VANISHING CUBA BOOK BY MICHAEL CHINNICI

A stunning collection of over 300 photographs and stories highlighting Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba.
VANISHING CUBA is a visual storytelling project by American photographer Michael Chinnici. The collection depicts the changes Cuba is facing as it emerges from more than 60 years of isolation and decay. Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba have yielded tens of thousands of photographs, thought-provoking and emotional stories, and created lifelong friendships. Vanishing Cuba is about capturing the past, present, and future of Cuba, and even more so, about capturing the “Soul of Cuba”. Michael’s love affair with Cuba and the Cuban people clearly comes through in this compelling and beautifully produced book.

These handcrafted books have been printed in small quantities and will only be available for a limited time.

Silver Edition …. Deluxe Edition …. Reserve Edition
Vanishing Cuba Book Collection
(33 customer reviews)
(13 customer reviews)
(11 customer reviews)
Attention To Detail
Only The Highest Quality & Finest Printing Techniques

Spectra7 Color Printing

Michael wanted his color photographs to be equally as impressive on paper, as they appear on hi-resolution mobile devices and 4K monitors. For this reason, he chose to go with a newly developed printing process called Spectra7.

In addition to the four main colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) used in traditional CMYK printing, Spectra7 adds orange, green, and purple to widen the color space by about 30%. This allows for 90% of all PANTONE colors to be reproduced on press, something that has never before been achieved. Spectra7 delivers the intensity and brilliance his images deserve.

TriTon 3 Black Printing

Black & white printing has traditionally been done using just one black ink. For better results, a duotone system was developed to blend together both a black and a grey which resulted in better mid-tones.

But Michael was looking for more! He was looking for blacks that are ‘blacker than black’, mid-tones that are balanced, and highlights that are soft. The results, a high degree of contrast and impressive three-dimensionality. He did this by choosing a proprietary TriTon system that uses three inks, two blacks, and one grays. The results are nothing short of sensational.

Storytelling In Both English & Spanish

Michael always felt that a book about Cuba deserves to be told in both English and Spanish. Although English is widely spoken in Cuba, especially among the young, producing the book in Spanish will give many Cubans, Cuban Americans, Latin Americans and Spaniards the opportunity to enjoy it in their native language.

Handcrafted using only The Finest Italian Paper

Michael’s objective was to produce a book that creatively, emotionally, and historically lasts the test of time. To create a handcrafted book that spoke quality and beauty from the moment you laid your eyes on it, to the moment you held it in your hands and turned the pages. For this reason, he has chosen only the finest quality paper, printing, and ink process, as well as bindery and finishing.

Italians have a long-standing reputation for superior craftsmanship when it comes to papers, fabrics, and attention to detail, whether it be art, books, or exotic sports cars.

About the Author:  Michael Chinnici
A New York-based award-winning photographer, creative director, and designer, Michael Chinnici has traveled the world photographing people, street, architecture, landscapes, motorsports, aerial, and fashion. He enjoys the challenges that various photographic disciplines present. He is the Founder and CEO of Photo Workshop Adventures, a premier photo tour company offering photo-centric cultural adventures in over 150 destinations in over 50 countries. He is a frequent speaker at events where he discusses his “Evoking Emotion” approach to photography.

The Vanishing Cuba project came to life after countless requests to produce a book about his works and his experiences. It will be two years in the making by the time it’s printed, This limited edition book includes a stunning collection of over 300 photographs and stories from Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba. The collection depicts the changes Cuba is facing as it emerges from more than 60 years of isolation and decay. Michael’s trips to Cuba have yielded tens of thousands of photographs, thought-provoking and emotional stories, and created lifelong friendships. Vanishing Cuba is about capturing the “Soul of Cuba”. Michael’s love affair with Cuba and the Cuban people clearly comes through in this compelling and beautifully produced book, handcrafted in Italy.

Michael has already begun to lay the ground work for his next book titled, “Vanishing India”. He has already completed 12 trips to this amazing and fascinating country. As Michael puts it, “India is like no other country in the world. It’s like experiencing 40 countries in one”.

Michael was introduced to photography by his father when he was eleven years old. Using his dad’s WWII era Argus C3 and a basement darkroom, he began his love affair with the camera. Although Michael spent the early years of his career in marketing and design (heading up his own NYC Ad Agency for 25 years), he also founded New York’s first digital photography studio “Icon Digital” in 1995. His knowledge of art and design is evident in the material selections, stunning design, and details found throughout this book series.

He is the father of two girls and two boys, one of whom is a cinematographer. When Michael isn’t on assignment, in the studio, or on a global adventure, he can be found traveling the world searching for unique photography opportunities, exceptional hotels, and amazing culinary experiences.

https://www.michaelchinnici.com

 

Cuba Experiences & Book Reviews
What People Are Saying About The Book
Michael, Vanishing Cuba arrived and has literally blown my mind. You did NOT oversell this magnificent work of art! From the moment the box arrived and I felt its tight packaging and heft, it felt like a treasure. I sliced the seams open with a pen knife ever so carefully and what I found inside has to be THE greatest book of photography I have ever seen. I’m not exaggerating. 

First, the images, MY GOD! Give me some time to process and read the stories. I’ll have a follow-up response once I’ve had sufficient time to bask in this experience. 

The printing process … The texture and weight of the paper… The binding and cover and box…

It’s so obvious you put every ounce of your heart and mind and experience in this and we benefit. Just wow. Congratulations I’m awestruck. I am getting copies for two Cuban friends of mine as gifts. 

You just raised the bar.

Michael Drucker (Deluxe Edition)

OMGOMGOMG. This is AMAZING. SO HEAVY SO BIG!!! I can’t wait to open it!!!! My friend is here and she is amazed too! It is fabulous. Can’t wait to read every page. It’s going on my coffee table with Annie Leibovitz!!
Janet Samuels (Silver Edition)

Like any culture, life in Cuba is made up of layers. There is the obvious outer layer: iconic classic cars, cigars, and crumbling architecture. But an artist should see what lies beneath those superficial layers. Michael Chinnici has given us a gift by using his masterful imagery to show us the soul, la Alma, of Cuba. His photographs brilliantly express the warm and generous spirit of the Cuban people while revealing the heart-wrenching fragility of their existence. Ironically, Vanishing Cuba is a testament to what is most enduring about Cuba, her dignity, beauty, and resilience.
Rance Jones - Artist (Silver Edition)

Book arrived. Words escape me. Guess all I can say is “Wow”!
Sheila Bodine (Silver Edition)

This is incredible! Like everything else that you do, this is exquisite… beyond top notch.

Your work, especially regarding Cuba, and a place that I have still never been to, India, has such passion! There are many of your images that I not only wish that I could make, but that I have no idea what you even did to create them.

I can “feel” the images on these pages. That’s the best way that I can describe them. They resonate with me like no others. Thank you!

Donna Kross (Silver Edition)

I received my copy of Vanishing Cuba earlier this week and wanted to wait for a perfectly quiet time to open the box. What better day than a cold snowy Friday? I opened it today with my wife Lorraine, who was a high school Spanish teacher. Neither of us has been to Cuba but hopes to go one day. This absolutely stunning, beautifully photographed and printed book is the next best thing. Oh my! Magnificent job! Congratulations! I will take my time looking at all the amazing images and reading the text carefully. Lorraine was particularly taken with the inclusion of the side-by-side English / Spanish text, as was I. Please know that this book will be cherished and read and reread. Thank you!
Clyde Berger (Silver Edition)

My book arrived yesterday. It’s packed so well. So heavy. So amazing. I’m going to dig in. I can’t wait. I love it already.

(3 days later.) This book is AMAZING! I refused to speed through it. I’m reading every caption, the intro, and looking at the art like a gallery show. It’s taking me longer as I savor all the pages. The print quality is off the charts too. You did an amazing job with this. 

Jason Anello (Deluxe Edition)

Words truly cannot describe how beautiful this book is. In fact, I now need a nicer home so I can properly display this work of art. What a spectacular job you have done. I am blown away. Congratulations Michael.
Richard Haase (Reserve Edition)

Hi Michael. Your book came up on an Instagram ad. Very well placed I must say – because I love photography and I have a collection of over 1000 photography books, especially anything Cuba related. I really love your pics and the commentary. I feel photos with a commentary is the best, as it’s fascinating to hear the context/story behind the shot. If the book is as you describe, you could charge at least double for your work especially with the prints included.
Andy C (Reserve Edition)

As I slowly turn the pages of exquisite photos of Michael’s many trips to Cuba, reading the stories of each image, I’m getting chills as every page gives me so much inspiration and insight into an island I have yet to visit and wish I already had. The perfect lighting and stories each photo tell give me so many lessons on photography… and life.

Michael Chinnici… your documentation of a “Vanishing Cuba” is truly going to be like looking into a sliver of its history to those in the future. I’m getting chills as I turn every page and you transport us as if we are traveling with you! What a joy—and even more so for us photographers!

Lexie Cataldo (Silver Edition)

I Just received the book today and on first look not sure I have adequate words. Incredible, Amazing, Fantastic… now to properly read and immerse myself will take a nice glass of sipping rum, a Cuban cigar, and dive in. Congratulations! It exceeded your pre-publication blog posts. 
Michael Paez (Deluxe Edition)

I just received the book. What a work of art. A masterpiece in every way. It really captures so much emotion of the people and the place. So beautiful. I wish you much success from this accomplishment. My girlfriend Maria and I are looking at it and just saying, WOW!

I’ve never seen such beautiful printing. The printing registration is perfect. The colors! The black and white are alive!

David Glaser (Deluxe Edition)

I’ve been to Cuba with Michael. My 5th trip with PWA was to Cuba in 2015. To say it was an amazing experience is an understatement. A true step back in time, I was enchanted with the friendliness of the people, awed by the architecture and vintage automobiles, and impressed by both the organized photo opportunities as well as the casual, unplanned opportunities. I am so very excited to purchase a Reserve copy of Vanishing Cuba. Michael Chinnici’s photos of his experiences in Cuba are not to be missed!
Jane Jamison (Reserve Edition)

Press + Events
The Journey of Vanishing Cuba – Updates

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