To Cuba with the M10

“This shot was taken in Trinidad, Cuba in October 2016. I was there on assignment for Leica, since I had been proposed as one of three international Ambassadors for the new Leica M10. I had been provided with a camera before the official launch to produce a personal project to be shown at the Leica Gallery in Wetzlar during the event The celebration of Photography. Leica Hall of Fame 2016. I decided to go back to Cuba which I consider a second home. I knew I would find the right inspiration, mood and atmosphere to produce good work.

As always happens to me when I’m there, I find myself involved in other people’s lives, which allows me to shoot very intimate pictures. In this particular case, I was walking on the street when I noticed a women sitting on a chair looking outside. We started talking and she invited me inside her house to show me her little home shop, where she was selling garments and accessories sent to her by her son who lives in Miami. While I was there, this beautiful young girl entered into the house to buy a pair of shorts. I was immediately intrigued by her look, so calm, sensual and proud. I decided to take a picture of her when she sat down on the same chair the woman had been sitting in before, with her face caressed by the soft light coming from the street. We didn’t talk to each other. We just exchanged a few glances before I took a series of portraits of her. What struck my attention was not only her magnetic eyes, but also the atmosphere, the light and the location which were perfect. I found that the sinuous lines of her posture, as well as the position of her arms, matched up perfectly with the armrests of the chair next to her and with the curtain that is slightly pushed aside. This creates a symmetry of shapes that makes this shot so powerful.”

You can see further pictures by Fulvio Bugani in LFI 2/2017.