malecón avenue. This broad esplanade and seawall along the coast offers more ample space and less foot and car traffic, making it easier to capture visually unbusy shots. It's also a nice spot for snapping shots of the beautiful vintage cars that are still in use in Cuba.
In the end, my advice is to embrace spontaneity. Keep your camera prepared, allowing interesting moments to unfold naturally, and resist the temptation to force certain scenes. After all, nothing hinders the joy of street photography more than attempting to fabricate preconceived images. Work with what’s in front of you, and accept that great shots won't come every day—although I assure you, your hit rate in captivating Cuba will be quite high.