Book: Sensual Havana

Time-worn Havana is as fantastic a backdrop for glamour and artistic nude photography as exists in this world, given its mixture of Spanish colonial and faded baroque, art deco, and modernist architecture, its wealth of 1950s American cars, and its stimulating aura of exoticism. To which add Cuba’s stunningly beautiful and self-assured women, and their joyous at-ease delight in being photographed. No wonder Cuba is a top destination of choice for such publications as Elle, Vogue, and Vanity Fair.

In 2015 Annie Leibovitz famously photographed Rhianna nude in Havana for Vanity Fair, following a long tradition of photographers—male and female, Cuban and foreigners—who have celebrated female beauty since the first cameras were made. Rafael Acosta de Arriba’s beautiful coffee-table book, La Seducción de la Mirada: Fotografía del Cuerpo en Cuba (1840-2013), celebrates more than a century of nude photography in this sensual Caribbean island-nation.

Now, award-winning travel writer and photographer Christopher P. Baker—acclaimed by National Geographic as “One of the world’s foremost authorities on Cuba travel and culture”—uses his unparalleled knowledge of, and passion for, Cuba to evoke the sensuality of Havana and its cubanas… from Cuba’s own professional models to ballerinas of the acclaimed Ballet Nacional de Cuba, as well as renowned actresses, Afro-Cuban dancers, artists, musicians, and even figurantes (showgirls) of the acclaimed Tropicana cabaret nightclub.

A tribute to the female form, Christopher’ respectful and elegant treatment of the subject pays homage to all that is positive about the Cuban Revolution's advancement of women’s rights and self-determination, while also honoring their own unashamedly and affirmatively self-confident pride in expressing their sensuality.

THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BOOK SHOWN ABOVE ARE CONCEPTUALIZATIONS BY THE AUTHOR AND BEAR NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE EDITION YET TO BE COMMISSIONED BY A PUBLISHER

SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE ON THE 'SENSUAL HAVANA: A CELEBRATION OF FEMALE BEAUTY' PHOTO TOUR, DECEMBER 7-14, 2024. CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER DETAILS