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El Toro Group
The first workshop devoted mainly to the untouched Cuban farm life.
Willard was returning to the island to study with me for the the third
time. Alvaro, Eva, Hector and Shantall were coming to the isla querida
for their first visit. Once again the mixture between Italian, English
and Spanish would become a good excuse to make the relations among all
of us to grow.
Even the unusually cold temperature prevented us from having a truly remarkable
experience.
I’m happy that I’ve created this workshop because it has given
me the opportunity to share with my students this strong culture, still
tied to its roots, that I’ve been photographing and admiring so
much for so long.
The farmers’ great sense of hospitality, their proverbial openness
to share their lives with the group, allowed each single photographer
to capture the essence of this unique experience.
I simply told each participant to “get lost” among the people
even if they didn’t speak a word of Spanish.
The long stay in the countryside gave each student the possibility to
probe their relation with their subjects. The pictures definitely show
that. And how can we forget the gran buffe of a roasted tender piglet
masterly barbecued by my friend Fidel?
And then the usual adventure, when a raging bull suddenly appeared out
of the blue charging towards me. The instinct of self-preservation put
my legs in motion. Luckily the rope he was tied to was not long enough.
While running away, I saw Eva flying into the air. The bull had started
charging towards her after attacking me. In her hasty retreat, she had
tripped on the ground and jumped high into the air. A good scare to share
and laugh about with the other students while drinking good Cuban beer
at night.
We dedicate to this ”raging” bull my first workshop in the
Cuban countryside. You can see some of the photographs taken by the students
in the virtual gallery. A little book with the best images by each students
and probably some of mine will be printed soon.
Ernesto Bazan
© Eva Becerra
© Eva Becerra
© Eva Becerra
© Alvaro Chiappini
© Alvaro Chiappini
© Alvaro Chiappini
© Hector Guerrero
© Hector Guerrero
© Hector Guerrero
© Willard Pate
© Willard Pate
© Willard Pate
© Shantall Pollar
© Shantal Pollar
© Shantal Pollar
Please note that the copyright of all the images appearing in the students gallery belongs to each individual photographer.
No photograph can be reproduced without the author consent.
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