I was wondering if anyone here has done a wedding in Cuba. I've agreed to shoot one in April. However, someone mentioned to me that they are strict in terms of what you can bring into Cuba and that bringing 2 cameras might cause me trouble at the border.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. I love this board
I will be flying from Halifax Nova Scotia to Cuba directly and back not going through the states. (Don't know if that makes any difference)
I've been to Cuba a few times, though never too shoot anything. My most recent trip, the customs officer confiscated ALL of the small trinkets & gifts my mother-in-law brought (rulers, pencils, books) for the wait staff.... They wanted it for their kids.
Hi, I was there and what a beautiful country it is. Absolutely no problems getting in with a 1DS MIII and 5 lenses.
I took hundreds of pictures which i may upload soon in the City, Still life & Abstract forum. I was there nly for a vacation but i did take about two days off walking around Havana taking in the life and shooting pics.
A good idea is to take pens, t-shirts, soap anything you can think of because the locals love it all and they are so appreciative of anything. Look forward to going back one day but i am glad i got to see the country while it was under Castro's rule.
Funilly enough i did get some pics of a passing wedding:
Ha! I was there in 2003 for a magazine assignment and I saw a bride riding through Havana in the same car..Had no problems coming in with 2 cameras and stuff.
John Power wrote:
Why would you be glad to see a country when it was under the thumb of a man who has run an once free nation into the ground?
Maybe to see the differences?
Why would you be glad to see a country when it was under the thumb of a man who has run an once free nation into the ground?
Although the Cuban political system is described as a dictatorship and many including myself would question this as been unfair and in many ways inhumane i wanted to see this in my own eyes not because i see this guy as an icon of any sort. I do think it is unfair how many people live and because the government seems to be so corrupt basically nobody in that country has a great chance of becoming truly successful in any sort of business venture or at least this is how i saw it. The people i did see and speak to there were always happy and seem to be well looked after and have food rations otherwise known as Libreta de Abastecimiento. Not sure how true but i got the impression that all their water and electricity was paid by the government too.
Anyway basically this is the state i wanted to see the country in, with my own eyes.
If anybody is interested in the pictures i have taken i have just uploaded them to the City, Still life & Abstract forum:
John Power wrote:
Why would you be glad to see a country when it was under the thumb of a man who has run an once free nation into the ground?
You know, "but i am glad i got to see the country while it was under Castro's rule" isn't even close to "Gee, I'm so glad I got to visit the People's Paradise of Cuba and see all the happy peasants singing in the fields - what a great place!".
I saw Haiti under Baby Doc's rule. 3 times. And the only positive thing I can say is that it was safe because the people were so terrified to do anything but follow. I saw smiles and laughter, but humans find a way to do that under even the most adverse circumstances. We should have invaded Cuba long ago. It would have been a hell of a lot easier and cheaper than Iraq or Afghanistan.
But I guess I am waxing political in a photo forum....
