ABOUT ME

In seventh grade, I bought my first camera: a Smena 8. Despite being without the luxury of automatic settings, I became fascinated by the ability to manipulate a shot. I pored over exposure tables and battled ISO or ASA dilemmas.

The process of developing images also held my fascination. Without access to a dark room, I used a developing tank, waiting for the chemicals to bring my images to life like magic.

It’s perhaps no coincidence that my life first took the path of a different kind of alchemy, leading me to a pharmaceutical career. Since graduating from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi in 1999, I spent approximately 12 years in the field — managing my own pharmacies and working as a business consultant and key account manager.

If there’s one thing this career gave me, it was the space to reacquaint myself with my old hobby. With cameras in tow, I travelled the world from my home in Romania: from impulse journeys across Europe to meticulously planned itineraries across North Africa and the Middle East.

But one journey, a little further afield, would change everything.

In 2009, I travelled to New Zealand, and it was love at first sight. So much so that in 2012, my wife and two sons packed up our life in Romania and moved to the other side of the world to make it our home.

It was also a chance to reignite my passion for photography in a land with so much inspiration surrounding me.

Faced with numerous lockdowns that began in 2020, I temporarily suspended any photographic activity during those periods. Boredom was never an option, so I decided to return to University and, two years later, earned an Environmental Health Diploma.

Now, I enjoy producing commercial photography, specialising in 360-degree virtual tours, Airbnb photography, and aerial photography. It’s the best way to meet amazing people from everywhere in New Zealand: from Auckland to Queenstown, Blenheim to fabulous Taupo or one of the coolest towns in the world, Napier.

So much has changed since I first began experimenting with my Smena 8, yet a lot has remained the same. I’m still captivated by angles, reflections, and shadows to craft the perfect shot. I continue to learn, consistently exploring new and improved techniques, experimenting with shots, and seeking different subjects to capture in innovative ways. Every photograph unveils a unique, fascinating, and unexpected world, whether a portrait, a wedding, a corporate event, or a simple blade of grass crowned with dewdrops. I’d love to capture a part of the world for you. Get in touch, and let’s have a chat about your requirements.