Cigar Smoker, a photo from Sancti Spiritus, West

Photographer's Note

Cuban cigars are embedded in the Cuban culture. There are 32 brands sold today. Many are hand made by very skilled workers. It is possible to visit some cigar factories and watch the processes. Loudspeakers broadcast various news items, passages from books or music. Occasionally someone continues the old tradition of sitting in the factory and reading out loud to alleviate the boredom and educate the workers. The skilled workers in the factory can take a certain number of cigars home with them which I think are sold on the black market.
Following the revolution and the US embargo there was a sharp drop on international cigar sales but this has recovered since the 1990s.
We were not allowed to take pictures in the factory we visited so I show you here a man enjoying a cigar in front of an old colonial building in the wonderful old Cuban town of Trinidid.

krzychu30, CLODO, RhodieIke, Budapestman, bukitgolfb301, Kofman, delpeoples, jafadabret, lakshmip1949, bayno, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

erhan1958 (13043) 2011-05-03 6:08

selam ANN,
a true citizen of Cuba

excellent presentation
congratulations
ERHAN

kozerog (1286) 2011-05-03 6:33

Very good portrait and .... funny. Well done.

Regards.

InasiaJones (29314) 2011-05-03 6:56

Hello Ann,

Excellent portrait of Cuban man.

His laid back attitude translate the way of life in Cuba, where people seems to have enough time in their hands to watch it pass by.

Good details on local house ornaments in the background.

The narrow vertical frame gives the impression that he is a bit squeezed, not because the cropping is too tight, but because there is a lot of space above his head, exaggerating the perception of narrowness.

Cheers!

André

JFS (32027) 2011-05-03 7:23

Fantastic portrait of this man smoking his cigar. Delicious colors. Thanks Ann!

krzychu30 (8775) 2011-05-03 7:40

Hello Ann,
beautiful portrait,which captures excellent the atmosphere of Cuban streets filled with cigars scent.You´ve chosen very good vertical frame here.Superb,well-saturated colors.Good work!
My Best Regards
Krzysztof

CLODO (24672) 2011-05-03 8:25

hello Ann

Sun and hat, rest and a good cigar to be cool: that's the life in Cuba! I would have cropped the top, just above the painted barrier.
Greetings
CLODO

RhodieIke (9207) 2011-05-03 11:28

Hi Ann, Fantastic photo,He look's a fun old guy,like his hat,well spotted,Cheers Iain.

eldancer1 (16938) 2011-05-03 12:55

Very nice capture of this cigar smoker an honored tradition in the island as well as a great export for the people that work in the fields. I like your pov and it has a good dof with nice details. Wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

Budapestman (82620) 2011-05-03 13:22

Hi Ann,
a superb portrait with attractive composition and details, the POV is very nice, beautiful shot, Tfs! Have a nice evening! Kellemes estét kívánok!
György

stevesaba (8019) 2011-05-03 20:38

Hi Ann!
Great photo from Cuba; a place I really want to visit one day. This photo tells a story for sure. The hat, the cigar, and his grizzled face all add up to quite a message. Well done, perfectly captured. Fine work, warm regards,
Steve

rodgerg (55767) 2011-05-04 4:46

Hello Ann,

Original and efficince format of image very well selcetd for this sympatic and excellent portrait. Deatisl of the expression of the man very well collected.
Best regards,
Roger

emka (57992) 2011-05-04 15:16

Hi Ann,

Typical view from Cuba - the old man with a cigar. nice scene from everyday life. Nice composition.

Warm regards

Malgo

I am looking forward to the meeting in Cumbria. I am very excited already..

bukitgolfb301 (30023) 2011-05-04 15:49

Hi my dear Ann

Yes your title is exactlly right!
Simple but very impressive portarit shot indeed.
A wonderful presentation by stable vertical framework and clearly sharp and deep focus. His gentle eye is so attractive too.
Thanks for your sharing finest work and have a good day!

Best regards,
Takero

abmdsudi (26199) 2011-05-04 20:53

Hi Ann
Nice street capture, Cuba and cigars are synonymous and almost everyone smokes them. A Beautiful exposure lovely detail tones and composition. Relaxing, this man has a nice cigar to puff on, quite a character shot with his glance look and his weary face shows a bit of the lives he has lived that make you wonder. Getting the moment there makes it a great picture but what I really like about it, is his coolness the way he is posing with that cigar before your lens. An insightful capture and the essence of Cuban life. Well observed and taken, Ann. Have a nice day and TFS
Best regards

Nicou (97509) 2011-05-05 2:45

Hello

mangigique portrait de cete homme superbe, avec la barrière blanche en fond, fantastique compo.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

delpeoples (44888) 2011-05-05 7:34

HI Ann

Great portrait. I like the tight vertical frame, it's quite unusual but it allows us to focus on your characteristic subject. Excellent sharpness, he seems almost 3-dimensional here. Nice work, especially in difficult light conditions.

Warm regards
Lisa

bergese (6699) 2011-05-05 12:43

Hello Ann
Il me plait bien ce monsieur avec son attitude tout à fait naturelle.Une belle image ,bravo à toi.
Bonne soirée Isabelle

jafadabret (56497) 2011-05-08 22:45

Bonjour Ann,
Très beau portrait de ce fumeur de cigare cubain. Le décor et les vêtements font tout de suite penser à Cuba.
Amicalement
Jacques

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2011-05-10 4:52

Hi Ann,

I like simple shots like this which give lots of stories behind them. Nice portrait of the man sitting and smoking. Although I don't advocate smoking, like the shot very well.

Lakshmi

bayno (16131) 2011-05-11 6:53

Hi Ann,
very nice portrait that fully expresses the vitality of the cute old man
The photo is executed masterfully
TFS
Cheers
Valter

aliabazari (10105) 2012-11-29 22:00

Hi Ann
Good portrait. The combination is very nice. Exposure was good.

Regards ...