A row of vintage American convertibles - almendrones - parked along a Havana street, still working as taxis

Cuba

Spirit of Havana

A vivid ode to the resilient human soul that pulses fiercely and beautifully through the city's crumbling streets, vibrant colors, and enduring cultural rhythm.

The series

Spirit of Havana

A rooftop view over the dense fabric of Centro Habana

A woman walks a narrow, pastel street in the old city

A man at an ETECSA payphone, card in hand

The Cuban flag and a portrait of Che on a turquoise wall

A weathered portrait of Fidel Castro behind the iron rejas

An abandoned municipal pool, its lane lines still drawn

The Malecón and the skyline at the hour the light goes

An elderly street musician in a straw hat resting his hands on a wooden guitar

A ballerina in a red dress in a deep plié against a weathered wall and an electrical meter box

A smiling man in a white suit playing guitar on a sea wall, the El Morro lighthouse behind him

A long-exposure of the El Morro Castle lighthouse and fortress walls on a rocky outcrop, standing against a soft cloudy twilight sky

A long-exposure panorama of the Havana skyline along the Malecón, colonial and mid-century towers above silky calm water under a streaky sky

A weathered concrete pier and rusted metal post on the Malecón, overlooking a calm sea and streaky long-exposure sky

A derelict mid-century building with a turquoise pool beside a weathered sea wall, the silky ocean meeting a streaky sky

A long-exposure twilight panorama of the Havana skyline, the FOCSA building and Hotel Nacional tower against purple clouds and the Caribbean

A long-exposure view of the Havana skyline along the Malecón, the blue FOCSA building and weathered pastel waterfront facades under a soft sky

A weathered concrete pier extending into a calm grey sea under an overcast sky, the textured decay of Havana's coastline

On the series

"Spirit of Havana" is a photographic testament to a city suspended between decay and resilient vitality. Navigating the crumbled facades and tangled wiring, this series uncovers the poetry of the capital, where the grit of peeling walls contrasts with vibrant splashes of color-from the fire-engine red of a ballet dancer's dress to the candy-hued relics of classic automobiles. It is a visual symphony where the heaviness of history meets an unbroken will to endure.

Beneath the golden light over the Malecon, the true soul emerges in its human narratives. An impeccably dressed musician strums his guitar against a fading fortress, vinyl records pinned to the walls become totems of cultural heritage, and the mundane act of a phone call reflects daily resilience. Ultimately, "Spirit of Havana" is not about the architecture, but its heartbeat-a fiercely beautiful rhythm that celebrates life amidst the cracks.

Available as 1/1sEach photograph in this Cuba series is released as a one-of-one NFT. View and collect the Spirit of Cuba Collection on OpenSea.