"the camera puts a frame around life" – J. Meyerowitz
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Amazing Romania
On my way from Iasi to Cluj, I passed the wonderful Poiana Largului viaduct, a long bridge over the Bistrița river.
The river is not what it used to be – this unfortunate happening allowed me to walk on the dry river bed and get up close with this beautiful rock formation. 
Hunedoara Castle
I’ve been on a 2300 km trip round Romania to gather the final portraits for my project. A lot of work and driving.
However, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t do some sightseeing…
midnight snack
Saturday evening Vlad came over for a quick photo shoot. we didn’t start untill 11pm, and went well past midnight. But i guess it was worth it, don’t you?
All my bags are packed; I’m ready to go…
I’m never ready to go. There’s always the feeling I’ve forgotten something, so I always check and double-check my equipment.
This may sound ludicrous, but I’m on a bus for 5 days and 6500 km just to shoot the portrait of one man. Nicu Covaci – Leader and founder of Phoenix, or as known outside Romania, Transylvania Phoenix.
This is a big deal. He’s kind of the Mick Jagger of Romania. Actually, in 2012 both The Rolling Stones and Phoenix are celebrating 50 years of activity.
The trip was long and not without happenings. It started with simple control at the Romanian border, but soon complicated with people getting pulled off the bus and arrested in Spain, Narcotics dogs sniffing everyone in France, robberies in gas stations along the way – courtesy of the Rroma citizens travelling on the same bus. And if that wasn’t enough, a poor 80-year old delusional man fled Spain and bought a ticket for Romania to visit his sick wife – only to find out from his daughter that she reported him missing and… his wife has been dead for 10 years.
None of these events could deter me from my main goal. I had one day to make sure I get the shot with Nicu. And I was over-stressed. Had to take the bus because I was travelling with my mobile studio. It is mobile enough to fit on a plane, but the fees for extra weight don’t fit in my budget. So I had to make sure that my gear would survive the tremor of all the potholes in Europe. That’s why I chose the HPRC 2780 – Iulian Capatoiu @ F64 strongly suggested it and after some well-documented research, I decided to go for it.
It’s a military grade, transport case. But no matter how much I researched, I was terrified to pack my sensitive flash units along with all other luggage on a bus, for 5 days. As it turns out – it was the best choice I could have made. Not only does the case protect the gear, but it also served as a stepladder, stool, coffee table and anything else in between.
Arriving in Spain, I was met to a king’s welcome. Carmen picked me up at the bus terminal and we went for a short joy ride in the city. When Nicu said someone would pick me up I was worried about my big luggage. She came in an X5, accompanied by her beautiful daughter, so it all fit in perfectly. And if that wasn’t enough, I drove the 80 km trip to Nicu’s house in a 2 seater, mid-engine convertible roadster, on the Mediterranean coast. Would have loved a picture there, but all my gear was in the X5 I was chasing…
Nicu lives in a beautiful Spanish country house, just off the Med coast. Accompanied by his 8 dogs, his girlfriend, a collection of his paintings and his own rock and roll hall of fame, they live a beautiful quiet life. Nothing on the outside would give away the fact that an internationally renowned rock singer lives there, although Madonna’s villa is only a short drive away.
He welcomed me with an open heart and house. I found more warmth and down-to-earth no-nonsense in his family than one could find in most of the todays so-called artists. For two days we lived like brothers, eating, drinking, having fun. It might have helped that I also am a vivid biker and rocker. He even offered his bike for a ride… but there’s something about one’s bike… you just don’t do. Bikers know what I’m talking about.
Next day we drove around in his small 4×4 checking out all the scenic roads around his home. It made it easy for me to understand why he chose Spain over Germany. Motorbike heaven, all year long! He even took me to see the most eastern point of Spain and a gorgeous cave which gives birth to the longest underground underwater tunnel system in Europe, over 40 km long.
Being treated like a king, and having such a blast, It was easy to forget the reason for my visit. Especially after a long day full of amazing stories seemingly pulled out of a Hollywood adventure movie.
The first shoot was placed right in Nicu’s small studio on the ground floor. A shrine dedicated to Phoenix if you will, filled with posters of old and new, pictures, awards and several golden records. We both had a small set up to do – I was setting up the Quadra light system, Nicu was placing the amplifiers in the right spot. Then we swept the dust off the guitars and amps and were ready to go.
Nicu started jamming and it soon felt as if we were one. It was hypnotic, hearing him play less than 2m away, his guitar screaming thru’ the old but beautiful Marshall sound system and his voice topping it over. And when it all started to fall into place he played “In umbra marelui URSS” – one of the most iconic Romanian rock songs, describing his grief and pain, endured during the communist regime. It was such personal and ground shaking experience. Goosebumps set in right away and I found myself humming away to the music. Towards the end, I had to fight away the tears and concentrate on the camera to keep taking pictures.
It was so personal and powerful, words cannot describe. And mind you, I’m forty years his junior.
For the second picture, I asked Nicu to take me to one of his favorite places – a small clearing in the woods right under the nearby mountaintop. On the one side there was the beautiful scenery of the coastline, on the other the rocky mountaintops nearby. Getting there was a small adventure in itself. A small narrow winding road led us up the mountain. Here and there I could see remains of car wreck. Apparently this road is notorious for it’s narrow and strong curves, many paid the price.
Once there, it was easy to understand why it was one of his favorite spots. And to top it all up, there was an abandoned swimming pool right there, for us to use.
So I once again started building the small setup. Wind was blowing quite hard, so I couldn’t use any modifiers on the flash. But the Quadra, with its standard deflector did the job just right. Nicu thought we had to draw current from the nearby old building – he was amazed to learn that the small and powerful Quadra was battery operated.
The jamming started once more. Working with the sun as a backlight and the Quadra as main, we got some interesting flares, lights and shadows.
All good thinks must come to an end. We soon had to pack up and go. Nicu was quite amazed by the small but complete studio setup powered by the Quadra and packed in the HPRC case. I must say, I was too. The case did the very best of jobs at protecting the flashes, despite being thrown around on buses and cars, eating up all the pot-holes in Europe, or holding Nicu’s weight. The Quadra did it once more. I always carry a spare battery with me, but I never seem to need it. It was the same this time. Shooting almost 400 frames, with single and double head, and I still couldn’t drain the first battery…
The trip home was going to be long, but to ease the pain, it started with a 2h scenic ride on the coast. Sitting on the train, I had time to think back on my unique experience.
Thank you Nicu for having me. It was a groundbreaking experience!
studio in a box
It’s time for my first international portrait session…
and since travelling 3000 km for one portrait isn’t easy, i want to make sure that all my equipment is safe en route, and ready to go once i get there.
You’re probably familiar with the Elinchrom Quadra system by now – the best battery operated, ultra-portable & powerful flash system out there. And with the help of my friend Cristi Uba @ F64, I’ve been able to get my hands on the best Elinchrom accessories to go with it. Thanks Cristi for that!
The “hard case” the Quadra comes with, isn’t that hard though. Actually I wouldn’t even trust my dog to step on it.
So it was time for an upgrade! Welcome HPRC 2780CW. A military grade hard case trolley. tested for virtually any possible scenario.
I got it today, thanks to the great guys over at F64. Special thanks to Iulian Capatoiu, for making this happen 
Right away, i found several uses for this coffin… it could be a picnic table, a bar stool or a battering ram. It supported my weight effortlessly and it’s even supposed to hold a truck, as these guys will show you .
So, what will I fit in this box?
well, to begin with, i need to start shaping the inside padding. it’s quite easy, but you’ve got to think it thru, for best optimisation.
the box is pretty deep, and there are several layers at your disposal, so you can actually stack things on top of each other, as I did with the light stands. I’d better hold on to the extra padding, I’m sure to need it some time in the future! 
what’s in the box? so far:
2 quadra reflector with diffuser
2 quadra power cables
2 elinchrom compact light stands
1 90 degree reflector
elinchrom skyport transmitter
gaffer tape, charger, sync cable etc…
and the good thing? there’s still room for a second quadra system I’m planning to buy.
The more complex Octoboxes don’t fit, but if needed I’m sure I’ll find a solution.
close it up, and it’s ready to go.
Now all I need is to get on that bus and hope for the best portrait session in Spain.
Later!
A Chance Encounter
… with actor and director, Dan Tudor.
rise and fall
at Postavaru every sunrise and sunset is unique. I’ve been going there for over 20 years and still, I can’t believe my eyes.
every day, I wake before sunrise and stay out late till after sunset, just to take a glimpse at the beautiful show.
I’m happy to be able to share it with you, though these pictures don’t do it justice. you have to be there to experience it…
my favorite 2011 pics
At the end of the year I thought of bringing together some of the images I shot this year. But this turned out to be more difficult than expected.
Where do you begin? Emotional significance, personal gain, most viewed? ….
No! Just a short collection of pictures I took in 2011. some of the ones I like most.
