Summit Cuba

Storytelling and Travel Photography in Majestic Cuba

Cuba is a photographer’s dream. From vintage cars to colonial architecture to a vibrant local culture, this island offers a magnificent location to dive deeper into travel photography and visual storytelling. Join Pulitzer Prize winner and Nikon Ambassador Deanne Fitzmaurice on a photographic journey to explore the history, landscape, and people of this Caribbean gem.

During the Summit Cuba Workshop we will begin our journey in Old Havana, a city renowned for its bright colors, narrow streets, and seaside promenades. We will rise early each morning and wander the streets as the city awakes and markets and cafes fill. Our afternoons will be spent exploring the culture of Havana with visits to the Ernest Hemmingway estate, nearby villages, and the oldest boxing school in the country. And of course, a trip to Cuba would not be complete without a night of mojitos and music.

After Havana, we will travel across the island and into the countryside to Trinidad, a colonial town known for its cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and tropical vibes. We will spend our time here learning about the history of Cuba by photographing at rural plantations, in Trinidad, and at Cienfuegos, a beautiful French colonial city on a turquoise Caribbean bay. Following the southern coast, our journey will lead to the rural region of Viñales, where vibrant green tobacco farms weave amongst towering limestone cliffs. In the countryside, we will experience a taste of old Cuba and traditional farming lifestyles. After returning to Havana, our trip will conclude with a day shooting at one of Cuba’s oldest salsa dancing schools. If you are interested in learning more about photojournalism in a spectacular tropical setting, this workshop is not to be missed! Summit Cuba will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the wonders of this island nation and learn storytelling and travel photography from one of the best in the business.

Register Here
  • Location: Cuba
  • Dates: 2023 Itinerary Coming Soon!
  • Deposit: $2,000 / Tuition: $6,895

What To Know

Traveling to Cuba from the United States is often, and incorrectly seen as a daunting effort. This is not always the case and if you go through the correct channels, it is very easy. Currently, US travelers to Cuba can visit at any time if their trip fits certain requirements. Fortunately for a workshop such as ours that works with a longstanding travel provider, we qualify under the category ‘In Support of the Cuban People’ which entails learning about and immersing yourself in the local culture. You will not need to do anything in advance and will receive a Cuban Visa upon purchasing airline tickets. We will walk you through this quick, and simple process.

  • You will be responsible for booking your flight between Florida and Havana. We will provide flight numbers and itinerary information so we are all on the same connection.
  • Expect warm temperatures and lots of walking.
  • If you are a fan of good food, this is the trip for you! Cuba has an incredibly varied cuisine and we make a point to sample the very best of it.
  • Bring extra batteries and memory cards, you will fill them every day!
  • Spouse and companion discounts are available for this workshop! These discounts are for non-photographers who want to share in this amazing experience with you. Please contact us for more information.
SOLD OUT

Topics We Will Cover

Street Photography
Travel Photography
Storytelling
Environmental Portraiture

2023 WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

Workshop Faculty

Deanne Fitzmaurice
Program Manager, Photojournalist, Archaeologist

Matt Stirn
Workshop Faculty

Deanne Fitzmaurice

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning documentary photographer and filmmaker, Deanne is most known for her visual storytelling and unique ability to go behind the scenes to discover and convey personal, intimate and emotional stories through images. With a focus on contemporary culture, Fitzmaurice, a Nikon Ambassador, represents a wide variety of publications, including creating content for National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and many other respected outlets. Deanne has won awards from American Photography, Pictures of the Year, Communication Arts, PDN Photo Annual, NPPA Best of Photojournalism, UNICEF and the Casey Medal. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Deanne worked as a staff photographer at the San Francisco Chronicle for 18 years and is now represented by National Geographic Image Collection.

Program Manager, Photojournalist, Archaeologist

Matt Stirn

Matt is a photographer, writer, and archaeologist from Jackson, Wyoming. The majority of his work focuses on travel, nature, and cultural and environmental conservation. He is a National Fellow for the Explorer’s Club and has worked as a senior photographer and on assignment for archaeological and conservation projects on four continents. Matt’s work has been published with Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, National Geographic, GEO, BBC, Archaeology Magazine, Outdoor Photographer Magazine, and more. Matt’s work at Summit is diverse and ranges from assisting at our core workshops to planning and running many of our international and destination workshops.

Workshop Information & Itinerary

Trip Highlights

  • Small Group Experience (7 Students, 2 Faculty)
  • Stay in Historic Old Havana
  • Visit the Ernest Hemingway Estate
  • Photograph at Cuba’s Oldest Boxing School
  • Explore Spectacular Colonial Towns Trinidad and Cienfuegos
  • Photograph at a historic Salsa Dancing School
  • Learn About Travel Photography Tactics and Storytelling

Costs Included In Tuition

  • Hotels, Several Meals, Transfers, Entrance / Guide Fees, Local Guide Tips

Not Included

  • Some Meals
  • Restaurant Gratuities
  • International Flights
  • Hotel in Florida

Workshop Itinerary

Arrive in Miami, Florida at any time.
Fly from Miami, Florida to Havana. After checking into our hotel located in Old Havana, we will spend the day exploring the old town.
We will start today early with a sunrise street photography session along the Malecon, a stunning seaside esplanade near the old city where towering waves crash over the road, fishermen bring in their daily catches, and music can be found any time of the day. The rest of the day will be spent continuing our exploration of Havana. We will spend time photographing from a 30th floor observation floor, visiting the Jose Fuster Gallery, and visiting with locals to learn about life in Cuba.
After breakfast we will drive to the home of Ernest Hemingway to visit the home and photograph the many vintage cars found in the area. We will then continue on to Cojimar, a traditional fishing village that inspired Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. The afternoon will be spent photographing at Havana’s oldest boxing school before dinner and music at the renowned Buena Vista Social Club. After dinner we will hop in vintage taxis and see the Old City by night before returning to the hotel.
Travel day from Havana to Trinidad. This drive will take us away from the hustle and bustle of Havana and into the rural countryside before reaching Trinidad, a brightly colored colonial town on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Tradition is very much alive in Trinidad where horse drawn carriages can be found rattling down cobblestone streets past groups of people playing dominoes and smoking hand-rolled cigars. Our hotel is located a short walk above the center of Trinidad and offers a stunning view over the town and the nearby sea. The grounds are home to several friendly horses and for the intrepid, a charismatic bar/club constructed in a natural cave underneath the hotel.
After breakfast we will drive to the Valley of the Sugar Mills to visit the plantation of Manaca Iznaga, a tower constructed in the 1700s to watch over the cane fields. Throughout the day we will pass through stunning tropical landscapes and farms where we may be able to stop and photograph people at work with oxen and horses. The afternoon will be free to relax, explore, and photograph Trinidad on your own.
We will make our way back from Trinidad to Havana. En route we will spend the morning photographing at Cienfuegos, a beautiful French colonial city on the shores of an ocean bay. After lunch we will continue on to Havana.
We will make our way back from Trinidad to Havana. En route we will spend the morning photographing at Cienfuegos, a beautiful French colonial city on the shores of an ocean bay. After lunch we will continue on to Havana.
We will make an early morning departure west of Havana to the rural region of Viñales, home to Cuba’s famous tobacco farms amongst picturesque limestone pillars. The day will be spent photographing several tobacco farms, the stunning countryside, and exploring one of the many caves found in the region.
In the morning we will have more time to explore and photograph Viñales, possibly by horseback or horse-drawn cart depending on the groups’ interests. In the afternoon we will make our way back to Havana, check into our hotel, and have a few hours free before our farewell dinner.
After breakfast, depart Havana back to Miami.

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