My social project about Bolyartsi village, Bulgaria, has finally been launched through the @photoanthill account which was created for such purposes with the help of @fundition.

You may find the project on:
https://fundition.io/#!/@photoanthill/a3kw78kvx

I will also share a part of its description in this post.

A view from the outside of a church about three centuries old. It is falling into ruin. Can we preserve it only in photography or can we preserve it for real through photography?

That was just one example of many.

Quoting the opening of the project:

Introduction

‘What are you looking for around here? There is nothing interesting to be found in this village.’

Those were the words of a local youth who met me on my tour through the village of Bolyartsi in the middle of Bulgaria. An ordinary village like so many others.

I knew that boy was talking with the voice of the people. I knew he was wrong and right at the same time. My experience in journalism, psychology and photography would allow me to find inspiration and good stories there. I was trained and I have made it my philosophy to find things of value where others might overlook those. On the other hand, he did not have my perspective, neither did others around him, so how could I prove him wrong? There was a breach between us.

By actually sharing my perspective while learning about theirs. Art, photography and writing included, is a form of communication. Time to apply its efficiency.

End of quote.

Could we communicate efficiently, really? During my first visit I was in a hurry and I was being given a ride in a car while it was raining. We saw people moving on the streets beneath the rain but whenever we stopped and tried to talk to them and gain some permission to take photos we were denied as people would see just strangers.

But I thought it would be different when I walked those streets alone next time and not when I was not rushing as if I was about to steal something and run away.

How did it turn out?

Greetings, Earthlings!

Pretty well, I think. I made hundreds of portraits like this one and people seemed pretty happy to have them.

So here comes this tiniest of goals which still brings us closer to the ultimate acceptance of something new or well forgotten:

Quote the project:

Print about 100 more free 10x15 cm photos for people already photographed

End of quote

And we know this because half of it is already done and a lot of people were happy to receive gift prints. Many were ready to pay for them, actually but I denied payment since that was not the goal of this act of ours. It was a way to introduce ourselves and share our future plans for making an exhibition and other interesting events in the village.

My last quote of what was already written about our expectations. What we hope to achieve:

Improving social and cultural interaction within the local community of Bolyartsi village.

Increasing such interactions with other communities in the municipality and the region. Introducing new ways to initiate such interactions on national and global level.

Initiating a club to maintain photography as a hobby and a socially useful activity on a local level. Providing photography related education and coaching to the club’s members. Supporting the club for one year, at least, and connecting it to regional and national clubs.

Creating photographic and other documentary material for at least two local exhibitions and a local archive.

Publishing dozens of articles on a dedicated section of a website.

Preparing an album with photographs and stories from Bolyartsi village for online distribution in e-book format and a printed version for hand-to-hand, courier or traditional mail distribution.

Creating a documentary video about the project.

Finding ways to permanently exhibit photographs among the village environment.

Sending printable and printed materials to supporters and backers of the project.

End of quote

Just to make something clear. This village is not generally poor economically.

And there are people taking care of things, like the host of the local stadium.

What this project is about is culture. Morale. Appreciation of what is already there. Seeing oneself through different eyes. Raising local awareness. Walking with heads held high. Smiling. Noticing the beauty around and protecting it. Preserving history and identity.

Before it's gone.

It is finally about art. It could thrive there.

We can produce something worthy of sharing with everybody. The big dream is about proving that our model works and we can start somewhere else after this village is covered. There are places in greater need of help and this is one kind of help we can offer. Step by step, place by place.

Thank you for reading all this. I will be happy to have your thoughts and support. Ideas, questions and critics are welcome and appreciated. They may show me a better path or a better target.

Updates from @photoanthill coming soon.

Yours,

Manol