Past Few Weeks

A few shots I like from what I've been shooting lately.

Merry Christmas

I photographed a private Christmas party a few days ago. It wasn't perhaps as spectacular as this image might imply, but it had some fun moments.

Theodor Paleologu

Theodor Paleologu gave up his position as Romania's Ambassador to Denmark and Iceland to return to Bucharest and run for Parliament, in hope he could make a change in our politics. Some of his friends, however, consider he does not fit the profile of the Romanian politician, as Mr. Paleologu is well educated and polite. Esquire magazine considers this paradox an interesting story. Election day is in about two weeks. In this photo, Mr. Paleologu introduces himself to 95-year-old Zoe Porsenna.

Tichilesti Revisited

Last week I went back to Tichilesti, the leper hospital, and spent some time with the patients there. I will try to keep doing that every seven or eight weeks, for about a year or so. I am mostly concentrating on Ioana Miscov, a nice old lady, and her daughter Domnica (child of two lepers who grew up healthy), as main characters of the community. Here's a few shots from this round.

College Photographer of the Year

The CPOY judging is finally over. Missouri did well. Congrats to Amanda Lucier, Katie Barnes, Ben Fredman, Joon Hyoung Kim and August Kryger!

There was even a story shot in Romania.

Enjoy!

Barack Obama Campaign Photographer

Photojournalist Scout Tufankjian has been following Barack Obama for the last two years or so. If you have the patience, drop by her website and check out this piece on her that MSNBC did. I got this from Ben's blog. Enjoy!

Farming Show

Mayfield, Kentucky

Got back from the Mountain Workshop. Here's a few favourites.
* downtown Mayfield
* Ronnie Sanderson, farmer
* preacher Ronnie Stinson prays with Sarah Dinkins and Linda Wade, daughter and wife of his mentor, Eugene Wade (right), terminally ill
* Pamela Stinson gets powerlifted to windows that needed to be washed
* Keith Wilmoth, 16, walks out of Rhonda's Place in Wingo, carrying his 4 months old brother, Blake, as their grandmother Trudy lights a cigarette
* tobacco leaves

Romanians at MPW

My friends Bogdan and Calin did a great job with their stories at MPW. Here are the links to their stories:

http://www.mophotoworkshop.org/60/teamc/baraghin_bogdan/index.html
http://www.mophotoworkshop.org/60/teamb/ilea_calin/index.html

Worriers

Bogdan and Calin, stressing out when they thought they wouldn't find a story in St. James that their faculty would approve. They both did.

Laforet's Canon 5D Mark II

I'm not a big gear head, but this impressed me. It's a short movie directed and shot by Vincent Laforet with the new Canon 5D Mark II. You can check his blog for the making of.

Missouri Photo Workshop 60

I have the privilege to be part of the organizing crew at the 60th edition of the MPW, also called the Missouri Photo Thinkshop. There's four of us in this one. Four Romanians, left to right: Catalin Abagiu (crew member), Bogdan Baraghin (participant), myself and Calin Ilea (participant). I am one of the printers. It'll be a crazy week. I'll probably post behind-the-scenes pictures and a ton of quotes. Photo by Jakob Berr.

New Website

I have finally managed to get my new website up and running. Please drop by and let me know what you think at www.andreipungovschi.com

MPA 2008 Awards

Once I got here, I found out that I have been awarded First Place, in the Best News Photo category, at the Missouri Press Association's annual awards, with this picture that I took at a Nazi rally last year in Columbia. It has the WPN logo, because I don't have it with me and just grabbed it from their website.

Back Home - Columbia, Missouri

"Some people have a home with their family. Others have a professional home, where they find others just like them, who share the same enthusiasm, passion and ideals." Rita Reed, photojournalism professor and CPOY director at the University of Missouri.

This came up in a conversation I had with her yesterday and it is probably the best description of what I feel about being back here in Columbia. There's no other place where I feel more at home than here.

Pigeons

Here's a really interesting project on pigeons, by Casey Templeton.

Sickman Festival

This past weekend I went to the town of Petrila, about 7h north-west of Bucharest, to get some pictures of Mr. Ion Barbu (below) for Esquire magazine. Mr. Barbu is an artist who has constantly been trying, over the years, to revive or, better said, ignite, the artistic spirit in this little mining town. He has organized festival after festival, inviting artists to come and share some of their fun and passion with the people of Petrila.

Pictured below Mr. Barbu:
* Luiza
* Bogdana
* Mihai

Wedding Photography

While browsing sites with a similar platform to the one I'll soon be using, I came across Ben Chrisman, the best wedding photographer I've ever seen. Apparently, he is ranked top wedding photographer in the world by the Wedding Photojournalist Association.

I was blown away. I'm still in awe.

Leper

I have been working on a story about one of the last leper colonies in Europe, in Tichilesti, Romania. There are about 21 patients who live in what they call a leper hospital. In fact, it's a small community of nice elderly people who share a tiny village. It's more like summer camp, where everyone has their little room or house, with gardens, little vegetable crops, pets, and whatever they please. I'll post the story when I'm done but, for now, I just wanted to post a few portraits of some of the people I've been spending time with.

Russian Embassy Protest

A Georgian man protests in front of the Russian embassy, Thursday, August 14, 2008, in Bucharest, Romania. Approximately 30 people, gathered to protest against the Russian attacks in Georgia.

Oina Strikes Back. Literally.

Here's some stuff I shot at the final of the Romanian Oina Cup in Constanta.
*Straja Bucuresti warming up before the game
*looking for a ball (they're really low on funding, so they can't afford to lose equipment)
*practicing the bat grab (that's how they decide which team starts)
*warming up (remember Mizzou softball, Ben?)

Andreea

Lately I've been slacking, as far as my blog goes, so I decided to throw in here a few shots I've taken during these past weeks. Here's NG writer Andreea, one sunny morning, in front of a tea house.

Back in Prague

I'm back in Prague after just three weeks, for a sort of work exchange with the Czech Mediafax agency.

Seaside

People dance under the close watch of a bodyguard (1), during a concert in Vama Veche.

Oina

Players rest in between two games of oina. I am working on a story on this sport called oina. It is a traditional Romanian sport, very similar to baseball, which originated around the 14th century as a shepherds' pastime activity.

Home Again

Almost home. Back in Romania, on the way to Bucharest, we stopped for a couple of nights in Cluj, at Bogdana's sister. We've been eating and drinking ever since, hanging out with our lovely hosts, Cristina (pictured bellow) and Dani.

Prague

My significant other flew into Vienna. We then drove to Prague and Budapest for a short vacation.

Ode to Stam

A dear friend started a series that is his interpretation of the Olympics this year. Here's my tribute.

Tanzcafe

On the way back from the Tanzcafe (Dance Coffeeshop), where Pelvis was hanging on a wall, I saw this plastic model combing her hair.

Pоссия

Considered the top contender for the European title by most sports journalists, the Netherlands were sent home last night after an amazing performance by the Russian team. The match was in Basel, Switzerland, so I went to the Fanzone in Vienna to photograph the supporters.

* Russians watching the game, celebrating
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* Dutch lady in a square in Vienna, after the game