For this Romanian photographer, travel starts in your own country

Baking the traditional Easter Bread. Maramures County
Baking the traditional Easter Bread. Maramures County Copyright @alexrobciuc
By Caroline Amaral Coutinho
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Alex Robciuc believes rural Romania has a strong ancestral character and magic aura that he tries to capture in photography. It’s still not considered a go-to destination for tourists, which partly explains why much of the landscape is still preserved in natural beauty.

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For Alex Robciuc a 33-year-old Romanian photographer, there is no better source of inspiration than his own home, Maramures.

“My native area is the fairy tale place which inspired me. The natural setting, cultural heritage, picturesque place, and beautifully preserved traditions offer material most photographers can only dream of.”

@alexrobciuc
Girl from Maramures in a traditional costume, seen at The Tradtitional Winter Festival From Sighetu Maramatiei, Romania.@alexrobciuc

Maramures, he explains, has a perfect balance between the modern and the ancient; as well as a constant sense of change and permanency. It’s easy to lose yourself, and your sense of time, while you’re appreciating the mountain landscapes or the sleepy sound of working farmers which echoes through the landscape.

“Rural areas in Romania have the strength to exceed four dimensions. If you take a long walk, it’s easy to lose track of time. How is it possible for some things to stand still while others evolve around them?”

@alexrobciuc
Frosty October morning in Apuseni Mountains.@alexrobciuc

According to Alex, rural Romania has a strong ancestral character, a sort of magic aura, and a spirit he tries to capture in photography. Inspired by realist painters, he aims to evoke a sort of “unreal” actuality in his pictures, as if it was painted on a canvas.

“Maramures has something magical. I don't think there is a village or mountain top that doesn't intrigue. It provokes you to look, admire - and take photos.”

@alexrobciuc
Winter is coming! One of the most common ways to carry hay from the mountain - meadows, down to the village, is by horse and cart.@alexrobciuc

His photography journey started when he was given a camera as a child. This quickly became his favorite toy. He fell in love with the process where light and chemistry work together to produce images.

He now works as a freelance photographer in Romania. In 2019, he won a Sony World Photography Award in the National Awards category.

His work has been featured in several notable publications including National Geographic, Vogue, Der Spiegel, and Lonely Planet.

@alexrobciuc
Street-performers parade in their cowbell-costume during the Traditional Winter Festival from Sighetu Marmatiei.@alexrobciuc

Alex believes that Romania still not considered a go-to destination by tourists, which partly explains why much of the landscape is still preserved in natural beauty. His images invite people to experience the beauty of Romania for themselves.

"We consider the beautiful things around us to be normal. For example, a green meadow, a carriage of farm animals, an old wooden church, people dressing in the ancestral clothes. For tourists, these sights are something new – or even something they thought as belonging to history,” he explains. “What is beautiful - and especially accessible - will always be interesting to people!”

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