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Photography Travel Tour of Havana Cuba

This photography tour of Havana Cuba is in planning stages for January, 2014

So you say you want to learn more about photography, and you love to travel too?  Maybe you’ve taken photography classes before but want something different, something more interactive, in the field.  How about putting it all together in this customized photo tour to the historic city of Havana, Cuba led by a professional photographer of 24 years as your tour host and instructor.

(Image in top header bar courtesy and copyright of Simon Keeping)

Habana Vieja – image courtesy Jon Bowen

Photo Tour Cuba- Quick Details

  • Where: Havana, Cuba
  • When: Jan 2014
  • Who: maximum group size 12 including myself. Spouses are welcome but a maximum of 3 on this trip total only.
  • What: photography tour and workshop involving one on one time with me, image reviews, lessons and in the field practice in a fun small group setting
  • Why: to learn and do photography, experience some local culture, and to have a whole lot of fun doing it in a tropical, exotic place that is Cuba!

Havana musician, image courtesy of Joseba Arginzoniz Martín

I’ve explored numerous options for various things and had to make some tough decisions. I chose accommodation, events and schedule based on what I thought would work best for the group.  As this is the inaugural tour you’re going to be helping me refine this tour and process for future dates and possibly other locations so I’m certainly open to your feedback along the way.  So, here’s the scoop on the tour quote.

Plaza Vieja Havana Cuba – image courtesy of Marc Reid

NOTE:  we have now changed this tour to stay at Casa Particulars (like a home stay or B&B) and the price of the tour has now been reduced!  

Classic car in Old Havana – image courtesy of Jordi Martorell

I’ve tried to incorporate as many photography and art related events and opportunities as possible, with help of the tour agency that’s put this quote together.  The itinerary is flexible and we have the ability to adjust times daily.  For example, if we go to one location and are supposed to be there for an hour, but we are really enjoying it and want to stay longer – we can do that, and perhaps shorten or delete the next location or rearrange to another day.  I’ve also left quite a bit of free time so you can revisit a place you enjoyed or just relax by the pool.

Capitol Building Havana – image courtesy Paul Bica

Some of the things we may be doing are:
  • walking tour of Havana Vieja (old Havana)
  • daily photography lessons, images reviews and assignments in some form – could be on the go
  • sunset photography on the Malecon (walk by the ocean)
  • visiting an artist’s or photographer’s studio (may vary due to availability)
  • seeing the Revolution museum
  • necropolis de colon (the cemetery with lots of history)
  • going to a Cuban nightclub show at Tropicana
  • visit to an art or photography museum or gallery
  • seeing a canon fired at an old fort during a ceremony at night
  • going to an art street with music and dancers
  • eating in Paladors (local style restaurants run out of people’s homes)
  • getting some beach time to relax or photograph
  • touring the city in classic old convertible cars
  • have a chance to go to bars and see live music and try our hand at dancing salsa, ramba and other local dances
For the most part meals are not included with the exception of breakfast daily, and the welcome dinner the first night.  We will try and eat in smaller Paladars which are restaurants in people’s home.  More authentic local food, and great ambience and prices.  The hotel we’ll be staying at also has a fancy rooftop restaurant if you want to splurge one night for the view and a little photography of the skyline.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza – image courtesy of Anthony Pond

Cigar gentlemen Havana – image courtesy of Anthony Pond

Cigar lady Havana – image courtesy of Anthony Pond

Class car of Havana – image courtesy of Anthony Pond

Classic convertible Havana – image courtesy Anthony Pond

To see more of Anthony Pond’s images visit his online portfolio or Flickr page.

Pricing of Photography Tour to Havana

Prices also do NOT include airfare. You will need to book that on your own to arrive on prior to the workshop start date. If you wish to stay in Cuba after the workshop that’s up to you, so you can book your return flight for what ever date you choose.  I will be staying 3-4 days to do research for the next trip myself.
  • For photography workshop participation:  $1847  NEW PRICE $1647!
  • Non-photographers (spouse/partner):  $1527 NEW PRICE $1337
*** Note on pricing:  we have been able to reduce the price of the tour by moving from a hotel to a Casa Particular (who’s rates are significantly lower) and restricting our numbers to 4 maximum.***
There will be a maximum of 1 non-photographers on this trip, first booked get the spots.  After that spot it booked there will be no more available.  We can take a maximum of 4 people total now.  I want to keep the group nice and small and intimate.
This is the tentative itinerary.  Bookings and payment will be done through Paypal to the agent.  If you want to come on this trip this we need to know ASAP.  Cut off date for booking will be October 30th, 2012.
I myself have never actually been to Cuba so I can’t show you any fabulous photos of mine.  But if you want to see more Havana photos try these groups on Flickr:
Please keep in mind that this is Cuba, so don’t expect 4 star accommodation to be like 4 stars here in Canada, the USA or Europe.  We go to Cuba, and places like it, to experience life there, how they live, what they do, and who they are.  We won’t be in our rooms much so keep that in mind.
So at this point I need to know:
  1. If you for sure want to come and can arrange for the time away on these dates
  2. If you have a partner that also wants to come and can do so
  3. If you are a maybe until you can confirm some stuff like time off, expenses, etc.
DO NOT book any flights until we can confirm at least myself plus 3 photographers going, which is the minimum to make this happen.   Once we have that many committed to the trip, we will be able to take your payments for the tour, and we will give instructions to book your flights.
Special note for American travelers:  due to the trade embargo placed on Cuba by the US government in the 1960s it is more difficult to travel to Cuba from the US, but not impossible.  There are agents that will help you get travel to Cuba. The company I am working with is Canadian so unfortunately we cannot do that for you.  If you wish to join us on this tour you will need to arrange your own passage to get there and meet us in Havana.  Flights are not included in this tour.  Please do not book any flights or travel without contact us first to confirm the tour is going ahead as scheduled.
If you want to read about a fellow American that recently went to Cuba, you can do so on Location 180 in this article by Sean Ogle.  He talks about how to get there, and his experience in Havana.  It’s worth a read, and there’s a video as well, check it out.
If you’d like to come on this trip I need to know as soon as humanly possible.  So please contact me if you have any questions, or to answer questions 1-3 above to tell me you’re interested in coming on this tour.
Let’s do this!!!  I’m excited!

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About Your Tutor

photography tutor in Edmonton

Born and raised in Edmonton, Darlene has had formal training in photography at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She enjoys portraits, fine art, and travel photography. She is a seasoned traveler having spent time in Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia. Darlene loves exotic locales, exotic food and experiencing different countries directly through the local people and the cultural arts. She also enjoys helping others and is currently promoting her book Visions of Peru to raise funds for the children there.Her vision is to share her artistic talents through teaching “the art of seeing”, and to spread love and tolerance through the experience of truly connecting with and understanding people of different cultures. Darlene offers private photography lessons in Edmonton.