Cars Line Up

Classic convertibles line up in Plaza de Armas in Old Havana, Cuba. I photographed them in daylight during my time in La Habana, parked in front of the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales.

What caught my eye was how neatly the cars were arranged, almost like a color chart laid across the square. Red, green, pink, blue, and turquoise all sit side by side, with the old colonial facade behind them giving the whole scene a strong sense of place. It felt very Havana to me, not in a staged way, but in that everyday mix of worn stone, open sky, and carefully kept old cars that people still use and show with pride.

I shot this from a low angle near the edge of the pavement so the row would feel longer and the nearest red car could anchor the frame. The wide lens helped me keep the full line of cars and the building together without losing the sense of depth. I liked how the rear ends of the cars repeat across the frame, while each color and shape still has its own personality.

The light was soft rather than harsh, with enough cloud in the sky to keep the paint from blowing out and enough brightness to make the colors stand out. That balance worked well for the old cream-colored building too, because its details stayed visible instead of turning flat. I didn't want to overcomplicate the photo. For me, the appeal was simple: a row of vintage cars, a historic square, and that mix of age, color, and daily life that makes Old Havana so easy to remember.