As a photographer, I have created the habit of keeping my camera with me at the ready when visiting a place for the first time. Of course, on certain occasions, the photos are not that compelling simply because being at a place for only one time can be an overwhelming experience.

Unlike people from other parts of the world, Cubans had it (and still have it) difficult when it comes to traveling overseas. Even traveling within provinces can become very difficult, so many feel like foreigners in our own country.

As a photographer, mainly after I got my first DSLR camera, I became obsesses with carrying it everywhere. From my bus ride back from Santa Clara—where I met Teófilo Villa Toledo, the person who got it for me—to Holguín, I took it out and snapped a few shots on the trip.

This piece is more personal than opinionated or technical, and has maybe been triggered by the current situation my country of Cuba and its amazing people are going through. Politics aside—although it was politics and the political police what kept me from taking more photos towards the end of my life in Holguín—seeing my relatives and friends suffering on a daily basis is not an easy pill to swallow.

Then, those thoughts also activated my memories of my time in Mexico and the first time I was finally able to take my camera out in the United States after settling in Connecticut. I figured, since I fortunately have ALMOST my entire photographic archive with me—sauf those photos that I lost when my flash drives were stolen in Holguín and those I lost in Canada due to a corrupted SD card—that I might just make a small list of my favorite pictures of every city I have visited.

I cannot recollect every city I have been to since owning a DSLR camera, and I certainly cannot say that I photographed each one of them (or that I took good photos in all of them). Nevertheless, I have a list of what I consider to be my favorite photo (so far) of every place I have visited.

I have intentionally left aside any baseball, portraits, or direct journalistic assignments, and focused only on my street and documentary photography experience. It was impossible to get each place chronologically, but I did my best. The photos, however might have a different order.

Each photo will tell you a story, and I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed taking a small trip down memory lane.

Holguin, Cuba

Her cigar hands.}**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I was on assignment that day. Yet, I took my steps further away and I photographed this young woman’s hands as she was rolling a cigar in a cigar factory in Holguín. Funny thing, I was not given proper instructions and I ended up at the wrong location. Best mistake of my life.

Havana, Cuba

Woman photobombs me as I try to capture a guy with a trumpet.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I was trying to capture a photo of this man in Old Havana as he was playing the trumpet trying to make a dime. I was using a slow-focusing camera so I had to focus on him several times before I was ready to press the shutter. As I was going to, this woman walked by and stared at me (maybe thinking I was trying to capture her). The image was frozen like this. This is my favorite non-coverage photo of Havana.

Pinar del Rio, Cuba

A farmer sits by a big wheel wile talking on the phone and having his saddle horse at the ready.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

While heading to the Viñales Valley with a group of American travelers, I saw this guajiro talking on his cell phone while having his horse saddled and ready to go. To me, it was a juxtaposition of how technology finally managed to invade Cuba even in the most remote areas.

Boston, Massachusetts

A young couple walking towards the train station in Boston with rolling suitcases.|**Credit: Eeynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I traveled to Boston in 2022 to meet with Luis Tiant and go to a Red Sox game. However, as I waited to be picked up by my friends Saul Wisnia and Jason Alpert-Wisnia (the latter, a great photographer), I walked around taking pictures. I shot this photo of two people that were completely aware I was gonna photograph them but for a couple of seconds pretended I didn’t exist.

Cooperstown, New York

A truck sits idle in front of a frill house just outsie of Cooperstown, NY.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I was assigned to cover the 2022 National Baseball hall of Fame Induction Weekend for Swing Completo. After a very intense first day, Upstate Bar and Grill was our place to have lunch. Surprisingly, it was pretty empty despite being a Hall of Fame Weekend and having great food and service. The truck was what got me.

West Hartford, Connecticut

Billy Grant, owner o Restaurant Bricco West Hartfod, gets ready for the day with his other cooks.|**Credit: Renaldo Cruz Diaz**

Restaurant Bricco West Hartford was my first real work experience in the United States.Although it was not my dream job, I was treated with respect every day I walked in. One day, owner Billy Grant agreed for me to take pictures of the crew (including himself) as they got ready for the day. For sentimental reasons, this photo surpasses every other image I have captured in WeHa.

Hartford, Connecticut

A young female worker of Café Semilla in Hartford prepares an espresso.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

My favorite part of this photo is that she knew I was taking it and I had her consent. When she asked me what she had to do, I said, “Just make me an espresso, and pretend I don’t exist.” She did a great job, and I have an image for the ages.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz

New York City, New York

A man blows bubbles for kids at Washington Square Park, NY.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

My favorite feature about this photo of the Big Apple is that everybody knew I was taking it as I was walking by with my friend Dave Kenna on the Fourth of July in 2017. The joy is very easy to see, to the point that even Canon USA commented on it on my Instagram.

Baltimore, Maryland

The warehouse behind Oriole Park at Camden Yards.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Even though this photo is of a baseball stadium during my visit to my friend Cole McMahon, I count it as a street image for two reasons. One, the game was already over, and two, I would have taken this photo if I had been driving by.

Newport, Rhode Island

Wine bar in Newport, RI.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I have been to Rhode Island three times in my life, two of them to Newport. However, it was the last time, when I spent one night in Newport, that I was actually able to embrace the area. 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar and Grill stood at night, busy, beautiful and perfectly lit.

New Haven, Connecticut

Memorial Quadrangle Gate at the Yale University campus in New Haven.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

The High Street Arch (Memorial Quadrangle Gate) shows its gothic architecture in the Yale campus in New Haven. I was walking around with my friends Hugo Pech and John Yates during our CT Photo Adventure last day in August of 2024. I had seen the arch before, but it was the first time I really had a chance to photograph it.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A young Asian woman takes a puff of a cigarette outside a café in Toronto.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Although I was in Canda two times, my favorite street photo came on the first day touring Toronto. I was on a friend’s car as the passenger, and as we came to a stop, I saw this young woman smoking a cigarette while holding a paper bag outside Manic Coffee. I liked everything about the image, so I photographed it.

New Orleans, Louisiana

A young woman checks her phone outside Crescent City Brewhouse Oyster Bar in New Orleans.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I was split between two photos of the many I love taken during my one day in NOLA. However, the contrast of the light in the portico of Crescent City Brewhouse Oyster Bar, and the fact that this young woman was standing in the sun while looking at her phone made this the choice for me. Her sundress and the red bicycle and umbrellas a little farther made up for colors that I loved. I was touring with friends, and I saw and took this image in a split second.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

The two “abuelitas” making tortillas for a very affordable price in Valle del Maíz will always bring great memories to me.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

I have said several times that this is my favorite photo of Mexico, and I have explained why. Everything was special, the connection I had with these ladies, the fact that they allowed me to photograph them in their little kitchen located in the heart of Valle del Maíz, and how the photo came out. I would continue to go there for lunch during my stay in that area of San Miguel de Allende.

Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico

A Catrina statue made at a Talavera shop caught my eye because of the beautiful colors.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

One of the most captivating things about Dolores Hidalgo is its strong Talavera industry. Although I did see other things in the area that got my attention, this little Catrina for sale in one of the stores was without question my favorite picture. The colors—a constant attraction in Mexico—and how the light interacted with it.

Mexico City, Mexico

The way this young woman left her feet on my angle of view to allow me to capture them in my frame made this photo of Mexico City for me.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

While walking around “el DF” with a friend, I found a great view in this aisle where there were kiosks for selling books and CDs. The feet of a young woman were visible, and after noticing me, she decided to keep them still so I was able to capture them along with the people in the background.

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

Women at a mini-restaurant in a market in Querétaro prepare food for customers.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Mercados are very interesting in Mexico, because you can actually get recently cooked food in most of them. I photographed these women as they were preparing my lunch, which—by the way—was delicious. Something about photographing people at work fascinates me.

Newington, Connecticut

A taste of freedom: The US flag rises against the Connecticut sky at dusk in Newington.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

The sign of freedom: This is the first photograph I took and posted after I arrived in Connecticut in 2022. I had left my gear in Mexico, and it had just arrived a few days before. I was hanging out with some friends when the sunset and the US flag gave me that sense of freedom I was expecting to get when I came to America.

New Britain, Connecticut

People dancing during the 2022 Little Poland Festival on Broad Street, New Britain.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Although there was beer on my lens, and the sun at the corner has a weird shape (because of said beer), I loved this image of people dancing around me in the 2022 Little Poland Festival. The ambiance, the joy, and the way people interacted with me and the camera made it special for me. Although I have continued visiting New Britain, few images surpass what I took that day.

Old Wethersfield, Connecticut

An old brick house stands against the cloudy sky in Old Wethersfield.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

The architecture of Old Wethersfield was one of the first things that drew me to this town. Although I have been there several times, and I have photographed older and more captivating structures, this photo stands out for me because of the colors. Despite the side porch being cropped, I will take the wide angle, the reflections on the glass of the door and windows, and the brick.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River at dawn.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge at dawn in Philadelphia. Of course, golden hour images are always appealing to take. This was a tricked photo. I put the camera on the tripod and left it out the balcony (thanks to the safety of the place I was staying at). I focused manually and left a remote trigger on the camera. When the sunrise came, I pressed the shutter button from the bed without having to leave the room.

Avon, Connecticut

Tough decision: Any image I took of this red-tailed hawk in Avon could be my favorite of the town.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Without question, my favorite image of Avon had to be one of a red-tailed hawk. This particular one made me stop the car one day half way from school. I loved every photo I took before and during its flight. Any photo I would place here would be the right one.

Canton, Connecticut

During the Halloween Parade in Collinsville, I saw a lot of interesting costumes and people. This young woman dressed like Freddy Kruger (which was also my Halloween costume at school) caught my eye because she looked nothing like the guy. Other costumes were amazing but the low light made it hard to capture them in focus.

Middletown, Connecticut

Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Opened in 1938, the Arrigoni Bridge is one of Middletown’s most distinctive features. Going over 3,400 feet in length, and carrying Route 66 and 17, it was the most expensive bridge in the state at the time. No matter what time of the day you drive by, its imposing figure will always catch your eye. That makes this, also taken during my August 2024 CT Photo Adventure, my favorite of that town.

Essex, Connecticut

The machinist inside the locomotive of the Essex Steam Train.|**Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz**

Although I have gone to Essex several times already, and taken pictures that I love there, the photo of the machinist of the steam train is my favorite. The locomotive was pulling in, and I was going on the train as part of my August 2024 CT Photo Adventure when I saw this image that made me think of the 1930s. My fascination with older and retro things makes this my favorite capture of Essex.

Final thoughts

Documenting every trip is always a good thing to do, because the images you go through can bring you back to what you did those days. I am fortunate enough to remember details that took place when I took each one of these photos.

It is my hope that those reading this piece like the pictures, the stories that took place, and share in the comments what their favorite photo is.