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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eighty-two: A city portrait -- impressions of Havana, Cuba. > Primary colors, Havana, Cuba, 2012
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09-MAY-2012

Primary colors, Havana, Cuba, 2012

Havana expresses itself in primary colors. Red, blue, and yellow seem to be in the city’s genes. I found them glowing here at dawn, as a rising sun paints the buildings along Havana’s famed sea wall, the Malecon. A well-worn yellow curb sweeps diagonally across the bottom of the frame, providing a base for my image. The man resting on his cane leans his head in the same direction as the small tree, embraced by red studded doors and a shadowed blue wall -- even a small lamp -- all gilded by the dawn of the day. It is an atmospheric image, intended to offer a sense of place.

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1/320s f/4.7 at 103.0mm iso160 full exif

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Phil Douglis30-May-2012 18:30
The old seem to accept their fate, while the young hunger for change. You see the painted wall here as vibrant and new, Celia, while the man who sits before it seems tired and resigned. A worthy concept -- one that I did not consider as I made this image. Thanks for the suggestion.
Cecilia Lim29-May-2012 21:33
To me, Cuba is full of life and energy which is often reflected by the colors that surround life there. However this man who has probably seen and lived through a lot in his younger days, appears tired. There's such a contrast in energy between this old man and his surroundings. There appears to be a sense of acceptance and resolution about his life in Cuba.
Phil Douglis27-May-2012 18:10
As i noted, this image is all about primary colors, and so is Cuba itself. The colors here are amazing, and worth the trip in their own right. Thanks for making this observation, Carol.
Carol E Sandgren27-May-2012 04:30
The man looks to be waiting for something or someone to meet him. I also like how the lamp above the man's head echoes the color of the curb, a brilliant yellow. Along with the blue hue of the building and the warm red color of the doors, the bright color palette seems appropriate for Cuba.
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