Jose Fuster, 67,  Cuban Painter. © KIKE CALVO

My dream is… to create a piece of art that will be admired like the ones created by Antonio Gaudí or Pablo Picasso, such as the ¨Guernica¨.

José Fuster, 67, is a Cuban artist that was born in Caibaríen. Having trained at the School for Art Trainers, he considers the Romanian artist Contantin Brancusi as his spiritual father. The artist does not forget where he came from, and his work incorporates all those values, integrating an ecological kaleidoscope of vegetable urbanizations, all taking shape in his mind and pieces of art. There is a ¨before¨ and ¨after¨ aspect of his work, parallel to the rhythm of the country, as there is in the history of Cuba, after the ‘Special Period’.

Daniela Bringas, 15, dance student in Cienfuegos (Cuba) © KIKE CALVO

My dream is … to become a great professional dancer. ¨When I dance,¨ she explains, ¨I can express my feelings. I like to breathe it all. When I see someone dancing, I experience butterflies in my stomach¨, says Daniela

Daniela Bringas, 14, is the daughter of a doctor. She is currently attending the Beny More Art School in Cienfuegos. Bringas has been dancing since the age of 5 and admires Marta Graham, looking to her for inspiration for dance and movement.

Waves crash against The Malecón, officially Avenida de Maceo. A seawall which stretches for 8 km (4 miles) along the coast in Havana, Cuba, from the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana, along the north side of the Centro Habana neighborhood, ending in the Vedado neighborhood. Photograph taken by © KIKE CALVO during a National Geographic Expedition to Cuba. 

Mario Delgado Sotomayor (Havana, Cuba). Rapper. © KIKE CALVO

My dream is… to travel to New York City to meet all the great American rappers. To be able to sing a song together with all of them, promoting peace around the world. Mario Delgado Sotomayor, 36, was born in Lawton (Havana). After his mother died when he was 17, he lost his path in life. Today, after spending time in a Cuban prison, is now a member of the Muraleando project in Havana. He defines himself as a new person. Delgado devotes his time to helping younger generations to appreciate life and express their fears and hopes through their chanted rhyming lyrics.

Elizabeth Tolulope Babalola (Nigeria). Photograph © KIKE CALVO

¨My dream is … of Africa’s Youth who are motivated, vibrant, thriving and fulfilled as they lead change in every sector. It is of young people re-crafting the views and perceptions of African cities and nations one person, one action at a time.¨ Elizabeth Tolulope Babalola, 27,  began working with teenagers in Nigeria. Today, she  loves unfolding nature’s mysteries with them while planting street trees. As a 2013 Andrew Sabin Fellow, she will create platforms for young Nigerians to enjoy nature, become environmental stewards and engage in environmental solution spaces.

Thailand Beauty ( x Mokara ) . Photo © KIKE CALVO

Orchids are fascinating flowers. Shapes and colors in “packages” of different sizes, which resemble animals, birds and insects. Some are small, a few millimeters, as the Falacte Trizeuxis. or much larger, up to 70 cm, as the Phragmipedium Caudatum.

A while ago, the Magazine “Natur” dedicated an article to the Holcoglossum Amesianum, an orchid that performs a dance that defies gravity, turning almost 360 degrees to pollinate itself. This is an exception, since, generally, pollination is done by bees, flies, butterflies, and some birds. The seduction of pollinators is made by offering nectar in some cases and in others, perfumes and pheromones. Some species form a powder similar to bee pollen which is used as food.

In Japan, the samurais have been growing orchids for many years. An old legend says that an emperor barren woman inhaled the scent of an orchid, Cybidum Ensifolium, and later had 13 children. The boys are called Lan, and were ones the first to cultivate. Confucius who was described as the queen orchid who embodied the beautiful fragrance and the literature related to the idea of perfection and elegance.

The West used to flavor their flowers with scents such as vanilla. In the East, traditional Chinese medicine uses them in different formats. A product called “Shishu” is prepared with various species of Dedrobium, and is recommended for indigestion. They also use derivatives of Loddigesii Dedrobium for his alleged role in anti-cancer stomach, and lung cells.

In contrast, C. J. Bulpitt, Director of the Orchid Society of Great Britain, said that, despite the large number of alcanoides that exist in orchid tissue, they have not been able to show its medicinal use. Medicinal or not, beauty and sensuality is unquestionable in the essence of the orchid.

My dreams is… to have photojournalism be a strong force for creating a better world, and to have audience demanding more of publications to show that kind of work.

Tom Kennedy at the Newhouse School Syracuse University, discussing an assignment with photography
student Blair Dudik (photo by Maria Salatino)

The biggest lesson in my career… that as Director of Photography, supporting the work of photographers isn’t enough. Understanding how people and authority view photographers, will or will not create the conditions that allow them to succeed. You need to be better managing up, as well as managing down, engaging with the photographers and trying to understand them.

The biggest lesson in my life… is that love conquers all.

The moment I will never forget… Two: The moment my daughter was born and the unfolding first hour of the attacks of 911. Both made me feel the enormity of human experience, very powerful, yet in different ways.

Photography is… a language that allows people to powerfully and spiritually worlds that may never see in first hand.

The Time Machine:

The Gainesville Sun Team back in 1980.

So who is … Tom?
More about Tom: http://kennedymedia.net/

Tom suggests me to talk to:
Maggie Steber, a freelance photojournalist from Miami; Colin Crawford, the managing editor for photography at The Los Angeles Times, and Bob Sacha, an independent photojournalist/multimedia producer.

¨World of Dances¨. Classic ballerina at Yale University. Photograph by © KIKE CALVO.

¨We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things,

because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.¨ — Walt Disney