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During our last moments in Havana, I found that I spent much of my time looking, observing, and capturing with my camera. Taking mental visual notes with each click of the button. Wanting to document everything that caused me to gasp from the beauty that surrounded us. Fresh flowers, delicious coffee, fine collectibles, classic architecture, and a sunny breezy day in the tropics.
This visit was truly a dream come true to experience Cuba. I am not sure if I’ll ever have the opportunity to head back. I think these two thoughts often. Grateful for the opportunity to experience the new, and hopeful to return one day.
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The last part of the road trip through Costa Rica was also the saddest and shortest. We had stayed the last few nights just a short distance from the airport at a beautiful eco-friendly resort in the heart of a coffee farm.       We left the farm after a great breakfast and took our time traveling through the residential areas near the airport. Bright colorful homes, busy intersections with commerce, and people working diligently at the height of the morning.
We were taking it all in. Breathing and photographing our last images of Costa Rica and emotionally processing the beauty and kindness of Costa Rica. How is this possible? To have another day in Cuba? New experiences. Fresh tropical air. Friendly journeys.
We started out early one morning for a road trip out of Havana and into tobacco farms. Took a drive past some of the most beautiful historical landmarks of Havana. If those walls could talk, I am sure we would have heard of the struggle and the glamour that has taken place over the years. Our driver stopped for a break at a roadside cafe where we got to meet a few furry friends. We explored the very summit of Cuba as well as rode a horse through the countryside. The farmers took a break from their busy day to tell us how they grow tobacco for the world famous Cuban cigars, and we even had the opportunity of rolling our own cigar while sipping the local honey and rum. It was a full day. An unforgettable day. A day that makes you happy to be alive!  Adam MacDonald appointed Executive Director of Friends of the Kotzschmar  Had a great time getting to know the team that does such an incredible job caring for the Kotzchamar organ and creating new portraits for Adam MacDonald as he steps in as the new Executive Director of KOKO
"The last 20 years of research, I’ve seen how sometimes we all get so afraid of the vulnerability that we actually stop trying or doing anything that we’re not already good at doing. So if it’s not already comfortable, if we already don’t have some expertise, if we don’t already know how to do it and do it well, we’re not doing it. Here’s what’s hard, and I think scary about that. When we give up being new and awkward, we stop growing, and we stop growing, we stop living. I love that quote from Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living or get busy dying.” When we stop growing, we start declining, there’s no neutral here. When we no longer feel that discomfort of being new, of being an awkward learner, things start to shut down inside of us. The discomfort of exploration of doing new things, of being an awkward rookie again, that’s the juice, it’s our lifeblood. It’s the secret sauce." Brene Brown One of the areas that I have photographically studied is the industrial age in The United States. The difference a few decades can make for an entire community is evident in these types of buildings.
There are structures throughout the country that were once thriving with daily work, invention, and manufacturing to now only be sold off for trendy loft furnishings or to be added to a collectors “in case I need this for later” box. From room to room there is a hustle of vintagers hoping to find that precious antique piece, that if they sell it to the right collector, they will become billionaires. They aren’t wrong. The industrial age is a very cool age for all things vintage, but my main intrigue is to simply capture the portrait of these inanimate objects strun everywhere before the new fingerprints reach them. The dustier, the rustier, the better. I often think of the mummified city of Pompeii when I visit these brick buildings. Over time, Pompeii has been unveiled in small portions at a time to show life at the very exact moment the smoke and fire reached them from the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius nearby. Our petrification of the industrial age did not come by natural disaster. There was no Mt. Vesuvius that took out the old brick buildings in a matter of moments, but yet there are so many similarities. Brick mills, warehouses, manufacturing spaces have yet to be fully excavated in the US. When they are unveiled oftentimes all of the items can be found just as they were left several decades ago. There was a moment when the last whistle blew permanently and the machinist walked away from their bench for the last time. Years later, I have come upon them and I’m moved to capture their portrait. I use the term portrait because these items have a story, have character and a purpose. When I find them, I can see how they were last used and how they have survived so many seasons. This space is their home and I can see what they were originally created to do. And click click click begins the study with my camera, the industrial piece, and me. Here are more images of my travels throughout the world and our discoveries: PLACES During the First Friday Art Walk in Portland, Maine, Maine Craft Portland had the most brilliant event. They hosted an opportunity for the best of Maine to play a game of chess with WGM Sabina Foisor. The creative space was filled with strategic chess thinkers and collectors of all things Maine Craft. So basically it was the best party of the night! Here is just one image that we'd like to share with you.  ​Chess WGM Sabina Foisor in a chess game. Thanks to Portland Downtown and Maine Craft Portland for inviting us to the event.  The first Friday Art Walk in Portland, Maine always brings the city to life. During the December art walk, we came upon The Sea Change Chorale in front of the Reny's on Congress Street. They brought all of the classic carols to a captivated audience all while raising the awareness for the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition need for warm clothing items. What a collection of donated items by the end of the night. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with the city and for caring for such a vulnerable group! Bravo!
On our 2nd day of Cuba, after waking from a wonderful warm sweet rest, we walked through the streets of Havana. As I type those previous words, I am still in unbelief. The words are on this virtual page; we walked the streets of Havana. It happened. It was a real moment. We were there. It really happened? Yes. The architecture of the city has markings and evidence of all its days. Some structures still have evidence of last night's party make-up still on. That tough opulent mascara is a pain to erase. Why erase it? Other areas of the city are hungry for new and the word yes. Like the arts district. Full of new, unruly, seasoned but with a new spice. The parks are filled with local life. The now. The news. The updates. The gossip. The friendship. The warmth. We stayed out all day and watched the sun kiss all the areas of Havana, us included too! We walked the streets of Havana.  Tree 89, 91, 93, 94 at Thomson's Point in Portland, Maine        Maple Sunday at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine.
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AuthorWelcome to Convinced Photography with Cyle + Liz Davenport. During our 20+ years of photography experience we have had the opportunity to live and work in lots of great places around the world. Archives
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Phone - East - 207.450.0474 West - 408.440.9758
© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.