Sorin, 46 from Ghilad, Romania
He was born in a small village in the Romanian Banat region, was raised by his grandparents, ran the fields barefoot and came at home hungry after sunset like all the happy children did.The fresh air, the forests and the freedom of his childhood blossomed in him and made him cherish the simple things.
He is probably one of the most beloved Romanian photographers. I won’t say one of the most famous because he won’t like it. He is modest. It is not popularity he is after. It is making people aware how beautiful and authentic Romania is, that matters to him. He is in love with the unspoiled Romanian countryside and its people. And how could he not be?
Sorin followed his dream. He was teaching history in a small Romanian village. After some years, he felt he needed to do more with his life to inspire people. So, at the age of 32, he quit his teaching job and started to take pictures. He knew nothing about photography then, but the right friend, at the right time gave him a photo camera. The first years he shot on film. He couldn’t afford to process the films or to make prints. But the ladies from the photo shop, impressed with his passion, offered to print his work for his exhibitions, free of charge and gave him films so that he would continue shooting. He has photographed over 7000 Romanian villages eversince.
As always, when one follows his dream, the results showed up. Sorin’s photos were a hit overnight. Awards, endless exhibitions, invitations to TV shows, interviews. He was named Ambassador of Romanian Photography and his photographs are exhibited in many of the Romanian Embassies in the world. Although all the recognition and awards took him by surprise, he still is the person he was when he started. He is still the boy that runs barefoot to the pond to fish with a stick and a handful of hope. You can not stay too serious in Sorin’s presence. Sooner than later something will make you smile.
Sorin now organizes regular photography workshops and millions of people follow him on social media. The workshops last 4 days, during which Sorin takes his students to remote villages of the Romanian countryside. He respectfully knocks on the doors and says hello to the people. He brings them an extra blanket, sometimes medicine or just a good word. Other times he drives these people to hospital or fetches them water to spare them the long walk to the creeks. He always looks them in the eyes and shows them they matter. He goes to their weddings and funerals, christening their newborn or just being there when nobody else is. For these people, having a group of happy photographers under their roof is like Christmas. It’s all they need to make their days better.
What impresses me when I look at Sorin’s portraits is the story and the connection behind each smile and each look of his subjects. It is not just people being photographed like artifacts.
Sorin says: People are not landscapes, mountains, waterfalls that you photograph and then leave behind. Humanity is an energy which is more often than not blocked between people. When hearts are open, this energy travels from one to the other and takes all that is beautiful from one soul and brings its healing beauty back. And then you feel human, you feel good because you contribute to the human process of creation and healing.
You might have heard the photographers’ greeting. They tell each other "May you have good light” because photography is painting with light. But what would a great portrait be without humanity?
Sorin does not only make portraits. He lights humanity.
What makes his heart sing
Inspiring people
His family
The freedom to wander on the mountains and hills
His countryside life with a simple house and a garden that kisses the mountain
The seasons
Photography
His life exactly the way it is today
You can see his work here: portraits, his blog
I took this interview at one of Sorin’s workshops, in December 2016.