Romania: The Antidote is Color, Urban
I am so fortunate to have been able to take several trips to Romania with my Romanian wife, Loredana. I brought with me all the baggage of previous photographic projects and experience but hopefully was open minded enough to let the country, and the scenery speak to me. The result and the beginning of this new ongoing project came top me in words and images: The Antidote is Color, Romania has an ancient history and an ancient language descended from the Romans. But as a nation it has mostly been a vassal state of other great powers: The Ottoman Empire, Austro Hungarian Hapsburgs, and more recently under Nazi and Soviet controlled influence. In the recent years as Romania has joined the democratic nations of Europe, the country has struggled in the economic spectrum. The highly educated population generally generally lacks in sufficient economic opportunity. The concept: The Antidote is Color, is that I have found in Romania an unusual plethora of colorful buildings, landscapes, graffiti, and simple everyday objects. Color makes you happy. Color is rebellion in an oppressive world. And the use of color in Romania far exceeding what we have in the United States. Returning home was going like in reverse while watching The Wizard of Oz turn from black and white to color. I think will let the images speak for them selves in this regard.