Camagüey with Arthur Meyerson
Trip Summary
Explore Camagüey, Cuba with photographer Arthur Meyerson in an 8-day workshop.
Dates
Feb. 1 – 8, 2025
Group Size
8 People
Activity Level
Moderate, Camagüey is relatively hilly.
Price
$6,450 (shared room)
Workshop Details
Please note this workshop is sold out! We’d love to have you join us on one of our other trips. You may also email to be wait listed for this trip using the button above.
A Cuban City Few Tourists Ever See
Embark on an adventure into the heart of Cuba’s culture and history. Join celebrated photographer, Arthur Meyerson as he navigates the winding streets of Camagüey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with stories and fascinating community members.
© Arthur Meyerson
© Arthur Meyerson
Discover Camagüey
In this thoughtfully curated trip, we’ll delve deep into the vibe of colonial Camagüey, exploring its diverse neighborhoods and connecting with its gracious residents. Our cameras will be our keys, unlocking hidden courtyards and historic churches bathed in warm Cuban light.
Create Images That Tell a Story
Under the guidance of Arthur Meyerson, acclaimed maestro of color photography, you’ll create meaningful images that reflect the beauty, culture, and complexity of Cuba. Grow your creative and technical skills as we connect and interact extensively with Camagüey’s Cuban artists, taxi drivers, homemakers, story-tellers, school children, merchants and street people, and visit locations that truly are one-of-a-kind. Immerse yourself in your craft.
© Arthur Meyerson
© Arthur Meyerson
Forge Bonds with Fellow Creatives and Cubans
Develop deep connections with fellow photographers who share your passion and interact with local Cuban photographers who are excited to share their country. Engage and photograph the renowned Camagüey Ballet Company, and watch local potters as they craft the city’s symbol — giant earthenware pots enigmatically called tinajones.
Secure Your Spot on This Unforgettable Expedition
This 8-day educational program offers more than just an exciting trip — it’s a deep cultural exchange and an unparalleled photographic education. Ensure you’re one of the lucky few to see Cuba alongside Arthur Meyerson. Reserve your place today.
© Arthur Meyerson
Itinerary Highlights
- Wander the wonderful maze-like streets of Camagüey, following the city’s ever-changing light and meeting its welcoming residents.
- Photograph an authentic Cuban rodeo and absorb the important history of specialized cattle breeding in the area.
- Experience in-the-field technical and creative tips from Arthur that will spark your frame with new ideas.
- Photograph a practice session and meet the dancers from the renowned Camagüey Ballet Company.
- Visit rural farming villages and seaside towns surrounding Camagüey to explore the sights and engage with Cubans from all walks of life.
- Get the inside scoop about “tinajones,” the cultural icon of the city, from a humble family-run pottery studio.
- Develop an understanding of the complex history of this largest of the Caribbean islands, and discover why Camagüey was one of the first seven villages founded by the Spaniards.
Accommodations
Located in the heart of the city, our boutique hotel is a magnificently restored 19th Century house. Features include a pleasant patio and bar. Each room is air conditioned, and comes with a private bathroom and a hairdryer, a desk and a safe.
Publish Your Photography
Join the community of photographers who share their images between (and on) the covers of CubaSeen, our photo zine showcasing the best of photography about Cuba. As a participant on this trip you may submit images for our next issue free of charge.
Travel to Cuba Legally
This trip allows US citizens to travel legally to Cuba under the People-to-People General License for educational exchanges (Title 31 CFR § 515.560). We focus on authentic connections and meaningful interactions, capturing the spirit of the Cuban people through our lenses.
Your Instructors
Nelson Ramírez de Arellano
Director of the Wilfredo Lam Contemporary Art Center and the Havana Biennial
Nelson Ramirez de Arellano Conde launched his artistic career in 1993 as a member of the artist group ArteNativa, a collective focused on social and ecological themes in Havana. He also collaborated with Cuban artist Liudmila Velasco to create Liudmila & Nelson, a photography-based artistic team which represented Cuba at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013.
In addition to his career as an artist, Nelson was the Chief Curator and eventually Director of the Cuban National Center for Photography (Fototeca de Cuba). Presently, he is the Director of the Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center and the Havana Biennial.
Ramirez de Arellano also is Co-founder and Curator at Fábrica de Arte Cubano — the most successful and popular cultural project in Cuba, recently nominated by Time Magazine amongst the 100 greatest places in the world.
Instagram: @liudmila_and_nelson_art_choice
Jennifer Spelman
Owner | Photographic Instructor
Jennifer Spelman is a documentary photographer, educator and workshop leader based out of beautiful Wilmington, NC.
She co-founded OneWorldSeen in 2021 and co-published its photo zine, CubaSeen. Jennifer is a patient educator who has co-instructed with Santa Fe Workshops,and National Geographic Expeditions. Among her many other photography-related endeavors, she has traveled extensively, teaching workshops in Cuba, Iraq, Turkey, Morocco, India, Romania, Spain, Mexico, Japan and India.
She has worked most extensively across the island of Cuba. During over sixty visits to the island, she’s experienced the friendly generosity of a people always willing to share conversation and a cup of coffee. She has come to understand that to be Cuban is to greet adversity with ingenuity, patience and humor. Life in Cuba is lived on the streets, and Jennifer is happiest amidst their constant motion and layered serendipity.
Website: jenniferspelman.com
Carlos Otero Blanco
Partner | Resident Cuban Expert & Guide
Carlos Otero Blanco is a dynamic photographer who specializes in inventive conceptual projects and creative underwater photography. His wide range of thematic interests spans documentary photography, portraiture, and nature.
Carlos may be best known for his sensitive photographic study of Cuban bedrooms, with hundreds photographed since 2009. The exquisite images were published in his book, Dormir con… (To Sleep with…), co-authored with Enrique Rottenberg, which has been shown in several national and international exhibits, and was featured in The New York Times, among other publications.
Born and raised in Havana, Carlos knows Cuba He has explored its rivers, its shorelines, its cities and villages, its mountains, its farmland and, most intimately, its people. His many friends across the island light up whenever he arrives. His wit and character are threaded throughout his vividly expressive portrait series, Cuba Vive, and are readily recognizable within his diverse selection of photographic subjects from around and across the island.
Carlos has a deep commitment to the natural world, and relishes adventure photography. He has participated in studies of subaquatic archeology, and holds several divemaster and instructor titles, as well as numerous awards for his spectacular underwater photography.
Instagram: @oteroblancocu
What's Covered?
Included
- Lodging with breakfast all days
- 5 lunches and 5 dinners
- Transportation within Cuba, including airport pick-up and drop-off
- Model and location fees
- Please review our Terms and Conditions before registering. It has important information, including our cancellation policy and cancellation fees
Not Included
- Airfare to/from Camagüey airport
- Meals and incidentals not listed as included
- Visas and mandatory Cuban health insurance. This is available for purchase from your airline with prices varying from $50-85
- Travel insurance, which we highly recommend
Gallery
