Bruce Byers Photography

Bruce Byers PhotographyBruce Byers PhotographyBruce Byers Photography

Bruce Byers Photography

Bruce Byers PhotographyBruce Byers PhotographyBruce Byers Photography
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  • Environmental Portraits
  • Gallery of Cuban work
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  • Worldwide Stock Images
  • Travel & Photo workshops
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  • Mission Work
  • Published Books
  • Nurses of Covid-19 Book
  • About the Nurse Book
  • Contact Us
  • About US
  • Worldwide Image Gallery
  • Trip details
  • Feb 4th 2023
  • More
    • Home
    • Commercial
    • Fine Art
    • Environmental Portraits
    • Gallery of Cuban work
    • The Cuban Artist Book
    • Worldwide Stock Images
    • Travel & Photo workshops
    • Poker Cards
    • Mission Work
    • Published Books
    • Nurses of Covid-19 Book
    • About the Nurse Book
    • Contact Us
    • About US
    • Worldwide Image Gallery
    • Trip details
    • Feb 4th 2023
  • Home
  • Commercial
  • Fine Art
  • Environmental Portraits
  • Gallery of Cuban work
  • The Cuban Artist Book
  • Worldwide Stock Images
  • Travel & Photo workshops
  • Poker Cards
  • Mission Work
  • Published Books
  • Nurses of Covid-19 Book
  • About the Nurse Book
  • Contact Us
  • About US
  • Worldwide Image Gallery
  • Trip details
  • Feb 4th 2023

We are Camera Odysseys your photo adventure

Our destinations are remote and exciting. But that's not the only reason we're fascinated with them. They’re also some of the most extraordinary places in the world – mysterious, romantic, exotic, and exquisitely beautiful.

We could say they’ve changed so little because they’re timeless to begin with. But the fact is, some of them will, for better and for worse, embrace the 21st century in the near future. That’s why it's so special to us to document and share these fragile, anachronistic ways of life in unimaginable places while we still can. And we'd like to invite you to join us on these exciting adventures. 

TRAVEL LIKE A JOURNALIST,

LIVE LIKE A NATIVE,

SHOOT LIKE A PROFESSIONAL

Our Crew

Bruce Byers, Founder and head  Photographer

Will be with us on the streets, photographing people and the architecture of Cuba.  This will be his 20th trip. Bruce designs the trips to make sure you’ll never see, or photograph, the world quite the same way again. He is very excited about our upcoming trips, and thinks you will be as well.

Over the course of the trip you will learn:

  • The difference between photography and storytelling. 
  • Anyone can take a photograph but not all photographs tell visually rich stories.
  • The use of design in photography through color, texture, light, perspective and detail.
  • To craft your own unique visual voice.

Carlos Aguilera, Cuban Artist

Our Cuban Artist will also be with us to introduce us to the world of Cuban artist.  Born in Santiago to a famous Cuban artist father.  Carlos will be our window into life and culture of Cuba.

"This is Cuba"

Scroll to the bottom for Quick Facts and Questions


Can we go to Cuba? YES

Camera Odysseys has traveled to Cuba for the past 10 years. We have great friends and connections to make your trip a once in a lifetime. The USA travel restrictions only effect the cruise ships and some planes from the USA.Camera Odysseys is Licensed to bring groups into Cuba under the:

“Support for the Cuban people”

No further permission from OFAC is required to engage in transactions by a person who meets all criteria in a general license.

Let’s find the tobacco !  

This trip goes to Havana, Viñales, and Trinidad

When we visit some of our favorite remote places, like Cuba, we’ll be sure to give you a trip with a twist that no ordinary group would offer. For instance in Cuba, we’re not just going to visit magnificent urban and rural areas, we’ll be following the tobacco harvest with some of the most famous growers and cigar makers in the world, across the country, a trip equivalent to being on the ground for the great wine harvests of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The trip will start in Havana where we will explore the city and it's people.  We will have Carlos Rene Aguilera Tamayo as our guide to take us into the culture and the world of Cuban art.  

Feb 4th to the 12th 2023

 ADVENTURE STARTS IN HAVANA

Enjoy local music and culture

Dancers, Boxers, old American Cars, Artist and History 

Viñales to photograph the tobacco harvest.

Travel to the city of Trinidad

Price $3750  (double occupancy)

We will try to put people with roommates if they want one, 

but if we can not the single room charge applies.

$425 additional for single room 

Deposit of $900

8 nights and 9 days

All Inclusive from Havana, Cuba

Trip can be extended  Call Bruce for details.  

Cell # 917-992-1453   

Early sign up $150 off discount by Nov 10 2022


What's Included:

  • All meals
  • All ground transport in Cuba
  • Accommodations in Casa (bed and breakfast) including breakfast
  • Double occupancy: Single $450 supplement
  • Entrance fees to attractions listed on itinerary

What's NOT included:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Hotel in USA if we fly through Miami
  • Airfare to Havana,  Trip starts in Havana Cuba
  • Travel insurance. You need to get your own personal travel insurance for medical and trip cancellation.
  • Internet or communications costs in Cuba

Note: Final schedule may deviate from plan due to conditions on the ground.

book your adventure

February 4th

  Trip starts in Havana, Cuba

  • Arrival at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport. Private transfer from the airport for Havana.
  • Check into local casas
  • Walk the Malecon for sunset with camera and welcome rum
  • Welcome dinner in a local café with local music.

Havana has endless surprises around every corner.  

Bring many cards for your camera.

There are many evening music and club options that you can choose form.

Sunrise photo walk before the town wakes up.

Each morning there will be a sunrise photo walk for those who care to join.

Night walks to experience the city

Each night we will explore a different part of the city after dark.

February 5th

 Havana

Sunrise on the Malecon.  Fishermen, boats, landscape….Adventure

8:30 am Breakfast served in your Casa

Morning:  Walk to the Capitol building area of Havana.

This walk will introduce you to the colors of Havana.   The city will be alive and the colorful old cars will be running.  We will ride old American cars to get an over all feel for the city and give you a glimpse into the past.

Lunch: 

This Café was put together by a Cuban photographer.  They serve cold beer and great Cubans.

  • Explore the squares of old Havana
  • Work with local Cubans to see and photograph locations from the 15th century

Sunset on the streets with old cars

Dinner: Local cafe’

Night walks

February 6th

 Trinidad

  • We head for the town of: Trinidad, a water front UNESCO city on Cuba’s south coast known for its beauty and a historical importance.  Trinidad is one of the best-preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time when the sugar trade was the main industry in the region.
    We will stop at a local farm to photograph local life. 
    • Bruce will conduct a portrait workshop on site.
    • Lunch: On the road
      Arrive Trinidad early afternoon to explore the streets
    • Rooftop for sunset and Rum tasting
    • Dinner: Local restaurant with music
    • Evening night walk and music in the square

February 7th

Trinidad

Sunrise town walk

  • Breakfast: 8:30 in your casa

Walk the city visiting the town square and streets 

  • Visit local artist studios.
  • Explore the city
  • Lunch: Hill top restaurant (great view of the town)

Early afternoon, we will head back to Havana

February 8th

  Boxing Day

Lets go Boxing  ( photographing the boxers ) 

Sunrise on The Malecon: of Havana always has an interesting turn of events with the fishermen, old ships and great light, if your up for it. 

After breakfast and by 10:30 we will arrive at : Gimnasio de Boxeo Trejo, boxing gym. The best of Cuba will show off their skills of boxing and create photos with you.  I am sure you can join them for a couple rounds.

Lunch at an Artist studio.   Working studio with music and great art

Early afternoon:

  • Ride in the old cars to visit El Cristo de La Habana (The Havana’s statue of Christ) ending up at Moro Castle to photograph it's 15th to 18th century walls and canons.
  • Great skyline of Havana and the Malecon.
  • Return to the Malecon for sunset and music.

Dinner: at local cafe' 

Night photo walks. (optional)

February 9th

Viñales Tobacco

Early private bus ride to the tobacco region of Viñales

  • We will head to Viñales to photograph the tobacco farms and fields
  • Lunch with local artist.
  • Dinner will be a pig roast with our local tobacco farmer. This will be the real thing. Cuban coffee, cigars, rum, music and good food.

Return to Havana

February 10th

Dancers of Cuba

Early Morning

Flamenco Dancers in the Havana Cathedral Square.  These great dancers will make it easy for you to create images with them with a once in a life time backdrops of 15th century buildings. This is always a lively shoot.

Breakfast in a local cafe' 

  • Go to the working workshop Taller experimental de Grafica of local artist to talk print making and work on portraits of the them.  Exchange ideas on art.

Afternoon   Lunch in local cafe’

  • Meet up with the master of renovation of Old Havana.  We will explore buildings being restored back to the 15th century.  Meet and photograph the students rebuilding these great buildings.
  • The Old Square has one of just 7 commercial Camera Obscura in the world.  It is a great way to step inside a camera and see Havana live. 

Sunset on the Malecon with music of local band.

February 11th

  Sunrise on the Malecon

  • This is the day to revisit locations you loved
  • The group will get to choose where to revisit or explore
  • Explore neighborhoods outside Old Havana
  • Photograph in peoples homes
  • Photograph inside some of the old building being restored
  • Lunch with artist or Art Pub or other Cuban cafés
  • Walk the squares of Old Havana
  • Ride the local ferry to a fishing village. This village in on the other side of the harbor and will be gone soon as the harbor is being rebuilt.
  • Sunset on Malecon
  • Music and drinks at the Hotel National
  • Farewell dinner 


February 12th

Time to head home

Havana

If  anyone wants to extend their stay call Bruce.  Please call Bruce before booking.  Cell # 917-992-1453 

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@cameraodysseys.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Yes, American tourists are safe throughout Cuba, though we always recommend using common sense. Please see your Final Documents for more detailed information.


You will need your passport and a visa (Camera Odysseys will take care of this) for entry into Cuba. Once there, shopping for essential items like toiletries is nearly impossible. You must bring anything you will need, including all medications. You will also need enough cash to last throughout your trip, since most American credit and debit cards are not accepted in Cuba, traveler’s checks are not accepted, and ATM cards issued by a U.S. bank cannot be used.  I always say " You can always bring the USA cash home, you can't get more once there."


Walkie talkies, satellite phones, and GPS devices are not allowed, and should be left at home. There is no phone service for U.S. cell phones in Cuba. Plan to be without internet for the duration of your trip—it is available in some Cuban hotels for a fee, but it is slow and unreliable.  We will have a Cuban phone with us if there is a need to call the USA.


Cuban cuisine varies widely depending on the season, location, and market prices—and is limited by what’s available to the Cuban people. Thus, it includes staples like rice, beans, chicken, fish, pork, plantains, and root vegetables. As seasonings are hard to come by, we invite you to bring packaged spices, for your own use and to give to locals as gifts.


U.S. Customs rules surrounding Cuban souvenirs are similar to those for other countries. Since late last year, the limits on the number or value of Cuban cigars and alcohol have been eased, so you can bring back as much as you want. We also recommend Cuban coffee and art as a lasting memory of your adventure.  Last trip May 2022 they did not allow us to bring Cigars or Rum


  • PASSPORT VALIDITY:
    Must be valid at time of entry.  You need 6 months on the passport.  USA requirement.
  • BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:
    Two pages are required for entry/exit stamps
  • TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Buy at the airport of the way out or ask Camera Odysseys to get it for you.
  • Tourist travel to Cuba remains prohibited. We will travel under the “Support of the Cuban People.
  • Camera Odysseys  takes care of this for you.
  • VACCINATIONS:
    All Covid requirements 
  • CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:
    U.S. credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba. Bring cash to cover your stay. The Cuban government requires that travelers declare cash amounts over 5,000 USD.
  • Camera Odysseys will exchange money for you..


 

  • Published Books

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