Thomas McCartney Photography

Dec 23

Moments from the ICE Out of MN march as it moved along East Lake Street in Minneapolis. In freezing temperatures, thousands filled the street with signs, chants, and movement--neighbors, families, and organizers coming together in a rare, charged moment of public life. I’m sharing just a handful o...Read more

Moments from the ICE Out of MN march as it moved along East Lake Street in Minneapolis. In freezing temperatures, thousands filled the street with signs, chants, and movement--neighbors, families, and organizers coming together in a rare, charged moment of public life. I’m sharing just a handful of images here; the full photo essay and context from the day are on the blog. → https://buff.ly/qyRoYQV 📍 Minneapolis, MN | December 20, 2025

Dec 4

Havana Bodybuilding goes nationwide (& Worldwide) this weekend. The Federación Unida de Fisicoculturismo Cubano (FUFC) is hosting one of the biggest bodybuilding events of the year — and it will be streamed worldwide on their Facebook page: 👉 https://buff.ly/vmwhUDr Raul, whose story I’ve shared ...Read more

Havana Bodybuilding goes nationwide (& Worldwide) this weekend. The Federación Unida de Fisicoculturismo Cubano (FUFC) is hosting one of the biggest bodybuilding events of the year — and it will be streamed worldwide on their Facebook page: 👉 https://buff.ly/vmwhUDr Raul, whose story I’ve shared before, is part of this world. A cancer survivor. A man who trains without steroids, without supplements, without the basic equipment most athletes take for granted. Discipline is his medicine. The gym is his recovery. Earlier this year I photographed Raul and several athletes preparing in Havana. What struck me wasn’t the physique, it was the will. These athletes train with scarcity, but compete with heart. Organizations like FUFC keep this spirit alive. They build community, guide younger athletes, and show what strength looks like when everything else is limited. Proud to support Raul and the FUFC community as Cuba steps onto the national stage this weekend. 🇨🇺💪 www.thomasmccartneyphotography.start.page #Cuba #Havana #FUFC #Raul #CubanAthletes #BodybuildingCuba #Resilience #DocumentaryPhotography #Leica #StrengthCulture

Nov 19

The owner showed me how he rolls cigars on the porch — nothing fancy, just skill and muscle memory. The part that stuck with me wasn’t the cigar; it was his hands. Farmer’s hands that look like a mason’s: wide, flat fingers, dirt ground so deep it’s basically part of him. He fills and sells the boxe...Read more

The owner showed me how he rolls cigars on the porch — nothing fancy, just skill and muscle memory. The part that stuck with me wasn’t the cigar; it was his hands. Farmer’s hands that look like a mason’s: wide, flat fingers, dirt ground so deep it’s basically part of him. He fills and sells the boxes himself. No middlemen. Just work, pride, and a small farm trying to keep its head above water in rural Cuba. . . . . . #Leica #CubaDocumentary #Viñales · #CigarRolling #FarmStories · #RealCuba #DocumentaryWork #HumanStories #HandsTellStories #OnThePorch

Nov 14

At Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym in Old Havana, nothing is polished, except the discipline. This outdoor gym has been shaping fighters since 1961. Olympic champions, national hopefuls, and kids with nothing but heart all start here. No machines. No glossy branding. Just heat, concrete, and repetition. T...Read more

At Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym in Old Havana, nothing is polished, except the discipline. This outdoor gym has been shaping fighters since 1961. Olympic champions, national hopefuls, and kids with nothing but heart all start here. No machines. No glossy branding. Just heat, concrete, and repetition. These three athletes were training long before I arrived, and long after I left. Focused. Relentless. Carrying the weight of Cuba’s boxing legacy on their shoulders. I photographed them between rounds of training. They gave me everything: intensity, patience, and a glimpse of what commitment looks like when the world isn’t watching. thomasmccartneyphotography.start.page #CubaSeries #Havana #RafaelTrejo #CubaBoxing #DocumentaryPhotography #Leica #PortraitPhotography #Athletes #OldHavana #CubaStorytelling

Nov 12

What happens when you bring studio lights into a freezing river? You get a portrait that feels alive. Shot with guide Bob Humphrey in the Driftless region of SE Minnesota: Cold water, steady hands, and a lot of trust. He’ll used the images for his business; I’m using them to show what’s possible wh...Read more

What happens when you bring studio lights into a freezing river? You get a portrait that feels alive. Shot with guide Bob Humphrey in the Driftless region of SE Minnesota: Cold water, steady hands, and a lot of trust. He’ll used the images for his business; I’m using them to show what’s possible when you take the studio outside. . . . . . . . . #Photography #OutdoorPhotography #PortraitPhotography #CommercialPhotography #BehindTheScenes #Minnesota #Driftless #EnvironmentalPortrait #FlyFishing #Profoto #Leica #AdventurePhotography