5 Reasons for a Photo Tour in Romania
5 Reasons for a Photo Tour in Romania
Capture life in the Balkans’ unspoiled travel destination
Photo Tours in Romania are growing in popularity.
Located at the crossroads between Orient and Occident, Romania stands as a unique and diverse culture that can be beautifully captured on film.
Check out 5 Reasons to Take a Photo Tour in Romania:
- The people
- 4 seasons
- Divers natural scenery
- Cultural contrast
- Small groups of photographers
1. Capture unique portraits
Even though more and more Eastern European countries are facing a severe decrease in the population, most of all, in the rural areas, Romania (at least for the moment) still boasts vivid rural communities and cosmopolitan cities.
These destinations offer lots of photo opportunities offering scenes from the everyday life of the Romanians.
In the cities, you get to capture the beautiful architecture of the buildings, discover the cultural contrast of different eras, explore charming parks, take some great blue hour shots. Still, you also get to photograph the locals and their daily activities.
However, Romanian villages are for sure the salt and pepper of any Photo Tour in Romania.
Being a large country with unspoiled natural scenery and resources, Romania boasts a great cultural diversity given by the ethnic groups, not to mention the long and tumultuous history.
In the Transylvania region, you can visit villages that seem frozen in time. They were founded by the German colonists around 1000 years ago. Like hidden gems scattered here and there over the hills and valleys of Transylvania, the villages still preserve the typical architectural style with colorful houses. Even though during the communist regime and the ‘90s, most of the Saxons abandoned their homes to move to Germany, some stubbornly decided to remain. They try to keep alive the Saxon spirit in these villages and live in harmony with their new neighbors. A visit here is like being in a Fellini movie.
You can take photos with the locals, discover traditional crafts, interact with the people and discover their life stories.
Also, in Transylvania, you will be introduced to the story of the Roma. Though many refer to them as “Gypsies,” the correct word is “Roma.” They are scattered all over the country, most of them settled, and some still preserve the professions the previous generations taught them according to the tribe they belonged to. Their story is so interesting. Getting to know them and talk to them can be quite an open minder for each photograph. You get to capture some beautiful portraits of the Roma women wearing their colorful clothes. You can also take some pics with the Roma men, with their dark mustaches and black hats. You can see them working in copper or horseshoeing, bargaining with potential buyers, and discussing their life in Romania. You can read more about the history of the Roma people in Romania here.
In the Maramures region, the scenery is even more picturesque. This is the best destination for a Photography Trip in Romania if you wish to capture many portraits, daily life scenes, or different agricultural works. The locals are very proud of their land and their customs; they still wear their traditional costumes on Sunday mornings (during the Orthodox mass) or during the important events, they still cook old and delicious recipes, they preserve their wooden houses (though more and more build more modern ones) and churches and they still practice non-mechanized agriculture. I guess, in some aspects, this place can be considered a living museum, a world which Thomas Hardy used to describe in his novels. In one portrait, you get to capture not only the romantic feature of rural life but also a harsh history lesson.
Read here about the highlights of the Maramures region.
The interaction with the locals during a Photo tour in Romania is priceless, and a Romanian photographer is beneficial. He can help you overcome the language barrier, teach you some local habits so that you will not offend those you are taking photos of, and make your photography travel experience more relaxing.
2. Four seasons – the best time for a Photo Tour in Romania
Oh, yes. Enjoying 4 seasons per year, Romania seduces travel photographers with many opportunities.
What to photograph in Romania during springtime?
Springtime is very nice in Romania, and it covers 3 months (March, April, May). The trees are blossom; the meadows are colored with so many small and beautiful flowers. In the countryside, people are getting busy in the fields, in the orchards and vineyards.
During March, you will discover the story of the Trinket, known as the Small March, and you will get to photograph people wearing them. It is a unique tradition in the Balkan countries.
Also, Orthodox Easter is celebrated during this time of the year. There are many traditions related to this religious holiday, and the egg painting is the most popular one. Bucovina, the land of the painted convents, is the region where you should go for great Easter photos.
Also, the mountain scenery is stunning, most of all towards the end of the spring. The blue sky, the fresh green color of the forest, and the snow caps on the peaks of the mountains offer a great opportunity for some nice pics.
What to photograph in Romania during summer?
First of all, during summer there is more time for photography. The days are the longest in the year, and though it is hot in the cities, the countryside and the mountains are just perfect for photo expeditions.
Rural life is more active during this time of year (June, July, August). You get to photograph the locals scything the grass in the meadows and later building haystacks. Maramures region is the right destination for this kind of activity. You can also photograph the shepherds, these solitary people of the mountains. Actually, you can photograph them almost all year round, except for the winter.
There are still functional and old water mills where you can see and photograph how wheat or corn flour is produced.
Danube Delta is another great destination for bird watching. The sunsets and the sunrises are extraordinary in this wetland.
Summer is also a busy season in terms of life events. Most of the people get married during this season. In the Maramures region, attending a wedding is by far a lifetime experience. There are so many traditions related to this event, traditional costumes, superstitions, and religious aspects, typical dances, and vivid music.
What to photograph in Romania during autumn?
Fall is indeed an extraordinary season in Romania (September, October, November). The weather is milder, and starting with October 1st, you can take some very nice pics with the fall colors.
Also, the morning pics are exceptional. You can capture some beautiful sunrises in the mountains or villages covered by the mist in the valleys.
Fall is the season when plum or apple brandy is made. In Northern Romania, in the countryside you will get lots of opportunities to see and photograph the locals picking fruits, you can see the ovens used to make the brandy.
The vineyards are noisier as this is the time when the grapes are harvest and turned into wine. There are many vineyards in Romania, especially in the Northern Wallachia region, in Dobrogrea, Moldova, and Transylvania regions. Winemaking has a very long tradition in the territory of our country. Wine is also made for personal consumption in the countryside by the peasants.
What to photograph in Romania during winter?
Romania has its share of snow each year (December, January, February). This is the time when you can capture the white landscape, the carol singers, and the Christmas traditions.
All over the country, the cities are decorated with lights and animated by the Christmas Markets. Many artisans participate in these fairs and demonstrate their skills.
In the countryside, children dressed in traditional costumes visit each house and sing old carols. On the 31st of December, people dress in scary costumes and wear handmade masks; they sing and dance to scare the evil spirits and start the New Year properly.
3. Divers natural scenery
Romania boasts a very diverse natural landscape, including plains, hills, and mountains, and numerous rivers, caves, waterfalls, and virgin forests.
It isn't easy to separate nature from humans in our country, as it blends with the people’s settlements and their activities in a special way. In the Carpathian Mountains, you can capture impressive mountain peaks, waterfalls (Bigar waterfall), mountain lakes (Balea Lake, the Red Lake, Saint Ana Lake) and valleys as well as remote villages with traditional wooden houses, the shepherds with their flocks, or local villagers making haystacks. During the summertime, many chase the good weather for a perfect pic of Transfagarasan Road or Transalpina Road, two of the most impressive high-altitude roads of Romania.
Also, the Danube River is one of the best travel destinations for Photo Tours in Romania.
There are 2 impressive sectors of the river. The Danube Gorge, which cuts deep into the mountains, and most of all, the Danube Delta. The latest is considered the youngest land in Europe, and it is home to some 300 species of birds, 130 species of fish, and typical wetlands vegetation. Thanks to all these natural riches, the Danube Delta was classified as part of UNESCO's world heritage in 1991.
4. Cultural contrast
Besides the diverse natural landscape, Romania promises a unique cultural diversity.
The major historical regions of the country were under the occupation or domination of major empires such as the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
After the unification of the Romanian provinces, the Romanians became the majority.
However, the culture of the minorities is very much alive, enriching the national legacy of our country.
We can see the cultural layers not only in the language but also:
- in the worship places: Orthodox Churches, Transylvanian castle-churches, Catholic Hungarian churches, Greek-Catholic wooden churches, painted convents from Bucovina, etc.,
- in the typical architectural style of the houses: wooden houses in Maramures area, Saxon and colorful houses in Transylvania, charming Hungarian houses, painted houses in Bucovina, etc.,
- in the plan of the settlements,
- the traditional costumes,
- food specialties,
- traditional occupations (Roma coppersmiths or blacksmiths, musicians, winemakers, woodcarvers, charcoal makers, etc.)
- and of course, in the
5. Small groups for the Romania Photo Tour
Another important reason why a Photo Tour in Romania is a good idea is the small groups the photographers can join.
You will never take part in a “gang bang” where 8, 10, or even more photographers fight against each other to take a picture of an old lady who, in the meantime, gets scared of the large cameras.
You will have the chance to be part of the local culture, to understand it, and never feel like a tourist who passes through a country with his small camera.
A Photo Tour with small groups is more authentic, more natural, and most of the time even twice cheaper if you book it with a local provider.
You can admire on bydaniel.me many photos of the authentic beauty of Romania and on our blog Romania in 10 pictures.
Do not forget to check the “Best travel destinations in Romania” for a complete photo experience and book your Romania Photo Tour here.
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Valentina Marinescu
Travel is my first name. If my passion for traveling involves a bike, it's even better. And if the day ends with a good book and a dry red glass of wine, then I live in a paradise.
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