La Trovita (Santiago de Cuba) – Cuba

This image whisks me back to my most recent visit to Santiago de Cuba, during a private photography workshop in 2024. My connection with Santiago goes way back, over two decades now, and much like my parents who were utterly enchanted by Cuba, I’ve been fortunate to cultivate some wonderful friendships there.

Meet one of those cherished friends, Napoles, the gentleman in this photo. While he's unassuming during the work week, weekends see Napoles transform, dressing impeccably, like a king, ready to hit the dance floor at La Trova. He was more than happy to model for us in this spontaneous moment, an 'impromptu job' that, in true Cuban fashion, we soon celebrated with a smooth, local rum. I’m absolutely thrilled with the result and the vibrant mood this image captures.