Arriving in Havana feels like stepping into a living archive, where the passage of time leaves its mark on every pastel façade, wrought-iron balcony, and polished chrome fender of a 1950s automobile. This city doesn’t merely display its history—it hums with it. As I navigate the streets with my Leica Q—its 28mm lens deftly capturing both sweeping colonial plazas and close-up moments of everyday life—I’m drawn into a quiet conversation with Havana’s layered soul. The camera’s quick response and subtle presence let me shift effortlessly from the bustle of a busy boulevard to the hush of a family-run café, ensuring that the city’s poetry emerges naturally, without contrivance.
My relationship with Havana grew organically over successive visits, as I learned to see beyond the postcard images and postcard expectations. Yes, there are the stately Colonial squares, the vibrant street murals, and the constant soundtrack of son and rumba, but there are also unseen corners rich in human narrative—places where neighbors trade friendly banter across narrow alleyways, where a barber’s gentle laughter drifts through a doorway, or where sunlight carves stark shapes into crumbling stucco walls. Reducing the scene to monochrome removes the distraction of color, letting texture, light, and shadow guide my understanding of a city that resists simple definition.
Havana’s allure resides not only in what you see but also in what you feel. Twice a year, I lead photography workshops here, inviting others to explore the city’s layers. With the Leica Q’s built-in stabilization and intuitive controls, participants can focus fully on composition and timing rather than on technical hurdles. Whether we are photographing the quiet dignity of an old couple resting on their balcony or the dynamic swirl of dancers practicing in a community center, the aim is to discover personal, authentic expressions of Havana’s complexity.
Habaneros navigate their world with elegance and resolve. From a young woman leaning against a sunlit column as she checks her messages, to an elderly gentleman balancing a paper cone of peanuts in one hand while tipping his hat with the other, body language here speaks volumes. Each gesture and exchange brims with resilience, pride, and a subtle awareness of shared history. Watching and waiting, I catch glances and half-smiles that become the heartbeats of my frames, each portrait of a stranger a reminder that cities live through their inhabitants’ quiet stories.
On my earliest trips, I was enamored by Havana’s iconic postcards—El Malecón’s graceful curve, the majesty of El Capitolio. With time, I’ve come to cherish the lesser-known scenes: a deserted side street at dawn, the interplay of ancient arches and modern graffiti, the casual rhythm of children playing beneath laundry lines. Like all truly captivating places, Havana reveals itself in increments, never wholly surrendering its secrets. Patience and empathy—not quick triggers—uncover the layered narratives hidden in everyday encounters.
In a city so open to the street—where windows and doors are often left ajar, and conversations spill onto pavements—solitude still finds its niche. You might spot a fisherman alone with his thoughts at the water’s edge, a woman pausing to brush hair from her eyes as she contemplates a choice, or a young boy lost in daydreams on a stoop. These moments of inward reflection fold seamlessly into the city’s tapestry. Through my Leica Q, I try to distill these quiet interludes into enduring images. Their silence isn’t emptiness but richness, every flicker of emotion given extra weight by the timeless palette of black and white.
Together, these images form an evolving mosaic: a city seen through shadows and shapes, gestures and glances. In Havana, each seemingly ordinary scene can crystallize into something timeless and resonant. The tension between past and present, the dignity carved into weathered stone, and the warm pulse of human presence all rise to the surface when stripped of color. It’s in those gentle contrasts—where light meets shadow, history meets modernity, resilience meets everyday grace—that Havana discloses the contours of its soul.
25 Locations for Black-and-White Street Photography in Havana:
El Malecón:
The city’s famous coastal promenade. Capture silhouettes against the sea, fishermen at dawn, and couples strolling at dusk for timeless street vignettes.Habana Vieja (Old Havana) & Plaza de la Catedral:
Colonial architecture and narrow alleys bathed in shifting light. Early morning is perfect for capturing the interplay of old façades and quiet human moments.Plaza de Armas & Bookstalls:
Antique books, vintage postcards, and thoughtful browsers create a gentle rhythm. Black-and-white clarifies the textures of pages and ink, voices of the past still whispering.Calle Obispo & Surrounding Streets:
A lively thoroughfare connecting squares and shops. Look for juxtapositions of historic storefronts and the day-to-day choreography of vendors, tourists, and locals.El Capitolio & Environs:
Neoclassical grandeur meets the bustle of the street. Frame everyday interactions against this monumental backdrop, using architectural lines to lead the eye.Central Park & Hotel Inglaterra:
A social hub where friends debate baseball, musicians gather, and old men read newspapers in filtered light. Each small scene unfolds into a narrative of daily life.Paseo del Prado:
A tree-lined boulevard mixing elegant statues, wrought-iron lamps, and casual encounters. Explore angles that accentuate both human presence and architectural charm.Plaza Vieja:
Recently restored buildings, artisans, and children playing under arcades. Catch laughter and glances reverberating off age-old stone.Museum of the Revolution Area:
Statues, slogans, and echoes of political history. Monochrome emphasizes shape, symbol, and the quiet reactions of onlookers.Callejón de Hamel:
A shrine to Afro-Cuban culture and spirituality through street art. Black-and-white draws out textures in murals and the subtle expressions of those who visit.Barrio Chino (Chinatown):
Signs, languages, and market scenes reflecting Havana’s global stories. Focus on the interplay of old-world architecture and cultural fusion.El Vedado & Avenida 23 (La Rampa):
Mid-century modern lines, cinemas, and pedestrians moving between past and future. Use perspective and negative space to frame subjects amid urban geometry.Hotel Nacional & Gardens:
A 1930s landmark set amid tropical greenery. Capture the interplay of elegant columns, swaying palms, and locals enjoying afternoon breezes.Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC):
A hub of contemporary creativity. In black-and-white, the contrast of industrial remnants and modern art installations sparks visual tension.Ferry to Regla:
Passengers leaning on rails, contemplating the skyline. This short journey encapsulates Havana’s maritime spirit and reflective pauses.Centro Habana’s Backstreets:
Beyond tourist paths, real life unfolds: conversations, children’s games, casual camaraderie. Seek out details that reveal the fabric of the neighborhood.Cementerio de Colón:
Ornate sculptures, carved angels, and silent tombs. The interplay of light and stone feels almost sculptural in monochrome.Port of Havana & Old Docks:
Industrial silhouettes, rusted metal textures, and workers going about their day. Each frame can evoke distant voyages and returning ships.Train Station & Old Rail Lines:
Echoes of past travel resonate in abandoned carriages and deserted platforms. Monochrome heightens the mood of nostalgia and waiting.Mercado de Cuatro Caminos & Other Markets:
Transactions, laughter, and the scent of produce fill the air. Focus on gestures—hands exchanging coins or weighing fruit—to tell the story of everyday commerce.Miramar & 5th Avenue:
Elegant embassies, modern homes, and leafy boulevards. Frame interactions that hint at a quieter, diplomatic side of Havana’s personality.Local Boxing Gyms (e.g., Rafael Trejo Gym):
Muscles, sweat, determined faces. In the half-light of a training ring, capture the grit and discipline that define athletic dreams.Avenida de los Presidentes:
Monumental statues, palm-shaded medians, and people on the move. Look for subtle gestures and expressions that humanize civic grandeur.Cojímar Fishing Village:
Hemingway’s old haunt. Weathered boats, simple homes, and the unhurried rhythm of coastal life invite timeless portraits of serenity.Local Cafés and Bodegas:
Ordinary corners often hold profound poetry. A shopkeeper leaning on a counter, a neighbor pausing mid-conversation—small moments that speak volumes in silence.
Havana’s multifaceted character emerges as you explore these varied locales, each offering a subtle note in the city’s layered melody. By embracing monochrome, you peel back superficial distractions to unveil deeper truths: the interplay of shape and light, the authenticity in human gestures, and the quiet stories etched into each worn façade. Here in Havana, everyday life becomes timeless, and even the simplest scene is charged with enduring meaning.
Visit my Havana Street Photography Portfolio