Eastern Cuba: Color and Spirit with Arthur Meyerson, Jennifer Spelman & Carlos Otero

Trip Summary

Led by Arthur Meyerson, Jennifer Spelman & Carlos Otero

Dates

Jan. 21 – 31, 2026

Group Size

8 People

Activity Level

Moderate, some walking with stairs.

Price

$6,300 (double occupancy) – Single Supplement: $350

Workshop Details

Vibrant Santiago de Cuba

From the moment the flight touches down in Holguín and we hit the road headed towards Santiago de Cuba, the island’s pulsating energy beckons. With Arthur Meyerson, Jennifer Spelman and Carlos Otero as your guides, we ready our cameras for the vibrant street life that awaits, capturing the essence of Cuba’s second largest city, frame-by-frame. From the rhythms of Afro-Cuban traditions to lively conga processions, Santiago offers a sensory immersion into Cuba’s Afro-Caribbean heart.

Dancer in Havana, Cuba by Leysis Quesada Vera

Discover the Enchantment of Baracoa

Our journey continues across La Farola mountain road to magical Baracoa, the “First City” of Cuba. Here, Christopher Columbus first set foot, and centuries later, the city remains a rarely traveled paradise. In Baracoa, we share daily cultural exchanges with farmers, artisans, musicians, and families, weaving human connection into our photographic practice.

Coastal Reflection in Guardalavaca

Before our departure out of Holguin, we shift to nearby Guardalavaca’s serene coastline. Here, our group gathers with time to rest and prepare for an image review session led by Arthur. The seaside setting offers both reflection and celebration — a chance to integrate everything we’ve experienced and captured. As our time together culminates, we share a farewell dinner celebrating the friendships forged and the human connections that define this journey.

Creativity in Every Frame

Guided by the artistry of Arthur Meyerson, world-renowned for his masterful use of color, you’ll refine your ability to see and respond to the complex Cuban culture. Photo tips and feedback from Arthur, Jennifer and Carlos invite you to expand your vision while far away from the distractions of daily life.

Connect Deeply with Cuba’s Soul

This experience is built on connection. From the fishermen of Baracoa’s rivers to the resilient people of Santiago’s Cayo Granma and El Cobre, each encounter is designed to foster genuine dialogue and mutual understanding. Through your lens, you’ll bear witness to Cuba’s cultural vibrancy while engaging in a people-to-people exchange that transcends language.

A Cultural Exchange Like No Other

Through our long-standing relationships across the island, this program offers access to people and places beyond the reach of most travelers. These OFAC-compliant educational exchanges are full-time, immersive experiences designed to deepen cultural understanding and support Cuban civil society.

Itinerary Highlights

A true adventure across Eastern Cuba including Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa & Guardalvaca.
Photographic inspiration and feedback from from Arthur Meyerson, Jennifer Spelman and Carlos Otero.
Time to interact with local Cubans along the Miel, Toa, and Duaba River.
A chance to photograph and participate in a live conga through the streets of Santiago.
Time to visit with local cacao and coconut farmers, fishermen and gardeners living in-tandem with their lush surroundings.
Enjoy comfortable accommodations within OFAC legal boutique hotels and casa particulares.
Experience unparalleled travel support from our expert OWS Cuba team.

Your Instructors

Arthur Meyerson

Instructor

Arthur Meyerson is recognized as one of America’s finest color photographers. Since 1974, this native Texan has traveled throughout the world, creating award winning advertising, corporate and editorial photographs, as well as an extensive body of fine art imagery.

Besides his commercial work, Arthur’s fascination with light, color, gesture, and “the moment” is never-ending, and has culminated into an impressive body of personal work. His 2012 highly acclaimed book, The Color of Light, is a testament to his brilliant creativity and careful construction using insightful tools he has been perfecting for decades. His second book, The Journey, was published in 2017.

A lauded photographer with a strong commitment to his profession, Arthur teaches photography workshops, offers individual mentoring, and engages in speaking engagements throughout the United States and abroad.

Website: https://www.arthurmeyerson.com/

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

Travel 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). Every activity focuses on authentic connection and meaningful interaction, ensuring compliance with U.S. Treasury regulations while enriching your perspective. This trip begins with an arrival into Holguin followed by a two-hour drive to Santiago de Cuba. It includes two nights in Santiago de Cuba before departing to Baracoa for five nights, and concluding in the Holguin/Guardalavaca area for 3 nights.