Escape East

Between 2007 and 2019, we ‘Escaped East’ to my home country of Romania, spending our summers in the village of Ocna de Sus, in the heart of Transylvania. For our young family, it was an extraordinary experience, an opportunity to witness an ancient and deeply rooted way of life through the eyes of our neighbours and the local villagers. Life there is intimately connected to the land and animals; a slower, more deliberate rhythm of living where horse and cart remain a common form of transport. What struck me most was the generosity and warmth of the people. Despite living without many of the comforts and conveniences we’ve become accustomed to in the West, they possess the biggest hearts and an extraordinary richness of spirit.

On a personal level, these summers allowed me to slow down and embrace a more considered approach to photography using my beloved Bronica medium format film camera. This is a small selection of images from the project, with many more negatives still to revisit and edit. The photograph of my family on the steps of our little house in Transylvania in 2019, was our last stay here in this village.