A Change in Perspective

A few months ago I went to Cuba for a few days, and I must say, this place changed how I look through the lens of a camera. To tell you the truth, before going, I didn’t look through any tourist books or do much research (like I normally do for most of my trips). I had heard so many good things about this country, I thought I would just go and discover Cuba on the go. As when most people go on a trip, I had a picture in mind as to what Cuba was, and when I arrived I found that it was ever so slightly different. Poverty was everywhere and so many towns and buildings needed restoration. It amazed me how different the picture in my mind was to the 'real deal'

As an armature photographer my first thought was “where are the beautiful pictures?”. I began searching for the pretty towns, nice houses, and beautiful streets to capture, but I found them hard to come by. The same thing happened when I arrived in Havana. Havana has a very tiny tourist district (aka- the pretty area), and  the rest needs a good scrub and restoration.  After I found my ‘beautiful pictures’ and continued on my journey I felt as though my pictures didn’t do Havana justice. They were more or less a lie, because they had not captured the true spirit of Cuba - the people, the real city and their lifestyle.

At some point while I was on my way to Varadero my perspective of photography started to change. This was when I realized to be a photographer you need to open your eyes and not just look for beauty, because most of the time, you're staring right at it.   You need to capture moments in time and the life as it is. This is the true spirit of a country, lifestyle and its people

The pictures I have chosen for this blog are the ones I believe reflect the true Cuba. I hope they too help open your eyes so you may also discover and appreciate this little country for what it is.

 

Everyday objects can look amazing in photographs too- Part 1: Shoes

Part of the reason why I love photography so much is because I believe you can make anything look beautiful in a photograph if you have the right light, angle & camera setting. Sometimes it doesn’t always need to be a pretty landscape or building. Simple and everyday objects such as household or wardrobe items can look amazing too.

When I found myself with a new pair of designer shoes a couple of months ago I decided to try my hand at a different kind of photography. I experimented with various angles and lighting and I was amazed just how stunning shoes can really look.

Barcelona's Amusement Park - Tibidabo

About a month ago, after living in Barcelona for over 4 years, I finally had the chance to visit Tibidabo- an amusement park on top of a mountain in North Barcelona. For people who are interested in only large fast moving rollercoasters, this might not be the place for you, but if you appreciate a good mix of antique/vintage rides with a bit of a modern flair, Tibidabo’s a dream come true.

Tibidabo has been open since 1901, and they are still using the classic rides that the park opened with to this day. The park still continues to add small additional rides every so often, but the charm in Tibidabo is being able to experience a part of the past from our modern era. THE classic ride is the airplane (from 1928), which seats approximately 10 passengers, and functions by its own propeller. Somehow, when I was there in the park I was transported back to being a kid again, and I fell in love the simplicity of old classic rides, where speed is not everything.

If you're in Barcelona for a few days, and you feel like something a little different, then Tibidabo is a wonderful way to escape. The park is open almost all year around, and they offer various price ranges (classic rides or complete park entrance) to help make economical for the whole family.  Even if you don't have enough time to experience the whole park, the drive up the mountain (or tram ride) and views are spectacular.