Shayne Hood, Gracias Cuba (Black and White 2017)

In 2016, I was fortunate enough to travel to the beautiful country of Cuba. Prior to travelling, I was in a deep state of depression. I was experiencing extreme suicidal ideation in nearly every waking moment. I’ve always found that photography has been the only way I can offload the heavy burdens I carry. At this time in my life, I needed a change of scenery, a place that would break the monotony, of living with poor mental health. My wife suggested that we travel to Cuba and the more we researched the more I found it connected with me. We spent 10 days in Cuba and for the first time in 20 years, I had not experienced any symptoms of depression. The terrains were beautiful and the people had a genuine care for one another. We spent the entire time shooting and connecting with the breathtaking culture. I made lasting friendships and I learned so much about myself as a human and as a photographer. Whenever I am in the pits of depression, I try to remember my experiences in Cuba and how fortunate I am to have photography in my life. I’d like to share these photographs with you in the hope that you can feel some of the joy I experienced at such a pivotal moment in my life. I’m so thankful for photography and the opportunity to submit my work again. Shayne Hood aka Johnny Brixton

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.