Behind the Cover of “Raw Moldova. Collective Documentary Photography”: From an Instagram Account to an Album

Raw Moldova’s new photo album, ”Raw Moldova. Fotografie documentara colectiva (2012-2023)” provides an unfiltered glimpse into life in Moldova. The album features 120 powerful photographs from 19 photographers, documenting over a decade of everyday life in the country. The collective’s goal is to showcase Moldova’s reality in its raw, unembellished form, focusing on real, unaltered moments, as cited by Diez.md.

The Ministry of Culture’s National Editing Program helped bring this album to life. Editura Cartier published the book as part of its Art collection. Editors Gheorghe Erizanu, Lucia Lupu, Andrei Moraru, and Lucian Spataru curated the images, selecting them based on subject, composition, emotion, originality, and other criteria.

The album spans various aspects of life in Moldova, from large-scale events to simple daily routines. Many images appear in original, preserving the photographers’ intent. A few photographs underwent minor adjustments in lighting or contrast but remained faithful to the original moments captured.

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This collection highlights the significance of documentary photography in preserving history. The images cover all corners of Moldova, including Gagauzia and the Transnistrian region, presenting a complete portrayal of the country. Despite starting with 200 photos, the team had to make tough decisions and narrowed the selection to 120 final images.

The album includes short captions with minimal context, providing just enough detail about the location and time of each photograph. Moraru explained that the photos speak for themselves, reducing the need for extensive descriptions.

Available for purchase in Cartier bookstores for 299 lei, the album may lead to further volumes if it proves successful. Raw Moldova has accumulated thousands of powerful photographs, many of which may find a place in future collections. This album marks a significant step in documenting Moldova’s history through the lens of its photographers, preserving fleeting moments for future generations.