UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE LAND OF THE FREE FOR MARIELITO

Miami was burning and 126 thousand Cubans were arriving into Key

West. A Miami politician declared "Fidel Castro has flushed his toilet

and we are taking it". Braulio is one of the Marielitos still drifting around

not knowing what happened to him. He was 55 years old at the time

and he was stealing and doing what Cubans do to survived and

suddenly his Jailer in Cuba, told him, this time we are sending you

to "La Yuma" US in Cuban Slang. In one of the Camps set by the US

Government a Kentuky farmer sponsored him, and he worked there, for

5 years. Then he decided to come to Miami. He told me he only goes to

nice places and never begs. This is true, I encounter him in Down Town

Coral Gables and I talk to him. He was very polite and respecful, never

asking for money. Braulio told me he is 84 years old, he showers every

day with a hose behind a gas station and sleeps between buildings. He

claims the police greets him in a friendly way. Twenty nine years later a

single 84 year old Marielito is the living testimony of an event that

occured at the same time that Miami was burning because of the

McDuffie Riots. An African American Insurance Agent was killed by the

police and the Officers involved were set free and THE CITY BURNED.

Very good portrait. Sharp focus and good lighting, DOF. Expressive eyes. I recall when Castro rode into Havana. The parade etc. was all over the TV.. Thanks

...a nice portrait!

... very good portrait ... thank my friend ... best regards from Cyprus ...

Bello retrato, excelentes detalles y tonos, le captaste el alma al este noble senñor, me ancanta este retrato.

 

Saludos.

 

Alberto

Excellent portrait and thnx for the description.

 

Regards(Bobby).

Excelente retrato, Jorge. La expresion de Don Braulio es unica. Me gustan la tonalidad y la profundidad de campo. Muy buena toma! Enhorabuena!

Hi Jorge, a good portrait of this old man. Well done!

Cheers!

un portraretratos y postura excellentes, la expresión del rostro y sus ropas muestran mucho acerca de su vida, además de un uso del blanco y negro. Saludos...!

 

Ricardo

Great portrait ,very nice b/w tones . Warm regards .

Amazing shot! Perfect sharpness!7/7

 

Yes your version is very clear. I showed it to my oldest daugther and she agree with you.. Thank you for your time, I highly appreciate it.

the warmer tone is something I just recently began to play with on some of my shots...i.e. last two bus stop photos. (but not as warm as I did here). In the photo wet lab it was a choice I had to use Ilford FB "cold tone" or "warm tone".. The "warm tone" was suggested by Ilford as a very good portrait paper.

Very lively and attractively expressive portrait. Best regards.

Outstanding work. The detail and contrast are right on the money. Perfect depth of field.

 

This face reflects 84 years of hard times. I suspect that he's had it a bit easier in the United States than in Cuba, but sleeping between buildings takes its toll as well.

 

I have lived in south Florida since 1958, and remember both the boatlift and the riots quite well. It still amazing to me that, after all this time, with alleged progress in the area of human rights, that communities still are involuntarily segregated.

 

My best,

 

michael

Fabulous shot and a great story to go with it.

An excellent & high quality portrait showing the tragedy of the life & also the hope of a better future(?). Ciao, Alx

Un retrato lleno de experiencias en la vida, ese rostro habla por si solo. En cuanto a la edición, me gusta ese virado, y la profundidad de campo, como a mi me gusta...potente y centrando toda la atención en el sujeto. Para mi...tu mejor retrato, sin menospreciar el resto! aunque este para mi se sale. Un saludo Jorge

Excellent. The person is like a dissolved book

Marvelous portrait of the face of long experience!! There's interest in every line. Glad you chose black and white for this one. Perfect!!

Gran retrato e interesante historia...

Excellent portrait. You have captured a very interesting expression and your B&W processing is great.

Regards,

Alain

Outstanding portrait! Well done!