Introduction
Al Campo is my second book on my 14-year experince in Cuba and my first book in color. After self-publishing Bazan Cuba in 2008, I've had the privilege in 2011 to self-publish again these new color intimate, poetic and personal photographic work portraying the daily life of my Cuban farmers' friends. My encounter with them was a very important moment in my life on the island.
The Cuban farmland opened up new windows of opportunity for my work. From 2001 to 2005 I spent long periods of time with them. I made new friends while wandering in this unique landscape that strongly reminded me of my Sicilian countryside. I returned regularly to visit my friends Fidel, Miguel, Jose, Inesita and their families. Our interactions allowed me the opportunity to experience and photograph intimate rituals such as working in the fields, sharing meals, smoking sugar-tasting cigars rolled before my eyes by Fidel’s skilful hands, sipping sweet rum shots as we conversed about the sowing and the harvesting of crops and about our families and our existence. My way of shooting changed. Taking pictures became almost part of this ritual--it was no longer the main priority, just a component of this rich exchange among human beings.
Both limited edition and trade edition copies of Al Campo are available for purchase along with chromogenic and digital prints.