Havana Cars, a photo from La Habana, West

Photographer's Note

I thought if carried on the way I started yesterday things could get a bit boring, so I decided to make another montage. Tat also gave me the chance to pick few for interest, rather than compo, sake. I've also broken my promise from Friday, and scanned a few taken with the Nikon AF600, so these are from two trips, also February 2002.

As I wrote to Maciek some time ago, the cars in Cuba are more or less in three groups. US cars from before 1959 (the largest group) eastern block (well come to think of it, just Russian) cars from '59 to '91 (the next most common) and a selection of modern cars of all sorts that are mainly government owned in some capacity (including many hire cars, only state car hire companies) or owned by the many foriegners who now live and work there. The only exception to this general rule is a selection of French cars from the '60s that must have been left over after the French engineers finished building the tunnel at the mouth of Havana harbour.

Of particular interest in, to me, in this collection is the green fiat (top right) I think a '60s European car, not from France. The early '60s Volga, far left of te secod frame down on the left, which had been restored to perfection, as had the red UK Ford Zephyr, third down on the right (though to non standard colour and modern wheels). The Lada stretched limo, third down on the left, is quite a common sight.

maciekda, ChrisJ, Jeppe, Liora, omritoppol, veimann, ianmcall, Josh69, avigur_11, jhonny_blue, Ian_P, cmartos, elena, ale, aella, Ramonven, dexter_, ruisc_pt has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

maciekda (19895) 2004-04-25 4:51

very nice collage, all those wonderful cars in one frame. and this 6 doors yellow Lada is unbeliveable. good work
i'd really like to go there

Steely (895) 2004-04-25 4:58

what a cool collage!

Cuba is a real vintage car paradise, at least all of them are running and not part of a scrapheap.
Well Done!!

ChrisJ (171884) 2004-04-25 5:09

Interesting mosaaic.

Jeppe (18654) 2004-04-25 6:02

Lovely composition you collected for us here Richard - I been watching TV programs from Cuba and can reconize these cars - Nice work indeed.

Liora (1857) 2004-04-25 11:06

a very interesting display... The Lada limo is indeed fascinating!

omritoppol (826) 2004-04-25 11:26

Some pictures are better when displayed in a cluster. These look a lot more interesting and dynamic when compiled like this - one can enjoy them as they are without looking into the compo. You do have some awesome cars here. Great compilation Richard

veimann (1269) 2004-04-25 15:42

It is a remarkable set from a photo... I am confused only yellow with black with the machine... It seems to me, that it is Russian Zhigulis (Lada), but they are not such! But I liked your idea, it is very original:)

ianmcall (1213) 2004-04-25 19:26

Cuba sounds like walking around a very large, run down museum. An amazing collection of cars here Richard.

A strech Lada limousine? Who'd of thunk it!

Josh69 (1437) 2004-04-26 9:31

Excellent collage and even better for having some people in all the shots as well as the cars. Would make a good wall poster.

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-04-26 17:51

What a great collectin, Ricahrd. Looks like Cuba is the only place on earth to have so many nice old cars. Very nice shot and a great work. Well done.

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-04-27 5:42

Beautiful compositon with this old cars !
Great and colourful !
Congratulations

joseelias (0) 2004-04-27 8:59

Stunning collection of classical cars. I'm allways amazed by the models seen and the fact that they still run.

Good and well balanced composition. Increasing slightly the brightness could bring more details out.

cmartos (242) 2004-04-29 6:35

A very good compilation of cuban marvelous cars Richard. Very nice collage of tipical pictures. I like how they love their cars. The age of all those cars is also a signature that everything suddenly stopped evolving one day in this country. Everything excepted culture, music and marvelous mood. Very well done.

cloverstar (0) 2004-05-05 12:01

This is a wonderful collection of your studies of old cars in Havana. The montage idea is very creative. Well done.

I was in Chivirico, Cuba. There I saw a few old cars, and NO gas station. Mostly the country folk there use their horses as transport, including taking their children to school on.

elena (1054) 2004-05-08 21:35

wow!!! amazing display of vintage cars! i like your montage, they make an intersting composition, each photo with its own life within the photo, its own light, its own perspective, its own scale... i looked at them for a looong time! I agree with you, the light green, top right, is my favorite, it reminds me those small cars that we see everywhere in Italy. In Buenos Aires there is one day a year when owners of old beautiful cars meet for a tour around the city, and everyone has the chance to see them...

ale (1819) 2004-07-07 7:14

What a nice patchwork!
I like very much all these strange old and colorful cars. It's a very interesting shot.Thanks for sharing it and for the note too.

perryhooter (2424) 2005-02-05 16:06

Nice piece of work Richard.

I enjoy going to Cuba for the last five years. The cars are still Cuban trademarks despite the fact you find more modern cars and buses now!
After the beaches, they must be the most photographed subjects in Cuba.
Cheers!
Robert

naret (826) 2005-02-09 3:13

Hi Richard,
It is a very intersting idea to combine these car in one place. Nice work.
Naret

sylvie (1183) 2005-05-12 11:44

What a surprising mozaic, very well executed, typically from Cuba, I don't think there's another place like this in the world.
The little green Fiat is from Italy.
Thank to share with us.
Sylvie

carlosalk (4) 2006-01-18 20:42 [Comment]