photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eighty-two: A city portrait -- impressions of Havana, Cuba. > Cobbled together, Havana, Cuba, 2012
previous | next
12-MAY-2012

Cobbled together, Havana, Cuba, 2012

A vintage American automobile rattles around a tight corner and heads towards us. It has obviously been repaired many times over the last half century. One of its headlight panels is green, while the rest of the body glows in iridescent blue. Cuba’s vast aftermarket of used auto parts, along with an army of knowledgeable mechanics, keep such cars as this on the road, year after year. I wanted to stress the patchwork repairs that went into this car by shooting it head on. I include not only the green headlight panel, but also feature the fog lamps mounted on the rusty bumper. One seems to glow, the other does not.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
1/640s f/6.3 at 84.0mm iso160 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis30-May-2012 17:13
I made many versions of this image, and deliberately chose to post this shot, which presents an ancient car lumbering past one of the busiest intersections of Havana. Far from a distraction, I intended the background here to speak of the present culture of Havana. The banner heralds "The Fiesta of the Arts," and locals stroll below it. On the far left, two men are engaged in a conversation -- an arm even points towards the old car as it careens past them around the corner. You feel that emphasizing the crazy-quilt nature of the old car alone would be a stronger statement. I wanted to stress the repairs as well. However, I also feel that the background scene offers an additional incongruous context -- the car now becomes a work of mechanical art in itself when compared to the banner and the people in the background.
Cecilia Lim29-May-2012 20:40
A tighter abstract shot of the front of the car showing the different colored panels and lights would emphasize what you are saying better. I feel that the crowd and the banner behind it distracts from and dilutes what you are trying to express about the ingeniously put-together car. This is definitely a statement about survival which resorts to tremendous creativity!
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment