travellin' in time, a photo from Sancti Spiritus, West

Photographer's Note

one from the archives...

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This one goes way back to our very first trip abroad (meaning outside of Europe). We travelled the slow train from Havana to the east, getting off at most of the major stops in between.

To get to Trinidad, we had to hitch a ride on a school bus from Sancti Spiritus south, down to the coast.

I don't know how things are these days, but back then Trindidad really felt like it was lost in time (and the beach nearby was virtually deserted). I guess these things have changed.

We stayed at a wonderful colonial mansion smack dab in the center of town, not far from where this picture was taken. Low on modern comfort (sometimes that's a blessing), but high on atmosphere. I remember relaxing in a rocking chair on the patio, cigar in hand, a cuppa ron ready to be sipped. Those were the days.

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Trinidad was founded on December 23, 1514 by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar under the name Villa De la Santísima Trinidad.

It is one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time when the sugar trade was the main industry in the region.

Nowadays, Trinidad's main industry are tobacco processing and tourism.

Only a few square blocks in size, historic Trinidad is famous for its lovely, cobblestone streets, pastel coloured houses with elaborate wrought-iron grills, as well as beautiful palaces and plazas.

While the older parts of town are well preserved as the Cuban tourism industry sees benefit from tour groups, other parts of town outside the tourist areas are very run down.

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No technical information, because this a scan from an old, old print. It was shot with my small Pentax Espio, the first camera I owned, actually.

cleaned up with NeatImage, basic PP, framed and then posted for you - I hope you like it

ManuMay, kato has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (67960) 2012-03-05 6:38

Hello Benny,
It's allways good to dig in the archives !
You newer know what was there before and how did it look like.
I would like to see thesame street in Trinidad today.
Who knows, maybe not much changed, but still quite interesting to compare.
Very nice scan of good quality.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

dta (51418) 2012-03-05 7:10

Hello Benny ,
The perspective towards the church tower , passing by this charming old street : beautiful ! Like also the sky and the light management .
Regards

JFS (32129) 2012-03-05 7:49

Hi Benny,
Excellent management of light, not easy, to capture this pictoresque and colorful place. Great graphical effect.

See you around!
Juan

yquem46 (32263) 2012-03-05 8:14

Hello Benny
far from being bad for a scan !
A pleasant sky and a perspective created by houses in the sun at left and houses in the shade, that lead us to the church as if we were in a corridor
have a good week
patrick

lousat (57626) 2012-03-05 8:49

July 1993 ?It's incredible! I'm just back again from this town but i been there the 1st time in July 93 me too!A beautiful pic and a very professional scanning,the colors and the details are really impressives....i like it!Have a nice evening and thanks,LUCIANO

ManuMay (33343) 2012-03-05 9:12

Hi Benny!

Beautiful place...Even if scanned deserves a rich colours collection, very nice light and good composition, enhancing depth and space sense..Good colours contrasts...

Have a nice day...

Manu

SNOOP_Chan (3474) 2012-03-05 9:24

Hello Benny, indeed Cuba is like a travel back in time. Good angles here, good depth. Nice contrast, lovely alive colors despite the age of the walls.
Regards!

Gigidusud (8054) 2012-03-05 11:41

Hello Benny,
Beautiful composition with nice colors.Great perspective and light.
Thanks for sharing.
Ghislaine

vero07 (1781) 2012-03-05 13:22

Hello Benny,

Nice POV and light.

Thanks for your useful information also.

Regards.

Hanssie (9921) 2012-03-05 22:32

And it's a superb title for this image:-)))))

A beauty, love the textures of the walls, the details
but especially the warmth in this, nice photo

emka (58140) 2012-03-05 23:48

Hi Banny, Wonderful trip in time when you look at the archive photos. Beautiful street also looking lost in time. it reminds me the old part of Guatemala, also low buildings in colonial style. Good quality of the old photo, lovely view.

Warm regrads

Malgo

dkmurphys (36801) 2012-03-06 0:12

HI Benny,
Lovely mood on that old street. I like the warm sunlight and the colonial architecture. South America is amazing with it's mixt of European and native civilization.
Good work, have a nice day.

Daniel

npecanhuk (53901) 2012-03-06 2:06

Hi Benny!
Interesting place!
Beautiful picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov and composition are all excellent!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

cavli (1874) 2012-03-06 6:39

Hello Benny,
very good pov. I like this how you framed this picture. nice warm colors indeed. clouds give very good effects to your picture. tfs
regards..

peppe59 (14547) 2012-03-06 7:42

Ciao Benny,
il lato di Cuba forse meno conosciuto e più mal ridotto, ottima testimonianza e perfetto lo scatto.
saluti
peppe

delnaja (2052) 2012-03-07 4:29

Bonjour Benny,

I like how you composed the photo and thecolors are superb. The quality of analogic camera ... It makes me think of a western movie.

Best wishes

Fred

kato (6767) 2012-03-09 8:30

Hello Benny,

You're capturing well these architecture and narrow street by a good composition and excellent tone, so it's impressive to see old houses and cathedral colonial time. It seems to keep a spanish style.

Kind regards,
mikio

archimatica (19980) 2012-03-13 14:26

Hello Benny
Nice perspective towards the church tower.
I Like also the sky and the light management.
Regards
Renzo

bornav (436) 2012-03-26 20:51

Hello Benny,
This is remarkable street photography! The clocktower and architecture depicts colonial heritage of Cuba and the sunny sky indicates its tropical charm.

papera (13760) 2012-04-21 10:56

those were the days indeed. I have been thinking about going to Cuba for years but never found the right moment to go - and I am afraid I probably missed it.
I love the colours here - all these yellow-ochre-green hues flowing into each other, with that marvelous blue sky that makes me want pack my bags and go.
the turn of the road reminds me of one of the first things I heard during my first photography course - always frame roads and curves from left to right :)
have a good weekend - it's soooooo cold here in A'dam...
c.