I belong to Rumberos, a Cuban music study group. Every year we travel to a different part of Cuba and study for a week with various musicians and dancers. Most of the group are percussionists, but often people will join us on various trips who are interested in dance or interested in the Cuban culture. Each year I attend I shoot video footage and create three minute condensed versions of our trips. I’ve brought various stereo cameras along on some trips and have used them to take travel snapshots, usually at pit stops on the way to our workshops. If I attend this year, I may try and concentrate on shooting some stereo portraits. I was going to include some portraits that I’ve shot in the past in this loop, but upon revisiting them, I see that they really could’ve benefitted from some fill flash.
“Johnny Coming Through The Stereo Window” – Johnny Bullen, brother of pianist Eddie Bullen, laughs at all my jokes, so I consider him a great guy. If asked he’ll play bell, clave, timbales or cascara.
“Pausa Para Fumar” – Our bus driver for the 2023 trip.
“El Coche Verde” – – I was going to include some portraits but the ones I liked really needed some fill flash, so you’re stuck with the obligatory Cuban old car shot. The engine is probably running on modified Soviet car parts.
“Meet The New Swinger” – You’d have to be as old as I am to remember the photo-related commercial that began with “Hey! Meet the new Swinger!!” This is Vic Ramnarine, who’ll gladly sit in with any band on tumbadoras, even when not asked to do so.