Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Young Girl + Head Shot, La Habana, Cuba, Summer of 2014


On the island when one thinks they have found the most beautiful person to photograph, they find someone just as beautiful right next door. This was what happened with this exquisite face, when we visited her cousin's home one afternoon. She was sitting on her porch as we walked to the back of the house where her cousin lived. She had the calmest expression and made her curiosity clear to us.

We asked her cousin's family about her, they just smiled and agreed to ask. She accepted wholeheartedly and we made an attempt that same week late one afternoon. In the afternoons sometimes we would get a break from the clouds and this one day we did. We called the families and asked if we could stop by for a short session.

When we arrived the feeling was mixed photographically, as the clouds increased and spaces between the clouds decreased. We hung out with the families and just enjoyed the conversations between us. When we realized that we would have a chance, the girls got ready and we walked down the street for the open spot. In front of their neighbors and in direct sunlight they posed for the first time in their lives before a formal camera. 

This young girl performed flawlessly, like she had done it dozens of times before this afternoon. Her features were perfect, even more so with the glorious sunlight. She never wavered, stood her ground and stared through the lens with such intensity. She will never know how much she impressed me that afternoon, but she is certainly keenly aware of her strength and beauty.

In four months I will see her again, and this time we will reserve a special session just for her and her cousin. This is the least that she deserves.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination onto Kodak TMY 400 ISO film.

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