Interview: Raul Canibano

conducted by Alexandros Tsiolis

What was the reason to start photography? What was your goals and your dreams when you was starting?

I started photography in 1990. I visited a part of my family in the countryside and met a high school teacher who was a fan of photography. He had his own photo lab. It was magical. the smell, the process, all of it, i thought this is what i want to do. i returned to Havana and leaved my old work.
I started taking photos for no reason at first time, when i visited the fototeca of Cuba and i saw the Alfredo Sarabias show. that was the moment that i knew what kind of photos i wanted to make. It was my dream and my goal to take photos like that.

Who is your favorite photographer? Whose work has influenced you most?

My favorite photographers are Henri Cartier-Bresson and W.Eugene Smith. I got influenced a lot from their work but not from a specific one. I love Bressons decisive moment and Eugene Smith's way of composing and his humanistic point of view.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I get inspired from anything and everything. Sometimes i am starting a project in an other project.

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

I don't have a favorite one. I like taking photos and I'm very interested in documenting my life.

Why you prefer black and white?

I think black and white is very expressive, an amazing compliment for my work.

What identifies you as a photographer? How you created this unique style?

I’m a Cuban photographer who documents his own reality. In my photos my essence is transmitted, humor that characterizes all Cubans and a reality full of surrealism. I don't know but it was working a lot.

What do you want your viewers to take away from your work?

I try to capture the essence of my country. I'm very interested in the human being.


Do you consider yourself as a street photographer or a documentary photographer?

I think I'm a documentary photographer.

Ηow do you prepare your self to be comfortable photographing strangers? What's your secret to achieving this?

I don't like composing people. I am trying to capture an instant moment which I can lose it by composing my subject. When I take photos on Streets, I just see with my camera, but when I’m in a place I try to meet people, talk with them and when they get bored of my presence, I take the photo.

Do you organize any workshop at Cuba? Tell us something about it.

Yes, I do.
I organize my own workshops, sometimes I do also workshops with foreign photographers.

You can find Raul Canibanos work at:
https://raulfoto.visura.co/
https://www.facebook.com/raul.canibano.9
https://www.instagram.com/raul_canibanofoto/?hl=el