The villages of Maramureș — Romania — with their centuries-old traditions, elaborate rituals, and vibrant celebrations, offer a privileged vantage point from which to explore the challenges faced by small rural communities striving to preserve their cultural identity amidst solitude, loss, and hope.
This workshop invites participants to witness and document one of the most profound and spiritually charged religious traditions of Orthodox Christianity: Easter in Maramureș.
The Purpose of the Workshop
Led by professional photographer and co-founder of Ayzoh!, Dorin Mihai, this intensive documentary photography workshop will not only allow you to capture the spirit of a place and its people but will also immerse you in the reality of a professional editorial project.
You will confront the same constraints, ethical considerations, technical challenges, and storytelling dilemmas that arise in any serious documentary assignment—working with a modest budget and accessible equipment to create compelling visual narratives.
This is not about wandering aimlessly, snapping pictures at random. It is about discipline, vision, and intent. It is about approaching storytelling with a structured methodology that leads to a tangible outcome: a published work that will be shared with an audience beyond the workshop itself.
Preliminary Masterclass
To enhance the workshop experience, participants will have the opportunity to join a two-hour documentary photography masterclass in the week leading up to the event.
This session, conducted either in person at our Rimini headquarters or online, will provide essential preparation and insights, ensuring you make the most of your time in the field.
Who Can Participate?
The workshop is open to photographers of all levels, enthusiasts and professionals alike. While no prior documentary experience is required, participants should have a basic understanding of photography.
To ensure a personalized learning environment, the group will be kept small, with a minimum of three and a maximum of eight participants.
Recommended Equipment
To effectively capture the depth and nuance of Orthodox Easter in Maramureș, we recommend the following equipment:
- A DSLR or mirrorless camera
- A wide-angle or zoom lens (e.g., 24-70mm)
- At least one spare battery
- A laptop for reviewing and processing images
Your Instructor
This workshop is led by Dorin Mihai, co-founder of Ayzoh! and an experienced documentary photographer with deep ties to Romania.
Having worked extensively in the region, Dorin possesses an intimate knowledge of its landscapes, traditions, and, most importantly, the communities that will welcome us into their lives and celebrations.
His expertise ensures an immersive and meaningful experience, one that transcends mere observation and fosters genuine engagement.
Join Us on This Journey
Through this workshop, we invite you to travel with us into the depths of Maramureș, to step into villages where history is still alive, where the past is not a shadow but a presence.
Together, we will create a body of work that is more than just images: it’ll be a visual and textual tribute to a world that persists in defiance of time.
For details on available dates, costs, participating communities, and project goals, reach out to us at info@ayzoh.org.
