I always get a kick visiting the shopping malls during the Christmas Holidays. The lights, music and decorations are a always a nice site. This is the Americana mall in Glendale, California. It’s one of those outdoor malls with fountains and gardens to go along with the Apple store and Starbucks. And then in the evening, the clock rings out like a church bell and suddenly it starts snowing. Kind of reminds of being at Disneyland minus the expensive entrance fee.
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I took various photos of the fountain show. If you have seen the fountain show at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, this is the same thing but on a much smaller scale. But the kids like it and the photos come out pretty.
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Whenever people ask me what it’s like to visit Havana, I’ll probably just show them this photo. It best represents how the city attacks your visual senses. If you look closely, this photo sums up a typical day in Havana. There is the obligatory classic Chevy that you’ll see driving throughout the city. All around are crumbling, yet architecturally beautiful, buildings from another era. And over there are the two “Compais” enjoying a beer and discussing baseball (trust me, they’re talking about baseball). The State Capitolio building in the distance represents the ever present government. The ladies leaning out the upper floor balcony calling out to their kids down below. And you’ll always see someone selling fruits and vegetable on a street corner out of a wooden crate. Oh, and how about that crain and pulley they use to send up the produce? Now there are some things missing (like the boys who always play baseball in the streets or the pretty Cuban girls gossiping about) but this pretty much covers it. A day in the life in Havana. Oh, and look up there…someone’s pink underwear.
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When I visited Trinidad, Cuba, I would always go for a morning walk and see what I would run into in this picturesque town. Like the classic American cars still driving through the streets or farmers on their horse carriages selling their produce on corner markets. Or this little guy. He was standing in the middle of the cobblestone street admiring his pet bird inside a cage. I thought it was such a quaint scene and snapped a quick photo. He looked at me a little embarrassed and ran off to hide behind his Mom who was standing nearby. I asked if I could have another photo and he bashfully declined as his Mom encouraged him on to allow me to take his picture. I thanked them both anyway and went on my way. Still, I quite enjoyed the way this photo came out. Makes me want to know what is the story behind the boy and the bird. I guess we’ll never know.
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Every city has its share of iconic locations to photograph. In LA there is the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, Sunset Blvd., Santa Monica pier, and the downtown skyline to name a few. Well now we can add one more. This fountain, along with Grand Park, was unveiled just last year and it’s part of Downtown LA’s continuous reinvention. A nice touch was that the City Hall building was lit up in bright blue. The city of LA lights it up every September as part of Prostate Cancer awareness month. Last year, I also photographed the City Hall in blue. Check it out.
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I was renting a small room in a private house in Trinidad, Cuba and this classic Ford Fairlane was always parked across the street. Everyday, as I would begin my excursions, I would see it there all alone. As if it was calling out to me…waiting for me to come take its photo. Well one day the torrential rains fell and I sat outside the doorway as the water flowed down the street. The owner of the house mentioned that she had not seen rain like that in years. Meanwhile, the poor old Fairlane just stood there, waiting, in the poring rain. That’s when I decided, “Now is a good time to take its photo.” I took various photos while trying to avoid getting drenched. These old cars really stand out in the cobblestone Cuban streets. Satisfied with my pics, I went back inside. When I went out the next morning, it was gone.
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Here is another photo from lovely Akumal bay in the Rivera Maya, Mexico. This is one of those lazy beaches where you can just pick out a palm tree and lay underneath it all day while being serenaded by the gentle waves. On this day, I walked around the whole bay stopping only to take photos from different vantage points. After a while, I put my camera gear down and went for a swim. It’s a shame to visit here and not enjoy the crystal blue water. After my swim, I enjoyed a crystal cold cerveza.
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It was my first day in Viñales, Cuba and the first thing I did was to rent a bike and go for a ride in the countryside. This is the heart of tobacco country and you will see lush farms everywhere. They also grow sugar cane and coffee. Add in some classic 50′s American cars and you can guarantee some interesting photo opportunities. And for the most part, everyone is very accommodating when I ask if I can take their photo. This particular farmer was riding wooden mud skis while being pulled by his Zebu bulls. He was so nice, I didn’t have the heart to tell him to tuck in his shirt.
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by Rafaelinho