Acasa, pe drum.4 ani teleleu

Dorinta de documentare si de schimbare, i-au facut pe Cosmin si pe Elena sa renunte la o viata linistita, aparent banala pentru a incerca sa rastoarne o suma de idei fixe si o serie de mentalitati de necombatut, incercand permanent sa aiba o atitudine neutra  in raport cu subiectul/subiectele afisate in fata lor, dar devenind totodata vulnerabili ca indivizi in anumite contexte si situatii.

Din primele proiecte amintim pe cele legate de violenta domestica, exodul medicilor din Romania, Cuba continua si altele.Elena se ocupa de realizarea interviurilor, redactarea textelor, in timpul ce Cosmin se ocupa de fotografiat, de filmat si de montajul materialelor video.

Au realizat proiecte pe teme sociale, cu finantare din abonamentele de la vederi, burse, granturi sau diverse donatii, fiindca nici o publicatie din Romania nu ar oferi finantare nici pe jumatate.Un soi de haiduci asa cum se autointituleaza mai in gluma, mai in serios, proiectele lor se lupta cu rasismul, xenofobia, coruptia,etc.Un jurnalism independent, fara manipulari sau influente exterioare.O lectie de simplitate si compasiune.

Spre sfarsitul anului trecut au lansat si cartea “Acasa, pe drum” care incepe cu fotografiile lui Cosmin si continua cu textele Elenei, un volum care te cufunda intr-o sumedenie de stari.Nu poti documenta un subiect peste noapte, trebuie sa studiezi atent peisajul, sa cunosti bine personajele si sa le castigi increderea insa fara a te implica emotional prea mult, ceea ce de multe ori asa cum afirma si ei este aproape imposibil.Sunt informatii care necesita o verificare amanuntita, zeci de aprobari, uneori poate nu ai documentat atat de amplu pe cat ti-ai fi dorit si multe alte piedici.

Trebuie sa faci un preinterviu, sa discuti cu personajele si sa le explici intentia ta vis-a-vis de fotografii, de interviuri.Cand ai ocazia sa cunosti o suma de oameni din diverse categorii sociale inveti cat de frumoasa este diversitatea,dar apare si reversul medaliei, cand iti vezi familia, prietenii de doua, trei ori pe an, iar cand va intalniti nu stii de unde sa incepi pentru ca s-au intamplat atatea in perioadele in care ati lipsit unii din vietile altora , astfel ca nu poti inghesui atatea povesti de viata intr-o intalnire de cateva ore.

Dar sa nu uitam faptul ca viata in rulota pe langa multe presupuse avantaje, contine si multe neajunsuri (curent putin, apa putina, zile scurte iarna, un spatiu extreme de mic, dureri de spate,etc.)

“Acasa, pe drum“ are o lectie pentru fiecare dintre noi.Pentru fotograful (confirmat sau in devenire) din tine se traduce prin semnificatia unui proiect fotografic cu o durata nedeterminata de timp si cu un numar estimativ de fotografii, cu sute sau chiar mii de kilometri parcursi prin cele mai variate conditii meteorologice si printr-o documentare continua.

Sa nu uitam totusi de privitorul de rand, pentru care aceasta carte, aceasta lectie de fotografie, reprezinta o cunoastere si o recunoastere a propriei vieti impreuna cu noutiunile de comfort cu care vine la pachet (educatie, sanatate, apa calda, curent, etc.)

Poate ca acest material reflecta intr-un oarecare procent mentalitatea unei paturi sociale, caracterizate prin indiferenta, nepasare, atinsi de sindromul “Daca mie nu-mi face rau, de ce sa intervin ?”.Lipsa de reactie a oamenilor combinata cu obiceiul presei de a manipula si de a furniza informatii prefabricate poate da nastere unui dezastru.

Ura cu care comenteaza unii indivizi pe paginile de socializare nu cunoaste limite.Uitam ca multi dintre noi au fost suficient de norocosi sa faca parte dintr-o familie, sa beneficieze de comfortul unui camin, sa beneficieze de o educatie, in timp ce altii sunt marginalizati, judecati si recurg la gesturi extreme pentru a supravietui.Sa ii numim oare o lume paralela ?

 Elena Stancu's biggest desire in documenting any social subject is to change the mentality of the people surrounding her.That’s why she gave up her  9 to 5 job, a warm chair and together with her soul-mate and multiple award-winning photographer Cosmin Bumbut joined forces in an attempt to overthrow a set of old and fixed ideas and a series of unmanageable mentalities, constantly trying  to mentain a neutral  attitude in relationship with the displayed topic(s), but also becoming vulnerable as individuals in certain contexts and situations.

From their first projects we can mention those regarding domestic violence, the exodus of Romanian doctors to foreign countries and their several trips to Cuba.She is busy doing interviews, writing texts, while Cosmin is doing photographic and video work.

They have developed projects based on social circumstances, funding made possible from subscriptions to post-cards, scholarships, grants or various donations, because unfortunately, no Romanian publication is willing to sponsor their projects, not even 50% in total costs.A sort of justice outlaws as they call themselves joking more or less.The work that they produce has to fight against racism, xenophobia, corruption,etc.A type of independent journalism without manipulation or any external influences.A lesson of pure simplicity and compassion.

Towards the end of 2017, they released the book called “4 years home…on the go” , a book that is very close to my hearth,starting with Cosmin’s photos and continues with Elena’s interviews, texts.A volume that immerses you in a multitude of experiences and feelings.You cannot start writing or documenting overnight, you have to study the environement in which you have to go through, you have to meet your subject first, find that chemistry, gradually building trust without to much emotional involvement, which is close to impossible in many situations.

There is a huge amount of information that needs closer inspection, dozens of approvals.Sometimes you may not have documented a certain subject as much as you wanted to and many other obstacles that might have occurred.You have to do a pre-interview, talk to the characters and explain you honest intention in terms of photos, videos, publishing.

When you have the opportunity to meet a sum of people from different social categories, you often see and learn how beautiful diversity is, but suddenly realize that all this running around is starting to cost you your time and by that meaning the time that could be easily spent with your family, friends,etc.

But let’s not forget that life in a camper van might seem a lot of fun , but it’s actually an survival exercise (a small quantity of water, gas, electricity, limited space, back pains, short days in the winter season, etc.).Perhaps this material reflects to a certain point the mentality of a social group of people characterized by indifference, encouraged by the “If it doesn’t hurt me why bother” syndrome.The people’s lack of reaction  combined with the never-ending habit of manipulation practiced by mass-media along with prefabricated information could give birth to a disaster in any moment as we speak.

The level of hate revealed by some people on social-media has no limits or boundaries.We often times forget how lucky we are for the simple fact that we grew up in a loving family, got access to education, while others are marginalized, judged and resort to extreme gestures just to survive.Do we call them a parallel world ?