Trisha Ratledge

Artist Bio

Associate Director of Marketing
Extended Learning
Academic Affairs

I have been with �� for almost 10 years in the Extended Learning marketing department. While most would know me as a writer, photography has been a through line in my life from the minute I opened my Kodak Instamatic 44 camera when I was 10. I loved seeing what I could do with light and shadow, patterns and people. When I graduated from college (magazine journalism), I bought my first SLR camera and lens so I could start experimenting with composition and depth of field. Over the years, I have been fortunate to include photography in my work, participate in solo and group exhibitions, and I have had photos published in a number of places, including National Geographic online and one—a photo of my daughter—in the 125^th anniversary issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Artwork by Trisha Ratledge

"The Guide"
Art Medium: Photography

About six weeks before the world shut down due to the Covid pandemic, I traveled to Cuba to learn more about street photography. I was with a small group of photographers and our job for seven days was to walk the streets of old Havana and photograph whatever we experienced and whomever we met. It was an intense, rewarding and unforgettable people-to-people experience.

This image is from the nearby Cojimar fishing village. The fishermen were repairing their nets and filling their time until the weather cleared and they could head out to sea. The featured gentleman volunteered to be our honorary guide around the camp, which includes the temporary shelters/workshops in the background that the fishermen use when they are in town.

"The Courtyard"
Art Medium: Photography

Housing in Old Havana is inches from the cobblestone or paved streets, and some units have large open courtyards in the center of the buildings, like the one in this image. Founded in 1519, Old Havana features five main plazas surrounded by historic buildings featuring baroque, neoclassical and art deco architecture.

"The Dance"
Art Medium: Photography

Art, music and dance are revered and prevalent in Cuba. We were privileged to photograph a private performance by the Raices Profundas dance company in the Cine Verdun building built in 1919. It no longer operates as a cinema, but the color, music and drama of the dancers’ performance quickly breathed life back into the stunning building.

"The Street"
Art Medium: Photography

What I learned from my very short week walking through Havana is that Cubans do not isolate. Their family rooms open directly to the street and around every corner I saw friends and neighbors talking, playing games or taking a quiet rest on the steps and the curbs outside their homes. This streetscape was a very typical scene during my visit.