James Sparshatt Photography

A musician from the band Iroso Obba at home with his collection of discs James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhy...

Music in Havana is an almost ever present backdrop to life… wandering the streets it is almost as though there is a soundtrack playing to the movie of your life. These school kids we...

The gentleman… a man of calm dignity and endessly kind eyes in Old Havana in 2016. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic chan...

A moment of self-reflection in the School of Spanish Dance in the Gran Teatro of Havana. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people...

Each day the students at the School of Spanish Dance in Havana strut and twirl and leap across boards tin dance studios hat have seen better days. The da...

Te veo… I see you. Matanzas 2005. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a strength ...

The light of the moon creates an otherworldly ethereal world, a stillness and calm across the spiritual landscaper of the Bagan valley in Burma. James S...

The light of the moon creates an otherworldly ethereal world, a stillness and calm across the spiritual landscaper of the Bagan valley in Burma. J...

Lake Sillustani sits at over 4000m above sea level in the high altiplano of Peru. Overlooking the lake on a raised plateau a series of tall Incan Funerary towers dominate the lansdca...

La telaraña or “spider’s web” was taken in a dance school in Santa Clara, Cuba. The dance symbolised the relationship between man and woman… the man flirting, the woman turning away ...

The old teacher. When he was young tango was the Argentine dance. Born in the back streets and brothels of Buenos Aires its staccato movements and deep rooted passion were all-con...

Las Curvas by James Sparshatt - Sensual photo of woman. Platinum Print A girl at one with the rhythm of her guitar in Holguín, Cuba. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dan...

La telaraña or “spider’s web” was taken in a dance school in Santa Clara, Cuba. The dance symbolised the relationship between man and woman… the man flirting, the woman turning away ...

El Principe - the little prince.  The Raphael Trejo gym is an institution of Old Havana. An open air gym that has produced world beating champions from bare-footed initiates.  In 2004 this boy was a star in the making... he went on to win medals in the boxing ring at London, Rio and Tokyo Olympic...

"The Tsonga region is in the north of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. It was a day of celebration, cattle had been slaughtered and the ladies of the community had been cooking since d...

It was Christmas day and we were heading to Santa Maria beach in a hired Cuban school bus about 40 minutes from Centro Havana. The girls of Rumba Morena beg...

Son is the traditional music of Cuba sung in the bars and cafés and casa de trova across the island, particularly in Santiago de Cuba. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dan...

Close your eyes, lean in, rest forehead to cheek and trust in your partner to take you on a journey… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensi...

Close your eyes, lean in, rest forehead to cheek and trust in your partner to take you on a journey… This image was taken in a tango club in Buenos Aires. James Sparshatt’s black a...

A line to be crossed… a man leads with strength and tenderness on the tango floor in Buenos Aires. This striking black and white photograph captures an intimate moment of connectio...

It was the last day of the Romerias de Mayo… an amazing annual gathering of the cream of Cuba’s young musical talent in Holguín. The musicians hugged and said fond farewells… those b...

The old teacher. When he was young tango was the Argentine dance. Born in the back streets and brothels of Buenos Aires its staccato movements and deep rooted passion were all-consum...

Esperanza, the hope of youth for a better future. Holguín, Cuba 2002. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm...

Jacquelina was photographed in the early hours in a milonga tango club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  A romantic black and white photograph of a couple dancing. James Sparshatt's phot...

Dancing to the rhythm of the Gods in Santiago de Cuba… Ochun reborn… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm ...

Women full of pride dancing during Las Romerias de Mayo festival James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm of t...

Dancing to the rhythm of the Gods in Santiago de Cuba… Ochun reborn… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm ...

Lost in each others embrace… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm of the moment. The work is available as...

Son is the traditional music of Cuba sung in the bars and cafés and casa de trova across the island, particularly in Santiago de Cuba. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dan...

The old country girl from the Escambray mountains. I was hiking in the mountains, close to Trinidad, when I met the family. They invited me in and we chatted about our different live...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a s...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a s...

It was almost 3am and we were still waiting for the band to start to play. I stood on the open air stage buffeted by the winds as the group and their roadies struggled to set up. Th...

It was almost 3am and we were still waiting for the band to start to play. I stood on the open air stage buffeted by the winds as the group and their roadies struggled to set up. Th...

El revolucionario – a gentleman of Old Havana. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They hav...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley in Cuba. In 1959 residents of Cuba were faced with a stark choice: stay on their island home and live as a “revolutionary” or leave. Some believed wholeheartedly in the new beginning, some were willing to be carried along and some abandoned everything they had and chose exile. The Buena Vista social club...

The Viñales valley in western Cuba is a place of stunning beauty where perhaps the finest tobacco leaves in the world are grown. The tobacco farmers live hard but proud lives. The S...

The background, artfully blurred, draws focus entirely on her expressive features. This photograph is a striking portrayal of age, presence, and the quiet dignity of ordinary life, i...

Corazon y Alma - Heart and soul – lost in each others arms on a tango floor in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A romantic black and white photograph of a couple dancing. The man with his ...

A moment of harmony… male with female, African with Hispanic… joined together in the dance that is Cuba. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and int...

The last tango of the day en la Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm of the...

Te veo… I see you. Matanzas 2005. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a strength ...

La telaraña or “spider’s web” was taken in a dance school in Santa Clara, Cuba. The dance symbolised the relationship between man and woman… the man flirting, the woman turning away ...

A moment of joy on El Malecon, Havana’s sea wall and promenade. James Sparshatt’s black and white portraits are a search for a connection with a world of emotions. The work is ava...

El revolucionario – a gentleman of Old Havana. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They hav...

The Viñales valley in western Cuba is a place of stunning beauty where perhaps the finest tobacco leaves in the world are grown. The tobacco farmers live hard but proud lives. The S...

The bearded one… in Old Havana. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a strength of...

Students of the Spanish School of Dance in the Gran Teatro of Havana. James Sparshatt’s black and white portraits are a search for a connection with a world of emotions. The work i...

Lake Sillustani sits at over 4000m above sea level in the high altiplano of Peru. Overlooking the lake on a raised plateau a series of tall Incan Funerary towers dominate the lansdca...

Location: Havana Series : Spirit of the Revolution Year: 2001 Portrait of Elvirio el Dandy. An icon of Old Havana at the turn of the century. His custom of wearing finery has spaw...

The gentleman… a man of calm dignity and endessly kind eyes in Old Havana in 2016. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic chan...

There is a something about being a child on the beach where the sheer exuberance of running into the waves transcends the normal social barriers, and the shared exhilarance allows fo...

A moment of joy on El Malecon - Havana’s sea wall and promenade. James Sparshatt’s black and white portraits are a search for a connection with a world of emotions. The work is ava...

Saiorse is the Irish Gaelic word for freedom. It suggests the yearning of emigrants to set off on a journey to a new world… where everything is brighter and more magical. The sea is...

There is a something about being a child on the beach where the sheer exuberance of running into the waves transcends the normal social barriers, and the shared exhilarance allows fo...