How Ira Block Creates a Well-Rounded Travel Photography Story

Now that we’ve taken environmental portraits, it’s time to take portraits of the environment! National Geographic photographer and Sony Artisan of Imagery Ira Block discusses how he photographs urban and nature landscapes to create a fuller story behind his travel portraits.

Watch The Colors of Cuba with Ira Block

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Camera gear used

0:00 In Today's Video
0:53 How Environment Shapes Culture
2:20 Composing Your Photos
4:26 Urban Landscapes
8:38 Gear Advice
9:19 Next Episode

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[retirewithjames]

Really good video. Helpful! Great insight into your world. Thanks

[kathyrappaport]

i was lucky to be a part of a people to people exchange about photographing the people of Cuba. We saw much of the culture. We also experienced some of the issues with the government doing things like turning off the gas so there was no hot water. Food limited. But the spirit of the people was delightful.

[dmitrymossienko]

Wonderful video and brilliant story telling photography, it's sheer delight to watch, listen, make stops, roll back, so inspiring to study details and this enjoy heart warming photo journalism, thank you so much!!

[RS-Amsterdam]

Beautiful images Ira.
Love your DoF in those shots in the beginning.
I like to shoot in layers too (at least 3).
Wonderful video again.
Looking forward to the next one ;-)
Stay safe and thanks for sharing

[easebeats]

So beautiful. Photographing Cuba is goals for me.

[jaymills]

So cool! Was this also filmed on the A1?

[rickpinelli]

As I watch all your videos, I wonder if you tip all the people who posed for you. I have heard that photographers are often asked for money for them to take their image.
Thanks for the videos...

[latinimagecl]

Not really objective...

After several episodes, I have watched I can say, one way or another, Cuba is being used for commercial purposes only. Cuba is much more than the restrictions and embargo The US has strongly enforced over the island and its people.

Medicine doctors and toxicologists are also powerful flagships who are seldom featured in documentaries or videos about Cuba. Artistry (Music, and artists from the island) also suffers deeply from the same discrimination and isolation any US Administration in office continuously imposes over the Island.

Apparently, American arrogance does not fully understand that Cuba goes beyond Icons such as Fidel and Che Guevara, or the revolution, and the strong sense of independence and patriotism of Cubans themselves; And certainly, the many aspects, facets, and respect they deserve as a unique country with its own character and cultural influence.

This NG photographer - is no exception - focuses only on what the NG editors, biased clients, and most Americans expect and want to see from Cuba. The same repetitive vision and imagery. No insight into the real Cuba. Unfortunately, disappointing and very biased, to say the least!

[reboy]

With great disappointment I see this sad promotion of the Cuban dictatorship. Cuba us a culture of sadness, where at this time young people are in jail because of the Cuban dictatorship.

[latinimagecl]

Estp no es realmente objetivo...

Después de varios episodios que he visto, puedo decir que, de una forma u otra, Cuba está siendo utilizada únicamente con fines comerciales. Cuba es mucho más que las restricciones y el embargo que Estados Unidos ha impuesto con fuerza sobre la isla y su gente.

Los médicos y toxicólogos también son poderosos abanderados que rara vez aparecen en documentales o videos sobre Cuba. El arte (música y artistas de la isla) también sufre profundamente la misma discriminación y aislamiento que cualquier administración estadounidense en funciones impone continuamente sobre la isla.

Aparentemente, la arrogancia estadounidense no comprende del todo que Cuba va más allá de íconos como Fidel y el Che Guevara, o la revolución, y el fuerte sentido de independencia y patriotismo de los propios cubanos; Y ciertamente, los múltiples aspectos o facetas de su pueblo y el respeto que merecen como un país único con carácter e influencia cultural propios.

Este fotógrafo de National Geographic, no es una excepción; se enfoca solo en lo que los editores de NG, los clientes prejuiciados y la mayoría de los estadounidenses esperan y quieren ver de Cuba. La misma visión e imágenes repetitivas. No hay idea de la verdadera Cuba. Desafortunadamente, decepcionante y tremendamente parcial, por decirlo menos.