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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eighty-two: A city portrait -- impressions of Havana, Cuba. > Journey into the past, Havana, Cuba, 2012
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08-MAY-2012

Journey into the past, Havana, Cuba, 2012

Most of the taxis that ply Havana’s crowded streets are over fifty years old. They are vintage American cars, kept running through sheer ingenuity and little money. Their exhaust fumes create considerable pollution – there are no environmental standards enforced on the streets of Havana. I made this image from a rooftop, just as a passenger lowered himself into the back seat. Two doors are open -- the young man at the bottom of the frame seems to be waiting for more passengers. It is a moment of decision – who is coming, and who is going? The rich blue color glows in the early morning light, making the ancient car seem full of energy and promise.

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Phil Douglis30-May-2012 17:03
Thanks for losing yourself in this "metaphor about life," Celia. Color and gesture, vantage point and abstraction, all combine to make this image symbolize a journey that everyone must take.
Cecilia Lim29-May-2012 20:33
Things may be old and falling apart in Cuba but they are resilient and still full of life, as the bold and vibrant color of this cab seem to declare. I love the hand gestures as an expression of life in general. The car symbolizes a journey and everyone has to be on it at some point-but there are some who are raring to go, and some who hold back in confusion and anticipation. A wonderful metaphor about life!
Phil Douglis27-May-2012 18:05
I often isolate parts of the body to abstract the subject and activate the imagination of the viewer. Thanks for adding your own story here, Carol. It tells us that every one looks at photographs in their own way and brings their own context to bear.
Carol E Sandgren27-May-2012 04:13
Again, the isolated hands at the doors suggest quickly slamming of car doors, and that taxi about to pull away from the curb The passengers are probably led to believe that, however the driver has other ideas for increasing his fare. Love that blue glow of the vintage car which contrasts with the golden glow of the morning...perhaps to suggest that the time for the workday is beginining.
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