Too much work

She fell asleep in the car outside the newsroom while I was changing license plates.

Xmas Party

The Prime Minister threw a little Christmas party at the government's palace the other day. Different characters were hired to entertain guests and the staff's children.

Wave

Two actors perform during the premiere of the musical "Wave - Whale Hunting", on the stage of the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest.

First real snow

Last night we had the first real snow in Bucharest. I'm saying "real" since it had snowed once before, but just for an hour or so.

Freshmen's prom

There's a sort of prom for freshmen in Romania's colleges. A friend had to photograph one last night, so I tagged along and tried to shoot the mood of the place.

1: Prom queen and king wannabes check their outfits in the mirror in the bathroom before going on stage.
2: People dancing up on a balcony.
3: A lot of photographing went on throughout the night.
4: And a little flirt.

Traffic

The traffic in Bucharest is getting worse from one day to the next. Last night I called my friend Ikuru and suggested that we each go out and photograph the traffic jam. The problem was that last night a lot of police was out, so there was no jam, at least where I walked. So here's a rough start to a soon-to-come essay on traffic.

Vadim

Vadim Ghirda, the Associated Press photographer in Romania, a friend and colleague, has just won first place in "Pictorial" at the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar. Here's the image.

Artists of the Australian Strange Fruit performing arts company put up a show in a Bucharest Romania park July 15 2007.

Long weekend

I spent the weekend visiting London. Here are a few snaps I shot along the way.

: A man photographs the clouds on Tate Modern Museum's balcony.
: Subway.
: People walking the streets of London's shopping district on Pedestrian Day.

Fervor

A woman leans against a cross raised on the spot where the biggest Orthodox cathedral in Romania will be built, during a religiou ceremony, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007, in Bucharest.

Spin it!

Bogdan spinning on a chair in an abandoned bar on the side of a lake.

Pre-election rally

Ten-year-old Valentin Penciu (C), and George Muhulica (R), wave flags during a pre-election rally in Bucharest, Romania, 23 November 2007. Romanians will cast their vote the European Parliament this week-end.

Snuggle

A couple enjoys a private moment in a bar downtown Bucharest.

Nationalized houses

After World War II, the communists in Romania started nationalizing businesses and properties from the "enemies of the people". That basically meant everyone who was not a communist and had saved any money or properties worth taking.

Afterwards, they gave these houses away or rented them to different people, varying from members of the Communist Party to singers to people in the military.

The original owners now go through a lot of trouble to get their properties back. The problem is that the Romanian State has sold many of these houses after 1989. Therefore, both the original owners and the new ones have papers claiming they are the rightful proprietor. That lead to countless law suits, evictions and lots of unpleasant events. Most lawyers say the State is the only one to blame and that both the original owners and the new ones are victims of bad legislation and governing.

I've started a story on this topic. This past week, I've photographed a couple of people moving out of the apartment they have been living in since 1964 and had bought in 1997. The original owners live in the same building (that their ancestors rightfully owned when the communists abusively nationalized it), in pretty bad conditions (two families in a basement).


Constantin Darniceanu, 93 years old, reads the eviction note. He has been living in this apartment since 1964, when the Romanian government gave it to him because he was an officer in the Romanian army.


His wife, Paraschiva Darniceanu, 83 years old, sits surrounded by all their stuff, that they have to pack before moving out.


Constantin Darniceanu gets lost in the middle of an argument between his nephew and the rightful owners.


Mrs. Darniceanu watches the movers pack their stuff.


Mr. Darniceanu holds on to a bag while trying not to get in the way of the movers. In front of him on the floor lies his old closet, ready to be moved. Despite his age, he worked tirelessly to get things done that day.


Mrs. Darniceanu takes a moment to rest in the middle of what used to be their bedroom.

3 Points of View

I had to photograph a press conference this morning about a new jewelry collection. This was my behind the scenes refuge.

Model Cecilia Miloiu waits backstage for her turn to showcase some pieces of jewelry.


A waiter and a waitress preparing the last details of the buffet organized for the journalists who attended the press conference.


The remainders of the press conference.

In Trance

Deep Purple kicked off their European tour with a concert in Bucharest. It was the first time my parents' generation had the chance to see these guys live.

The Godfather himself

This morning, I went with a reporter to photograph Francis Ford Coppola during an interview. "No pictures while I speak, please!" he said. So I waited till the end of the interview. He gave me 2 minutes. Which meant 18 frames. This is my favourite.

Lens baby

Andreea, reluctant to what she called "visual abuse" by a lens baby.

You like the obscure

"I see you like the obscure."

All the President's men. And women. And children.

This past week-end, Traian Basescu, the Romanian president, came to downtown Bucharest to deliver a speech. A few hours earlier, Emil Constantinescu, a former president, tried to gather a small crowd across the street to protest against the presidential speech. I tried to approach the event in a Christopher Morris kind of way.

Two old men read a promotional paper during the protest against the presidential speech, while a girl runs past.

Former president Emil Constantinescu smiles while talking to his followers. His goatee was almost a trademark when he was in power.

Agrecii Mihaela, 19 years old, holds a flag during the antipresidential rally. "I came from Constanta to Bucharest to rally for freedom", she said.

On the other side of the street, a couple holds hands while waiting for the president to show up.

Police officers waiting for the presidential convoy.

Hundreds of people waited in front of the stage for Basescu to show up.

Police officers in the crowd.

Secret Service agents scout the crowd while the president takes a break inside a tent next to the stage after the speech.

Most TV stations used a lot of logistics in covering the speech, since the president planned his public appearance for prime time hours.

A boy climbed up a tree to get a better view of the president.

Official restroom

One of the players takes a leak on the side of the field. There is no restroom, no locker, nada.

Home

Went to my hometown over the week-end.


Mom and dad.

Cute little neighbour. She was almost half this size when I last saw her.