‘7th Floor’ by Cosmin Gârleșteanu, in Bucharest

Cosmin:

“Every time he shoots, the photographer chooses what to hide away from reality into his frame, creating a new reality…the one from his photographs. But what happens when reality decides to hide away from him? When she limits the possibilities? When she only leaves the same backgrounds on a 500 meter radius? When she keeps people locked in? What should a street photographer do then?

There is nothing more frustrating for a street photographer than to have his freedom of movement fenced-in. His freedom of expression after all… But what if this seemingly containment is in fact a broadening of his creative horizon? Or becoming conscious of what we document and happens around us?

In my case, around my block. Never before did I analyse this proximity in such detail and what’s been going on is a window that helps me keep my feet on the ground, it helps me go on. Giving hope that things will eventually be ok. I wonder if I will still be able to observe moments, once the pandemic will go away. And if the world, as seen from the 7th floor, will still be appealing afterwards. Until better times, what counts for me is to be able to keep shooting.”