La Mansión Camagüey, Concordia #418, Centro Habana; Inside the fairly conventional exterior, is the stuff of dreams, a timeless gem, an architectural splendour;  built in 1913. The ardent “Morir por la Patria es vivir” (“To die for one’s country is to live”) etched on the walls of the former grand foyer. This building now houses one of Havana’s most famous paladars, La Guarida.

Hermosa Habana indeed.

All photos were taken during a workshop in Havana with Nicolas Pascarel

Key concepts taught during the workshop and put into practice for this specific photo narrative of this now infamous gem of a building included:

  • Physically moving yourself to adjust the frame and composition of your photos- whether its to move backwards or forward or to move up and down.
  • The geometrics of the frame, everything must be balanced- remember cropping is strictly verboten
  • Influences in movies and literature- prior to the workshop we were recommended to watch Fresa y Chocolate by  Tomás Gutiérrez Alea
  • To put a photo story together- give the context and then slowly move in to the subject
  • Understand light
  • Think of how images compliment each other (light, colour, composition).