MICHAEL CHINNICI | VANISHING CUBA

A stunning collection of over 270 photographs and stories highlighting Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK
BY MICHAEL CHINNICI
‘ VANISHING CUBA’

VANISHING CUBA is a visual storytelling project by American photographer Michael Chinnici. The collection depicts Cuba’s changes as it emerges from more than 60 years of isolation and decay. Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba have yielded tens of thousands of photographs, thought-provoking, and emotional stories, creating lifelong friendships. Vanishing Cuba is about capturing the past, present, and future of Cuba, and even more so, about capturing the “Soul of Cuba.” Michael’s love affair with Cuba and the Cuban people clearly comes through in this compelling and beautifully produced book.

MICHAEL CHINNICI

Michael Chinnici is a New York-based photographer, creative director, and designer. He has traveled the world photographing people, streets, architecture, landscapes, motorsports, aerial, and fashion, and enjoys the challenges that various photographic disciplines present. Michael is the Founder and CEO of Photo Workshop Adventures, a premier photo tour company offering over 150 photo-centric cultural adventures in over 50 countries. He loves sharing his photography experiences and is a frequent speaker at events where he discusses his ‘Evoking Emotion’ approach to photography.
Currently, Michael is pursuing several ongoing personal projects, including a beautifully curated large format visual storytelling book titled ‘VANISHING CUBA.’ This limited edition book includes a stunning collection of over 270 photographs and stories from Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba. The collection depicts Cuba’s changes as it emerges from more than 60 years of isolation and decay. Michael’s trips to Cuba have yielded tens of thousands of photographs, thought-provoking and emotional stories, and created lifelong friendships. Vanishing Cuba is about capturing the ‘Soul of Cuba’, and Michael’s love affair with Cuba and the Cuban people comes through in this compelling and beautifully produced book, handcrafted in Italy. Following the book will be a documentary film titled ‘The Journey of Vanishing Cuba.’

Michael was introduced to photography by his father at the tender age of eleven. Using his dad’s WWII-era Argus C3 and a basement darkroom, he began his lifelong love affair with photography. Although Michael spent the early years of his career in marketing and design (heading up his own NYC Ad Agency), Chinnici founded New York’s first digital photography studio “Icon Digital” in 1995. He is the father of two girls and two boys, one of whom is a cinematographer.
When Michael isn’t on assignment, in the studio, or on a global adventure, he can be found traveling the world searching for unique photo opportunities, exceptional hotels, and fantastic restaurants.

“As a documentary and travel photographer, I enjoy the best of both worlds. I love documenting and learning about different cultures, all while traveling the globe. I am in search of authenticity, beauty, and emotion. I try to blend all three of these to create images that truly ‘Evoke Emotion.’
I capture authenticity by blending into the environment and assimilating with those around me. Make others feel comfortable in my presence. Get people around me to let their guard down. Invite myself into their space without them even realizing it. It’s sort of like breaking the ice on a first date, except this date might only last a few seconds or minutes, or however long it takes to get that great shot.
I look for beauty, even if, on the surface, it doesn’t appear to be beautiful. Beauty is everywhere. You just have to find it. I use light to enhance beauty. Light and shadow work together to create drama.
Creating images that Evoke Emotion has always been my goal. There is no recipe, no secret formula. But, once I’ve managed to find authenticity and beauty, I can create emotion. It’s essential to create an image that evokes a more profound meaning beyond the obvious visual.” – Michael Chinnici

VANISHING CUBA BOOK
Website: redoctopuspublishing.com
Instagram: @vanishingcuba

MICHAEL CHINNICI PHOTOGRAPHY
Website: www.michaelchinnici.com
Instagram: @michaelchinnici

PHOTO WORKSHOP ADVENTURES
Website: photoworkshopadventures.com
Instagram: @photoworkshopadventures

Read the full article in Lens Magazine Issue #82