This image has been haunting me for a bit. I love image and the man’s face but can’t help but feel I had intruded. I asked permission but still felt awkward. Lets turn the tables. Say some Cuban Tourists came to your house and pointed a camera in your face, how would you feel? Awkward, thats how I would feel and did feel as I photographed this handsome man. Interested to know your thoughts on the idea of photographing people in a foreign country.
An alternate color version below. Remember, you can click on an image to make it bigger.
19 Comments
THE Same as you: awkward. And not only in à foreign country, but always.
It is not my thing photographing people. I don’t know way but I always feel …. Well awkward.
But THE 2 Photographs are great.
See you,
Jan
Hello Jan, Thanks so much for taking time to comment. Nice to know its not just me!
Oh John…I love, love, love this image…there is something about the black and white version that just puts this over the top. What a great, great image. Man, oh man, I wish it were mine!
Thank you Betty.
John, I really like the B&W version! I always feel awkward about photographing people, but I did find it so much less so this time in Cuba. Maybe because we did take time to show interest and chat in “Spanish” when I was in a smaller group. But if people came to my home and did that….well, that would just be weird!
I would feel awkward too. And to be sure, you can never know what is going on in someone’s life that could make them less than an enthusiastic subject at that moment in time. I remember once when a woman at work, a friend gave me what seemed like a glaring look as we passed in the hall one day. I thought she was mad at me. It turned out she was dying of breast cancer and in terrible pain as she was battling on. I didn’t know that at the time and I totally misread her and felt hurt as I personalized it to me. Sometimes you can’t know. But this also brings up thoughts that Jay Maisel talks about in that Kelby Training video. He often photographs people on the streets of New York and will typically ask permission. And after taking the picture he talks about giving something back to the person, his genuine thanks and a warm smile. Knowing you John, I know you do that already, giving back to the person, but Jay also comments that not every personal encounter is going to work out as we would hope. Although in this case, you sure came away with a great photograph!
Cynthia, thanks for your thoughtful response. Yes, I did thank him and even gave him a few things I had in my bag. Thanks for the reminder of Jay’s thoughts.
You are welcome John and I am sure this gentleman felt touched as you left. If you go back to Cuba again in the future and encounter him again, I’m sure you will find that you made friend! And you will come away with even more great photographs of him!
Thanks Cynthia, I plan on bringing 4×6 photographs of the people I’ve photographed to give them next year.
You are welcome John, and see, you are giving back!
And you have given more to me than I ever could hope to for you. 
The B&W; no question.
re photographing people, yes it’s awkward. So what? Photographs of nature are nice. If nice is what you’re looking for then keep on snapping. If you need to make images which bring other feelings, emotions then you need to photograph people…or what I call shadows of people. You used the term “haunting” to describe this photo and I agree. It’s not the composition, bars or door that make it haunting though is it?
Great job by the way
Well put Dick.
John, I love this shot – the color especially, because it gives me more information about the gentleman. I understand your initial awkwardness, but, I think, with all your pictures from Cuba, you are building something bigger; perhaps creating an interest – or even a connection – between cultures. And I think you are the perfect ambassador for that. This gentleman is probably still talking about the interesting American he met!
Oh I’m sure he is!! The WERID, TALL American!
John,
MAN O Man! That is one powerful portrait! Very well done. It’s the bomb in B & W.
I use to do a lot of street shooting when I was overseas in the Navy. When English was a problem, I always pointed to the camera and then to the subject to indicate that I wanted to photograph them. 90% of the time I got a head shake for yes. If I got a no, I respected it and just moved on.
Great portrait!
Hey Ron! So good to hear from you. Much appreciated compliment coming from you, a “people” photographer! Thanks!
What makes a country? It’s people. … As for what the people create and the generations that follow, time and the people tell the story. If you can not tell the story or speak the language of the people, you do the next best thing, take pictures and record your experience and interpretations of what you see and feel – whether it be in color or black & white. An image is worth at least a thousand words. Sometimes our interpretations and beliefs are wrong, but an image records the moment regardless of assumptions or ignorance of the true stories. Sometimes our interpretations of images without words is best … Sometimes not. Appreciating that the true story lies within the subject is the ultimate respect. Capturing the true story is not easy. Personally, I feel you have done an awesome job here!
Absent posting and sharing, the image remains your diary of your travels and experience. In posting, processing and sharing the story behind the scene, you show the respect, dignity and pride of this person – or to others that you photograph.
This is a powerful image!
I would add that you should make some prints and either send him some or personally deliver him a set next time you see him. I am sure he would love that! Respect, dignity and pride goes both ways and it shows! Otherwise he would not have allowed you to take the image.
The B&W is more poignant for me, I suppose because everything is stripped away except for his remaining humanity.
If possible, I vastly prefer to shoot people without asking them. In this case you got a natural pose even after having engaged him, which was lucky (or your skillz).
Mostly to me, this image shows how life in Cuba drains people to the point that when they are old there just isn’t much of “them” left in them.
Contrast Cubans of this age with their counterparts in Mexico and you’ll know what I mean.
Great capture and processing.
Taking pictures of people anywhere depends on the situation and your interaction with your subject. It seems that this gentleman was not pleased and although he may have nodded yes his demeanor said no.