Cover Model
Cover Model, photo by Harold Davis. View this image larger.
In Cuba, posing for tourist photos is a desirable profession—and a good way to get convertible pesos. All it takes is to be “sweetly picturesque in rags” and official permision. The government license comes with a special plastic ID card that savvy photographers make sure is tucked out of sight when they take those “authentic” photos of Cubans. Of course, almost everyone will pose for you on the black market even if they are not licensed.
You can see that this Lonely Planet cover model found in La Habana Vieja may be sitting down; but he is not resting on his laurels.
