trip to Cuba where he will photograph every-thing from that country's people, culture, architecture, music and art.

Mr. Simons, a former Royal Gazette staff photographer whose vision and creativity led to a "Date with Destiny'', a photographic history of the Progressive Labour Party's rise to power in 1998, will participate along with 15 other international photographers in a ten-day workshop entitled "Assignment: Havana Cuba''.

The workshop will be conducted by David Alan Harvey, a Magnum photographer and also a National Geographic Magazine staff photographer.

"It's geared so that we can learn from the senior photographers,'' explained Mr. Simons this week.

"These particular workshops are geared towards established photographers so I had to submit photographs. I sent them a copy of my book.'' Mr. Simons, travelling to Cuba for the first time, is keeping an open mind about the culturally diverse country. But he is excited about the photographic possibilities and his three cameras -- including a medium format and 35mm digital -- will be loaded and ready.

"The best thing for me to do is go down there with a clean sheet, to feel and experience Cuba and, in the process, photograph it,'' he stated.

"The images selected will become part of the Cuban archives, but some I will obviously bring back.

"It was the Maine Photographic Workshop that I was contemplating going to when I came across on the website what they were offering as far as the Havana, Cuba assignment. The opportunity to learn from Mr. Harvey and also to work in Cuba made it a pretty easy decision to make.

"This gives me the opportunity to not only learn as a human being but advance my skills as a photographer as well. Cuba has a language barrier and a different system of governing under Fidel Castro so these types of things will make my experience more challenging.'' Thanks to the generosity of Somers Distributors, importers and distributors of Kodak film, Mr. Simons will have plenty of slide film in his photo bag.

Randall Bassett, general manager of Business Imaging Systems at Somers Distributing, presented Mr. Simons with 55 rolls of film this week.

"Somers Distributing has been kind enough to contribute the film I'll be needing while there and that will be a great help,'' a grateful Mr. Simons stated.

"Kodak is also my film of choice.'' "It's an opportunity we certainly welcome,'' Mr. Bassett said. "We have always supported local photographers and whenever the opportunity arises we are willing to assist.

"We support them with not just film but chemistry and other photographic supplies. Kodak has been very helpful in helping out keen photography enthusiasts.'' Mr. Simons lists documentary and photojournalism as the aspect of photography that most interests him. He will get plenty of opportunities to explore that medium as literature sent to him promised a challenging workshop.

"These workshops are not a vacation, nor for those looking for a guided tour of Cuba,'' the literature warned.

The assignment is a documentary project and educational programme for the world's photographers, journalists, film-makers, writers and artists who will be involved in workshops, master classes, exhibitions, lectures and critiques.

"Assignment: Havana, Cuba is an educational opportunity for storytellers and image makers, developed to bring North, South and Central Americans together through the processes of photography, film making and creative writing,'' the literature read.

"Each workshop provides an intensive field experience in documenting the landscape, cityscape, people, culture, society, street and night life of Cuba.

Expect to be working ten and 14-hour days in research, class lectures, fieldwork and critiques''.

The participants will start on Sunday with a thorough briefing of story possibilities, assignments, how to gain access and restrictions, as well as an introduction to the staff, faculty and assistants.

The first day of each class is devoted to portfolio reviews, an in-depth analysis of each student's work with suggestions for improvement and possible breakthroughs. The remainder of the day will be spent in research, photography, editing and critiquing.

The participants were also urged to carry out research on Cuba ahead of their arrival, as many story ideas will come from the research done beforehand.

As Americans are discouraged from travelling to Cuba because of sanctions imposed by the US Government, Rockport College and the Maine Photographic Workshops have been granted a licence by the US Department of the Treasury to conduct the educational and cultural programmes in Cuba.

Those travelling have been warned that there will be technical problems, language difficulties, frustrations with Customs, unco-operative officials, problems with the labs and film processing.

"But as experienced photographers we expect you will see these as challenges and solve them on your own,'' the literature states.

"These workshops are also not guided tours. Do not expect a great deal of formal organisation, scheduled classes, lectures or group tours.

"This is a working field experience where you work with guidance and encouragement from the faculty and your peers. Working on a project is the prime reason you will be there. The critiques with the faculty are secondary''.

Mr. Simons also teaches photography in the Community Education programme and has also been to CedarBridge to work with the students there in the darkroom.

His book "Date with Destiny'' is still being sold in local stores. He has plans for further projects and is searching for a local company keen to support an in-depth photo essay he is keen to work on.

"From the feedback I got from "Date with Destiny'' there seems to be a demand for pictorial Bermuda books of everyday people,'' said the photographer.

"That's the area I'm heading into next and I feel it would be a good gift to Bermuda.''