Thomas McCartney Photography

Oct 18

Promo Session at House of Comedy, Mall of America A shoot with @davidharrislive--stand-up comedian, Emmy winner, and all-around pro--at @houseofcomedymn inside the Mall of America. We set up both live and off-stage portraits to create a unified look for his promotional work. Images that feel auth...Read more

Promo Session at House of Comedy, Mall of America A shoot with @davidharrislive--stand-up comedian, Emmy winner, and all-around pro--at @houseofcomedymn inside the Mall of America. We set up both live and off-stage portraits to create a unified look for his promotional work. Images that feel authentic, but sharp enough for press, website, and tour media. That balance between real and produced energy is exactly what I aim for on every project. . . . . . . #ComedyPhotography #PromotionalPhotography #OnStage #PortraitPhotography #HouseOfComedy #Nikon #MinneapolisArts #DocumentaryPortraiture

Oct 16

Between Fights Between matches at a rural cockfight, Michael, the local guide who secured access to this hidden world, rolls dice on a worn rug as others watch, pesos in hand. The light cuts through the tarp, tension and trust hanging in the air. 🔗 See more from “Inside the Ring” → thomasmccartne...Read more

Between Fights Between matches at a rural cockfight, Michael, the local guide who secured access to this hidden world, rolls dice on a worn rug as others watch, pesos in hand. The light cuts through the tarp, tension and trust hanging in the air. 🔗 See more from “Inside the Ring” → thomasmccartneyphotography.start.page . . . . . #CubaUnfiltered #VisualEmpathy #Photojournalism #DocumentaryPhotography #LifeInCuba #CubanStories #HumanCondition #Leica #CubaReportage #CubaDocumentary

Oct 14

🚀 Blog Post: Inside the Ring: My Night at a Cuban Cockfight It didn’t start quietly. Heading toward the arena, my fixer told me to pull over. He and our local guide disappeared into the dark. When they returned, he whispered, “He got a gun.” That was my introduction to one of the most intense sce...Read more

🚀 Blog Post: Inside the Ring: My Night at a Cuban Cockfight It didn’t start quietly. Heading toward the arena, my fixer told me to pull over. He and our local guide disappeared into the dark. When they returned, he whispered, “He got a gun.” That was my introduction to one of the most intense scenes I witnessed in Cuba, a rural cockfight hidden behind tarps and trees, something most foreigners are not allowed to see. Men shouting. Money flashing. Birds colliding. Yet what stayed with me most was the silence after the final blow. This isn’t spectacle for tourists; it’s ritual, identity, survival. 🔗 thomasmccartneyphotography.start.page A few images from the blog: 1️⃣ Spectators shout and lean forward during the fight, faces caught between thrill and disbelief as feathers blur midair. 2️⃣ A handler poses with his rooster near the arena entrance, quiet pride in his stance, the tradition written in his expression. 3️⃣ Men exchange cash before the fight, their earnings soon to be wagered in the ring. #CubaUnfiltered #VisualEmpathy #Photojournalism #DocumentaryPhotography #LifeInCuba #CubanStories #HumanCondition #Leica #CubaReportage #EverydayCuba #CubaDocumentary

Oct 11

NEW BLOG POST — “Two Cubas: One Survives, the Other Exploits” Behind Cuba’s bright dollar stores and the near-empty CUP markets where ordinary Cubans shop lies a deeper divide: everyday workers scraping by, and a military empire hoarding billions offshore. This story meets both sides, the makers w...Read more

NEW BLOG POST — “Two Cubas: One Survives, the Other Exploits” Behind Cuba’s bright dollar stores and the near-empty CUP markets where ordinary Cubans shop lies a deeper divide: everyday workers scraping by, and a military empire hoarding billions offshore. This story meets both sides, the makers who endure and the machine that profits from their struggle. 👉 See Cuba Series in https://buff.ly/xVlctAy . . . . . . . #CubaUnfiltered #VisualEmpathy #EverydayCuba #Photojournalism #DocumentaryPhotography #LifeInCuba #CubanStories #Leica #CubaReportage #HumanCondition #NGOPhotography

Oct 9

“The River”: A Rebrand in Motion This shoot marked the transformation of the David Yellen Band into The River--a rebrand where planning every detail mattered. We began on the rooftop of the old Pillsbury’s Best Flour building. Lights freezing, wind biting, the Minneapolis skyline glowing behind ...Read more

“The River”: A Rebrand in Motion This shoot marked the transformation of the David Yellen Band into The River--a rebrand where planning every detail mattered. We began on the rooftop of the old Pillsbury’s Best Flour building. Lights freezing, wind biting, the Minneapolis skyline glowing behind us, but the vibe was right. Later, we moved into the building’s cold, brick-walled basement for the poker scenes: suits, ties, whiskey, and a tension you could almost hear shuffle across the table. From wind-whipped rooftop light to a whiskey-soaked backroom, the day built toward that perfect moment--the table flip, still one of my favorite sequences to photograph. #BandPhotography #TheRiver #Minneapolis #OnLocationPhotography #CinematicPortrait #Nikon #MusicPortraits #CreativeLighting