Reid Callanan has taken 12 trips to Cuba since 2010, working as a photographer to capture the true essence of the land. For more than 50 years, Cubans have been under the strict thumb of its government while earning, at very best, $20 a month. But the Cubans Callanan has encountered have immense pride and passion about their country. Reid is one of five members of the American Society of Media Photographers that came to Tipton Hall on Sept. 9 to share their experiences of traveling and photographing in Cuba. Along with Callanan, Tony Bonanno, Jennifer Spelman, Sally Thomson and Karen Novotny have become exceptionally familiar with photographing areas and natives of Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Trinidad. Though each of these photographers had different experiences, they had nothing but wonderful things to say about the people and their culture. All said they were welcomed into home after home with open arms and plenty of stories to go around the table. They had never seen such solace coming from people who live in incredibly substandard living conditions. Karen Novotny was invited into the home of a local priest to photograph his living conditions. “This is a relatively nice home although it is crumbling in places,” she said. “They just don’t have the materials to repaint the walls, to replaster the walls, to repair the ceiling, to replace the light bulbs you see over the bed.” The photographers also noted Cubans’ passion for music, family, art and baseball. “This photo was taken when the team from Havana won the state championship,” Tony Bonanno said. “You could barely move through the streets, there were so many people in the streets celebrating, it’s a tremendous passion in Cuba.” Yet when most are finished celebrating and practicing, they return to a home with no running water. Cuban...