Edited by Odeta Catana, Photo Editor
Could you please tell us a little more about yourself.
Where do you live?
I’m a young photographer born in Bucharest, Romania and sometimes also based in London, United Kingdom.
How did you start taking pictures? Usually there is always the old story of the boy who finds his grandfather’s camera, did that happen to you as well or not?
I guess it sort of did, when i was 23 i was really into video post-production and animation so i decided that to get into video work i should start by studying the art of image making first, so i took out all of my father’s dusty film equipment and cameras and started experimenting with them.
Where does your inspiration comes from?
I try to take inspiration from anywhere I can, I’m a bit obsessed with constantly looking for incredible unseen works on-line, usually it’s other art-forms than photography, Books, illustration, animation, art shows, music, etc. I think that because our generation has such great access to information, the best thing we can do with all of it is mix it up from everywhere we can and create something new with it.
In a portrait, what is important for you?
The most important thing is that i get to capture how the person really looks, not how they are trying to look when they see me taking their picture. Also i always try to show a certain conversation between the subject and the medium that he is in, the background is just as important as the subject for me.
What kind of relationship do you have with your subject when you shoot?
I think it’s definitely a kind of voyeurism, a fascination with looking at people or things. When I was a kid i always pretended I am an alien and that I am “observing” people, I feel that way when i’m behind the camera, it’s like I disappear and I can look at them without them seeing me.
Do you think it’s important to follow a school to learn how to shoot?
No, I don’t, I think today with so much access to the best training on-line, endless books, and all the great masters of photography’s work, school can only teach you how to work with others and get you to meet other people that do the same thing as you do.
I am completely self-taught and i think if you really want to do something unique, you should put as much of you in your work and as little of what other people tell you too as you can. I am trying to do that, it is really hard, even for me, which I am a sort of outcast from the photographic industry or school system in my town.
What’s the photo you want to take and you never did?
I never thought of that, I think I’d like to do something with cars someday, I love the way the light streaks form on cars and I think there’s a great technical meticulousness into taking a photo of a car.
What’s your photo-mission?
My goal is to tell real and unique spontaneous stories with a sense of the magic that surrounds us everyday and a cinematic feeling.
I want to show you what you are missing when you are thinking to much, and not feeling, and listening to the picture that the universe is always painting around you. I want it to be a fully synesthetic experience.
