With Halloween right behind us, perhaps the time is right to see that there’s more to fall than scary outfits and trick-or-treating. Just like there is more to Romania’s Transylvania than scary vampire stories about a count who liked to bite necks. We sat down with photographer and Transylvania native Mihail Onaca to discuss his love of his home, and why there is so much more to it than Dracula.
I am primarily focused on mobile photography, but I will take my camera with me when travelling outside of Cluj-Napoca, where I currently live.
The 28-year-old self-taught photographer has been searching for curious or beautiful moments for years now, with attention to detail and geometry, trying to capture spaces, faces and places that have a story worth telling. One of those stories involved exploring the untouched beauty of his native Transylvania.
As soon as you set foot here, Transylvania burns itself into your memory. I don’t necessarily oppose stereotypes – every country has them – but this place is so much more than a setting for Dracula. We have magnificent castles and landscapes, splendid Saxon villages, charming citadels and warm-hearted people. There really is a lot to discover when you travel to this highly underrated corner of Europe.
Onaca loves to travel and sink into other cultures. He sees it as a way to explore what this “vast and fantastic world” has to offer. Along his journeys, he’s fascinated with light, people, cities and architecture.
But I will never say no to a trip out in nature. I love the hills and mountains of Transylvania, where one can see sheep, cows and horses peacefully grazing and can simply enjoy the silence and forget about life’s worries.
Because he sees himself as “curious and open to anything that comes by,” Onaca looks forward to soon start exploring portrait photography. “I definitely hope to do more of that in the near future.” Curious to see how that works out? Keep a close eye on this ambitious guy’s Instagram or Facebook. He also portrays his photography on his website.
Still can’t get Dracula out of your head? Neither could this couple.