Workshop: Visit Cuba with Lou Jones

Last week my sister returned from Cuba. Nothing especially significant about that. She is not political or religious or a doctor. She was just a tourist. Everybody is going to Cuba now that the embargo has been relaxed. I am going back leading a photography tour on September 13-20 th 2015.

Because Cuba is a political football my first two excursions there were fraught with all kinds of complications. In 1980 there was a brief loophole and I was employed by a media group to document their fact-finding mission. Ostensibly they were representing a large communications organization and arranged audiences with newspapers, radio and television stations and government officials. The hidden agenda was much more insidious. At the time I was ignorant of their machinations but I was quickly made aware of the real reasons.

Continue Reading + Comments...

Two Kinds of Road Warriors

Basically there are two kinds of Road Warriors. The first you may know or, at least, have met. Call him on the phone and he will meet you anywhere in the world that serves food late at night. His name is Jim or Bob something. He is a photographer who travels all the time. Even in the best of circumstances that is no mean feat in today’s atmosphere. He may make a living taking pictures or he may be a trust fund baby. He shoots for magazines, or NGOs, or himself. He may not be smart but he’s smarter than God was at his age. He can be erudite, articulate and his pictures are often stunning.

The second kind of Road Warrior has a name spelled with all consonants or mostly vowels. But you won’t know him anyway. His accent is indistinguishable. And no one knows where he lives or even where he sleeps. But when you see his pictures you recognize them immediately even though you have never seen them before. On any rumored sighting he looks drab in different shades of winter brown.

Continue Reading + Comments...

Emerson College Exhibit: Final Exposure

Emerson College is exhibiting my photography
FINAL EXPOSURE: PORTRAITS FROM DEATH ROW
Huret & Spector Gallery
Tufte Building
10 Boylston Street 6th floor
Boston Massachusetts
reception: Friday 3 April 2015 5-7pm

Continue Reading + Comments...

How I introduced POLAROID to Japan

How I introduced POLAROID to Japan In the 1980s and early 1990s, I traveled to Japan every year “piggybacking” assignments for a diverse assortment of commercial and editorial entities. By sharing expenses amongst more than one client I could make it worthwhile for them to send me such a huge distance and for a lengthy period of time.

Continue Reading + Comments...