THE HUMAN PULSE:

Global Photography of John Elliott

Published 2021-12-12

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Playa La Boca, Where the Humans Pulse!

Published 2021-12-12

Through the casa owner, I was able to arrange a taxi to drive me from Trinidad in the direction of the coast, and to a town called La Boca, some five miles away.Β  I had spent some time explaining to the driver and her husband who soon joined us that I was looking for β€œa place where I might find groups of people near the water” and they both concurred that La Boca was the only nearest destination.Β  My goal is to photograph at least one excellent scene for my Human Pulse series.

As soon as we entered the sleepy town, my heart jumped a bit when I saw a series of reefs by beaches, and some people all around or in the water.Β  I felt an urgent need to quickly deposit my bags in the new lodgings the taxi driver had found and rush out with my camera the two blocks to the beach, which I did (so quickly that I forgot to make a mental note of how to get back to the casa and later got lost for a while).Β  I installed my widest-angle lens on my mirrorless Sony 7A-C camera and got to work:

Β Β 10:00 π‘Ž.π‘š. – πΆπ‘™π‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘˜π‘  π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘’π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ , 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘‘π‘€π‘œ π‘π‘œπ‘¦π‘ ; β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’.Β  𝐸π‘₯𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™ 𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑒.Β  π‘π‘œ π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘  𝑖𝑛 π‘ π‘˜π‘¦.

10:20 π‘Ž.π‘š. – 𝐴 π‘€π‘œπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘—π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘ , π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘”. 𝐼 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘˜ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘Žπ‘› π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘¦ π‘˜π‘–π‘œπ‘ π‘˜.

10:30 π‘Ž.π‘š. – 𝐼 π‘šπ‘œπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘˜π‘  π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘’π‘ π‘  π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠.Β  𝐼 π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘™π‘‘ π‘Ž π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘” π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘π‘™π‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘œ π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘ β„Ž 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘, 𝑏𝑒𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘‘π‘œ π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘ β„Ž 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑑 π‘π‘’β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘  β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒.Β  𝐼 π‘ π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘β€™π‘  β€œπ‘€π‘Žπ‘™ π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘œβ€ (π‘–π‘”π‘›π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘) π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘¦π‘π‘™π‘’.Β  π‘‡π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘Ž 𝑓𝑒𝑀 π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑒.

11:05 π‘Ž.π‘š. – π‘…π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘“π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’; π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘, 𝑠𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 β„Žπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑝𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑦 π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘  π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑒.Β  𝑀𝑦 π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑔𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓 π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘™π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘¦ π‘’π‘žπ‘’π‘–π‘π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘ .Β  π‘†π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’ 𝑒𝑦𝑒 π‘šπ‘’ π‘ π‘’π‘ π‘π‘–π‘π‘–π‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘™π‘¦, π‘’π‘ π‘π‘’π‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘¦ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝐼 𝑝𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘™π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘”π‘’ π‘π‘–π‘˜π‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œ, 𝑏𝑒𝑑 π‘šπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘ π‘”π‘œ π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ .

11:30 π‘Ž.π‘š. – 𝐼 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘˜ π‘‘π‘œ π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ πΉπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘β„Ž π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘  𝐼 π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘›π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘¦ π‘˜π‘–π‘œπ‘ π‘˜.Β  π‘‡π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘œ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘Žπ‘  𝑖𝑑’𝑠 𝑔𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ πΌβ€™π‘š π‘ π‘€π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Ž π‘™π‘œπ‘‘.

11:40 π‘Ž.π‘š. – Sπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘œ 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠 π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ , 𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 200 π‘šπ‘š π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘ π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘’.Β  Also make some “postcard” images destined for full color applications

12:05 π‘Ž.π‘š. – π‘…π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘¦ 𝑛𝑒𝑀 π‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘Ž π‘‘π‘œ π‘’π‘›π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘€π‘’π‘Ÿ.Β  𝐸π‘₯π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘›π‘–π‘›π‘”β€™π‘  π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘  π‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘¦ π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘‘π‘œπ‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘ , π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘§π‘’ 𝐼 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘–π‘π‘’π‘  𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑀𝑒𝑒𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘ .

3:20 𝑝.π‘š. – π‘…π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘š π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘ π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘‘π‘œπ‘§π‘’π‘›π‘  π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›; 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘Ž π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘™π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘¦ 𝑛𝑒𝑀 π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘™π‘’ 𝑏𝑦 π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘  𝐼 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘–π‘ π‘ π‘’π‘‘ π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘–π‘’π‘Ÿ.Β  π‘π‘œπ‘€ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘¦ π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘!

 

 

4:30 𝑝.π‘š. – π΄π‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘β„Ž 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠 π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘¦π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘”π‘–π‘’π‘ .Β  M𝑦 π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘  π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘š π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘šπ‘¦ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑠𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘’π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘; 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘¦ 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑.

4:40 𝑝.π‘š. – π‘‚π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘š π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘–π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘“ π‘”π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›; π‘Žπ‘š π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’π‘‘! [Following is the final image file, with selenium toning.]

The Bay (La Boca, Cuba)

5:20 𝑝.π‘š. – 𝐼 β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘Ž 𝑏𝑒𝑑 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑠𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ž π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘“π‘’π‘™ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘ π‘œ 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘™π‘˜ π‘œπ‘› π‘Žβ„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘œπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘¦π‘ π‘’π‘™π‘“ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ β€œπ‘π‘œπ‘ π‘‘π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑑” π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘  [see below gallery; click on first image to see full screen.]

6:00 𝑝.π‘š. – 𝐼 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘Ž, 𝑒π‘₯β„Žπ‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑒π‘₯𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘  π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦β€™π‘  π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘œπ‘’π‘  β„Žπ‘Žπ‘’π‘™ π‘œπ‘“ π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› 100 π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘ .Β  π‘…π‘’β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘›π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘’ 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑑 π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘¦π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦β€™π‘  π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘’ 𝐼 𝑒π‘₯π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘’, π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦β€™π‘  π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘ .Β  π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘“π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘  𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑠 π‘œπ‘› π‘Ž 𝑓𝑒𝑀 π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘  𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝐼 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘™π‘¦ 𝑒π‘₯𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘¦ π»π‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› 𝑃𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒 π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘ .

On the laptop computer back in the room, it takes me a couple of hours to methodically edit and optimize 12 candidate images and work on a few of the clichΓ© sunset scenes.Β  As I work, on my small shortwave radio, I covertly listen out of curiosity to a propaganda news transmission from Miami’s large and influential anti-communist forces, programming funded by Voice of America.Β  I fall asleep toward the end of my efforts about 9:00 p.m., realizing that I don’t know where I’ll head next and with no nearby town to the West on my map, have the strong sensation I have reached the edge of the world.

  • Sunset in La Boca, Cuba

  • Sunset in La Boca, Cuba

  • Sunset in La Boca, Cuba

 

Sunset in La Boca, Cuba

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