chasing light in havana: a photographer’s messy diary

i’ve been wandering through havana with my camera slung over my shoulder, chasing the light that flickers between the pastel façades and the rumbling old cars. the city feels like a living contact sheet, every corner a potential frame if you know where to look. i threw my trusty thirty‑five‑mm lens into the bag and headed out early, hoping to catch the soft morning glow before the crowds thicken.

i glanced at my phone and saw the air hanging heavy, a thick warmth that makes your shirt stick to your back, hope you enjoy that sort of clingy heat.

*malecón at sunrise is a photographer’s playground - waves slap the seawall, fishermen cast their nets, and the old american cars line up like colorful sentinels. i spent an hour there, adjusting my aperture to let in that golden hue, and managed to snap a shot of a lone saxophonist whose melody seemed to ride the breeze.



i heard from a vendor near plaza vieja that the best rooftop view for sunset is tucked behind a laundry line on calle obispo - something about the way the light catches the pastel walls makes the whole scene look like a watercolor. i followed his tip, climbed a creaky stairwell, and was rewarded with a panorama that made my heart skip a beat (in a good way, not the scary kind).



if you need a change of scenery, the nearby town of trinidad is only an hour’s drive away, its cobblestone streets and pastel houses offering a completely different palette for your lens.



someone told me that the hidden mural on callejón del chorro is worth a detour, though they warned that the paint can be flaky and the alley gets slippery after rain. i took their advice, slipped on my worn‑out sneakers, and captured a vivid piece of street art that feels like a whisper from the city’s soul.



for gear talk, i swear by my lightweight tripod - it’s saved me more times than i can count when the light fades fast and i need those long exposures to smooth out the sea. also, a spare battery is a lifesaver; the tropical heat seems to drain them quicker than you’d expect.



i checked a few local boards for upcoming events and found a pop‑up jazz night at café el escorial* - TripAdvisor, Yelp, and a community board listing here: Havana Events. the night was electric, the sax wailing, the crowd swaying, and i managed to capture a series of low‑light shots that turned out grainy in the best possible way.



overall, havana rewards the patient shooter - those who wait for the right moment, listen to the rumors, and aren’t afraid to get a little dusty on their shoes. pack your curiosity, keep your eyes open, and let the city expose itself frame by frame.

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