The Stories She Could Tell. Old Woman Biertan, Romania
Perhaps my favorite portait from our recent trip to Romania. I spotted this woman as she made her way to the town square and sat with her friend to chat on a bench. I used my little bit of romanian to say hello, introduce myself and say I am a traveller from America and would love to take her picture. She was happy to oblige and I turned the camera around to show her the result, which she enjoyed.
I only wish I knew more romania and could have heard some of the stories she could tell, what it was like living through WWII, the communist uprising and living as a soviet satellite for 50 years, the changes (or lack therof) that brought to her village in 1989 when it ended. How the tourists starting pulling in to see the cathedral when the road was paved 10 years ago, I wish I could have heard all about this, perhaps another time. I was happy to have shared this moment and captured her portrait.
Great job, Steve! That's a beautiful portrait, and what a wonderful face full of character! I hope she has friends and family who love hearing her stories as much as you'd like to yourself!
