Ira Block is an internationally renowned photographer, teacher, and lecturer who has produced over 30 stories for the National Geographic Magazine. He has led National Geographic Photo Workshops, Expeditions, and private workshops to Mongolia, Bhutan, Cuba, and Tibet where students learn about the culture and photographic vision. His documentary photography work is balanced by a stable of commercial clients for whom he shoots portraits and corporate branding. Ira can best be described as a cultural documentary photographer. He uses his cameras and lights to document people around the world, recording the change in traditions and practices. The changes are most often gradual, which is why he returns to a location time after time after time, helping us see these changes and appreciate them through his eyes—and through social media. Over 335,000 people currently follow him on Instagram. For Ira, this has become the new media for documentary photography. He has had photographic exhibitions around the world. As a Sony Artisan of Imagery, Ira is often called upon to comment and give critical feedback on the Sony products he uses to create his work. His latest book Cuba Loves Baseball: A Photographic Journey documents the culture of Cuba through its love for baseball and sports.
Mother and son playing baseball in front of Estadio Capitán San Luis Stadium, the home of the Pinar del Rio Baseball Team
Pinar del Río, Cuba / 2014
