Travels to Old Havana Cuba: A Photo Adventure
I’ve wanted to go to Cuba’s Old Havana for quite some time and when my photography friend said “Let’s go”, I couldn’t turn him down. We decided to travel there for a three-day whirlwind photo adventure. We photographed from early morning until late at night. The action never stopped.
Old Havana is a city rich with history and and a great 50s vibe with its historic cars lining the colourful streets. Havana is not only a photographic paradise for street photography but around every corner there was something new and exciting to photograph. Impressive buildings are popping up around every corner, everything from Spanish colonial to Italian baroque to neo-classical to Art Deco. When travelling to Old Havana you have to allow yourself to get lost in the maze of streets. That’s when the photo magic starts to happen and you will be surprised at what you find. Havana with its street grid system is perfect for this. If you get lost, you can always hop on the 3-wheeled taxi bikes and for a few dollars they’ll take you back to wherever you want to go.
The people also are very friendly there and we were welcomed wherever we went to photograph the essence of the cityscape and its people. Looking back, it was the people that really made this trip special for us and we thank them for that.
Hope you enjoy the photos!
All photos were taken with my Canon EOS 6D camera using my 3-favourite lens – EF-16-35mm F/4L IS USM / EF-24-105mm f/4L IS USM / EF-70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.
Havana Classic
If you’re a classic car buff, Cuba is just about the greatest place on earth. It’s like one big car show 24/7 where autos from the 1940s and 1950s motor along the streets and highways. Some are meticulously cared for while others are held together with odd parts and scrap metal. You’ll find these classic cars all over town. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/6.3 with an ISO setting of 100.
Havana Nights
When the sun goes down, the night comes alive with the vibrant music of old Havana. Down by the sea wall you can watch the people go by as the sun sets in the west. Fishermen cast in their lines as the old classic cars glide along narrow cobblestone streets. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in TV mode; at f/4 with an ISO setting of 12800.
Old Cuban Cigar Smoker
Cuba and cigars go hand in hand. In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba and later took cigars back to Europe. They became a massive hit on the continent and a must-have accessory in the 1500s. Due to the US trade embargo, it has long been impossible to get cigars unless you know someone who travels to Cuba. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11with an ISO setting of 800.
Old Havana
Old Havana is collapsing in some areas, yet rebuilding in other areas. UNESCO called Old Havana one of Latin America’s “most notable” historic city centers and named it a World Heritage site in 1982. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/13 with a ISO setting of 1250.
Plaza Balcony
Plaza Vieja is one of the most beautiful squares you’ll find in Havana. Although its name means Old Plaza, its actually one of the newer looking squares we saw. There is also a great photo gallery there called Fototeca. If you are into photography, you have to check it out. This photo was taken from the balcony of the Fototeca building. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/10 with a ISO setting of 250.
Havana Streets …A Living Museum
American cars were imported into Cuba for about 50 years, beginning near the early 20th century. After the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. embargo was erected and Castro banned the importation of American cars. That’s why Cuba is the way it is today—essentially a living museum for classic cars. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 with a ISO setting of 100.
Havana on Bike
Havana is actually a really bike friendly city, despite the colourful chaos. Seeing Havana on bike is a wonderful experience that allows you to set your pace and see places where cars can’t go. Renting a bike in Havana is a great option – but watch out for the potholes! This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/16 with an ISO setting of 100.
Cuba Welcome
We decided to go to a local beach called Tropicoco and see what their famous beaches were all about. Always looking for a little adventure, we decided to hire a Cocotaxi – a modified motorcycle built for 3 to take us there – what a wild ride. We were greeted at the beach by out stretched arms! Cubans are very warm people who give great value to relationships. Love it. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 with an ISO setting of 100.
Floridita Havana
Floridita is a historic fish restaurant and cocktail bar in the older part of old Havana. This legendary Havana bar was regularly frequented by Hemingway as he crafted his masterpiece novels. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in manual mode; at f/11 with a ISO setting of 3200 on tripod.
Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym in Old Havana
This world-famous boxing gym is nestled within one of Old Havana’s crumbling neighbourhoods, yet the caliber of boxers trained at this gym are world class. Olympians have trained in this humble gym and gone on to world-wide success. Old folks sit outside Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym in perhaps hoping to get a glimpse of Prince Charles & Camilla – if they happen to drop by here again. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in manual mode; at f/11 with an ISO setting of 100.
Old Havana Sunset
As we started with the sunrise over Old Havana – we finish this series with a sunset over Old Havana. Havana will always be in my heart because of the people we met and special times we shared. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in manual mode; at f/7.1 with an ISO setting of 2000.
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10 thoughts on “Old Havana – Cuba: Top 10 Photo Tips”
Excellent write-up. I certainly love this site.
Keep writing!
Thanks for the kind feedback – more articles like this coming soon – stay posted by signing up to our newsletters 🙂
Wonderful pictures! Looks and sounds like you had a great trip.
Thanks Kelly – you’re right – it was a fabulous trip – not so much a holiday, but a street photography adventure 🙂
Great pictures Peter!
Let me know when you’re ready to go again 😉
Thanks so much for the kind words – lets stay in touch – more great photo adventures to come 🙂
Wonderful photos and the commentary is a bonus. I especially appreciate the info on which lenses you used for the different photos. Looks like you had a spectacular trip!
thanks so much Wendy – glad it was helpful – in-depth travel photo guide is in the works for Cuba + all other destinations – stay tuned – Cheers !
Gorgeous! I wished I was younger and in better health so I could go there to see the beauty that is Cuba. Those old cars fascinate me.
Thanks for the kind words – stay tuned – I full version Travels to Cuba: A Photo Adventure is coming 🙂