Franklin photographers share their Cuba experience

Rooftop view of Ambos Mundos, also known as the "Hemingway Hotel". The Morro Castle lighthouse is in the distance.(Photo: John Wylie)

Two Franklin photographers are pleased to have had the opportunity to recently travel to Cuba due to the easement of travel policies by the Obama administration. Dave Braud and John Wylie had never met each other but at the request of The Tennessean they gathered together to reflect on their respective trips to Cuba and their shared interest in photography. 

Braud teaches photography and is the Director of Galleries at O'More College of Design in Franklin. His parents gave him his first camera when he was in the fifth grade. He proudly displays that camera on a shelf above his desk at Franklin Creative Suite, a work collaborative in downtown Franklin where Braud operates his photography studio. 

"Hernandez was a Cuban exile and would tell us stories about his homeland. Between Hemingway and Hernandez, I was hooked."

John Wylie, photographer

Wylie, a Franklin native, has been taking photographs since he was five years old. He further explored his interest in photography while at Auburn University through elective classes in dark room techniques.

After college, photography remained a hobby for Wylie as he worked for the family business, Wylie Steel Fabricators. The family sold the business in 2010 thus giving Wylie more time for photography. Requests for photo shoots by friends and family multiplied and eventually his hobby became a part-time career. 

Night shot of El Gran Teatro de la Habana. (Photo: John Wylie)

Traveling to Cuba was on each photographer's "bucket list" for many years. Braud's interest in the Caribbean island was first sparked in 1997 by the release of the Buena Vista Social Club, a studio album collaboration of Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist Ry Cooder along with Cuban musicians.  "The record sleeve for that album captured my attention with its 1950s vibe. It made me want to learn more about the country depicted in those photographs," Braud said.  Wylie attributes his interest in Cuba to his education at Battle Ground Academy where he first read Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" and where he was taught by longtime BGA Spanish teacher, the late David Hernandez.

Life in Havana, Cuba. (Photo: David Braud)

"Hernandez was a Cuban exile and would tell us stories about his homeland. Between Hemingway and Hernandez, I was hooked," Wylie said.  In 2016, the Obama administration eased travel restrictions between the United States and Cuba, which allowed for "people to people" educational trips. This enabled Americans to travel on their own to Cuba without special permission from the United States government.  Braud and his wife Sarah immediately began planning a trip along with their two best friends, Brad and Stacey Puncochar. They reserved their accommodations in Havana through VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner), booked their flight, and made the trip in January 2017. 

Life in Havana, Cuba. (Photo: David Braud)

"We stayed in an apartment owned by a Cuban family. Their daughter volunteered to show us around during our visit. It was like having our own tour guide," Braud said.  The daughter, 18, did not speak English but Sarah Braud knew enough Spanish to communicate with her. She showed the travelers where to eat and what to see. 

"We were so impressed with how clean it was in the area of Havana where we stayed. Yes, it was old and there was a lot of dirt, but there was no trash anywhere," Braud said. "You'd constantly see people sweeping their front stoops and cleaning. They took great pride in their neighborhoods."  Wylie planned his trip through a contact in Miami, Florida. His itinerary was tailored to reflect his interest in photography and Hemingway. Wylie traveled in April, 2017 and stayed in a private "casa" in Cojímar. He had the assistance of a guide and a driver throughout his visit.  "Cojímar is a small fishing village in East Havana where Hemingway kept his boat and fished when he was on the island. It's also where the movie 'The Old Man and the Sea 'was filmed, which starred Spencer Tracy as the old man," Wylie said.  Both Braud and Wylie would like to return to Cuba someday, but it is unclear how President Trump's recent directive will impact the accessibility of a repeat journey to Cuba. 

Life in Havana, Cuba. (Photo: David Braud)

The new regulations intend to restrict individual American travelers from visiting the island on people-to-people trips. Under Trump's directive, people-to-people trips would now be permitted only for groups and must be organized by a licensed tour operator. However, direct commercial flights and cruises from the U.S. will still operate.  At a news conference on June 19 in Vienna, Austria, Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said that his nation was not interested in negotiating with the Trump administration over these proposed policy changes. Rodriguez called the proposed policy changes "a grotesque spectacle straight from the Cold War."

Horse and carriage in the heart of downtown Havana. (Photo: John Wylie)

The new policy is reported to not affect American travelers who've already scheduled upcoming trips to Cuba, however individuals interested in traveling to Cuba should consult the U.S. Department of State for up-to-date information on current regulations. Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/cuba.html for more information.  Find Braud's photography online at www.davidbraud.com and follow him on Instagram, @davidbraudphoto. Wylie's website is www.johnbwylie.com. His Instagram handle is @jwylie22. 

Life in Havana, Cuba. (Photo: David Braud)

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