Sergio Leyva Seiglie

My last frames with my Zenit 12. Afterward it began to scratch the film and the shutter started to get stuck, especially on crucial shots. It was time to get my Nikon S2 to CLA (clean, lube and adjust) and start using it as my main camera for street work. It's quiet, compact and unnoticeable, making it a delightful camera for street photography. Back to my old soviet tank, I was using Fujifilm Press 400 at that time, a pretty decent film for general purposes. I started to grow fond of fast film, always versatile and ideal for street. Too bad I still was very noticeable (and noisy) with my Zenit SLR; every time I took it out was like a beacon. Candid photography was almost impossible that way. With a rangefinder is a whole different deal, you'll believe me when you use one. ;)

Walking around with some friends at the Old Havana I came across with this painter. He always works on the street, probably increasing his selling chances with tourists. He does really nice ink drawings. I approach him and ask if I could take him a picture, he agreed! I have to give him a print and almost a year and a half now I'm felling like a cheap bastard because I haven't got the chance to do it.

It was a nice cold and cloudy day, I remember we had a nice time hanging around.

Checking out the day’s pics. It's good to have pictures of oneself for a change, even if they are digital. :P

A week later I had to meet with a new friend from Australia. On my way to our rendezvous point I manage to take a nice shot of this old man on the bus I was.

That day, a Sunday I remember, I was showing around the city to a new friend, Pei. We walk across this guy. He was seated outside a recycle center in the end of the Avenida del Puerto, having a drink and enjoying the sun (it was a cold day). I was talking to Pei when I notice him, and told her that he would make a wonderful street portrait.

He neither pose or pretend, he just looked at the other way and let me do the job. Love when that happens.

Then, a few steps later, these two guys almost demanded that I took them a photo. Funny how street photography works, sometimes people loves to have their photo taken by complete strangers.

Crossing the street I rushed to get a quick shot of a passing diesel train. The machinist was kind enough to slow down and ask me if I manage to took the shot.

Still walking with Pei later that day, a kid came running towards us when he saw my Zenit. Just about two meters from us, he stood and gave me an OK sign. Spontaneous as only kids could be!

That day we walked a LOT, from the Capitolio de la Habana to the Colon Necropolis, and then back; a really long walk! I have to credit Pei and me, we didn't got tired from the long walk.

Pei was very impressed by the whole Colon Necropolis in general, specially with the inscription carved on the Cespedes Mausoleum's brass gate. I showed her the place the best I could, but I'm pretty sure we miss some good spots. Anyways, it was the longest time I have been in a cemetery with someone.

I know it’s blurry, and had some bad processing marks; but it only makes the feeling of remembrance of that day much stronger. I really enjoy been there in her company, showing her the city. I hope we can hang out another time.

Days later I continue my constant city roaming. I was on a bus stop when I noticed two kids fixing their bike. This scene remembers me when I used to help fix our family's bikes with my step dad when I was a kid. During the 90s, due the Special Period and the lack of public transport, the government sold and gave Chinese bikes to almost every working person in this country. In my house at that time we had three bikes, and it was my step dad's responsibility to keep all three in good shape. I remember I used to help him almost every Saturday morning.

Good times indeed.

Pointing a big ass Russian SLR to people in a crowded bus in the middle of the day is asking for trouble, especially here in Cuba. But I manage to pull two shots with my Zenith and get away unharmed. Mere luck? Being stealthy enough? Act like the camera broke and you are checking it? Well, all of these and more can be helpful.

The bus where this photo was taken (P4) is the one I normally take when I'm of to photograph on weekends. Its itinerary goes through many busies and crowded parts of the city; and while travelling through the metropolis's main veins, it picks up many different kinds of people. The rough majority of us Cubans depend on the public transportation system, so we live and die everyday in routes like this one. Students, workers, house wives, unemployed, kids... at least once a day they take buses. Thanks God public transportation got slightly better with the arrival of new articulated buses from China and Russia, because before it was a plain nightmare to get home or work, or wherever you needed to go.

That day (a Saturday I guess) I was of to Old Havana to do some shooting. I was seated on the back part of the bus, looking through the window. I was preparing to get off, and suddenly there she was, with that face that I can't really decide if its expression was of sorrow, worry, disdain, or just plain disgust. I seated again (missing my stop), and took out the camera hoping she didn't change her expression. She didn't. I press the shutter, make the photo, put the camera away, and still she had the same expression sculpted on her face. We got down on the same stop. I hope that she's doing fine, wherever she is now.

I really don't know if the photographer's name is Rolando, but you can read that in one side of his camera is written Rolando! This was my final attempt to photograph him with a film camera. He is usually with his vintage box camera in front of the Capitolio de la Habana, taking photos for tourists. You can find him there anytime, and have your vintage photo taken for only 2 bucks. Or maybe 3, you never know with the financial crisis these days. ;)

Maybe I'll give him a copy of this photo as a present... yeah, why not?

When I was little, I use to play at the same place as this kids are playing. My mom and dad use to take me here on the late afternoons. They used to seat on the Cafe at the front, and let me play in this same square. I loved that place, and still do. Seeing those kids playing make me remember the good times I spend there, playing with my dad. But right now most of those memories are blurry and hazy.

This is the place where I end almost every one of my photo walks.

I sit down, usually at this spot, to wait for the bus to take me home. I stretch my back, take a drink of water, and enjoy the view. Usually it's late in the afternoon, so almost everyone is at home. Only tourist and souvenir sellers are on the street.

The day I took this photo was a remarkable cold afternoon.

I remember clearly now, this was my last frame.

Camera: Zenit 12
Lens: HELIOS-44M-4 (f2.0/58mm)
Film: Fujifilm Press 400
Negative Scans, slight post processing using Adobe Lightroom.

Taken on first quarter 2009.