Mihaela Noroc's Blog, page 6

Iceland prides itself with spectacular and unusual landscapes...

Iceland prides itself with spectacular and unusual landscapes that seem from another planet. It also prides with being the best country in the world in terms of gender equality. No wonder this is the place where I found Andrea, who is an adventure guide. I photographed her together with her son, Benjamin, last month.

This strong and brave Icelandic woman takes adventurous tourists on the amazing glaciers of her country. It’s a risky job, with lots of responsibilities. More than that, Andrea is a single mother, so each step on the glaciers means even more responsibilities.

But when you do what you love, when the society encourages you to be who you want to be, the sky is the limit. And Iceland has such a unique sky.

Reka is a leukemia survivor. I photographed her on the Széchenyi...

Reka is a leukemia survivor. I photographed her on the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, in May. As this majestic bridge was brought back to life after being blown up during the Second World War, Reka, helped by the doctors, survived cancer.

Two years ago, while under chemotherapy she started to document her experience through powerful self-portraits. She wanted to show that a bald woman, struggling for her life, can still be strong and beautiful. She started to post her meaningful series on social media, to give courage and hope to other people in similar situations. How many of us could have such strength in such a moment?

Brave Reka beat leukemia and today she continues her work, inspiring and empowering those suffering of cancer. She is photographing cancer survivors, sharing their stories on social media. Dear Reka, may your courage and positivity save as many lives as possible.

She’s Sigríður, a few days ago, on the streets of Reykjavik,...

She’s Sigríður, a few days ago, on the streets of Reykjavik, Iceland. Last week I left this cold and splendid country which gave me the chance to meet amazing women with fascinating names.

I’m now in Toronto, Canada. There is where my journey to the Americas begins. It’s my daughter’s first trip outside Europe, and I, myself, feel like I’m for the very first time here. New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Texas and then Latin America, be ready, we’re coming!

Today my daughter Natalia turns one year. And what a year…We’ve...

Today my daughter Natalia turns one year. And what a year…

We’ve visited 10 countries with The Atlas of Beauty, we’ve cried, we’ve smiled and, most importantly, we grew up healthily.

Being a mother is immensely challenging. And being a mother, while also traveling and working, is even more challenging. Natalia is breastfed and she always wants me next to her. She constantly wakes up during the night and I haven’t had any decent sleep in the past 12 months. She doesn’t stay more than 20 minutes in a stroller, because she loves being in my arms, and she’s heavier and heavier. Like any baby, she needs better travel conditions than an adult, so more struggles to raise funds for traveling.

So why doing all the effort? Why becoming a mother, and more than that, why also continuing a challenging work after giving birth?

Because all these days, with all the challenges, are the most beautiful days I ever had. Because all the difficulties are instantly forgotten when she smiles to me. Because while working, I can offer her a chance to discover the world and its people. Because I have an amazing husband who now travels with me and shares the responsibility, the effort, the happiness of raising a child.

Happy Birthday, Natalia! May the world offer you the most precious gifts. May the people we encounter inspire you to be a beautiful human being.

I stepped for the very first time into a tablao in March, in...

I stepped for the very first time into a tablao in March, in Barcelona. Wow, what a fascinating world. A tablao is a place where flamenco shows are performed and, believe me, it’s such an awesome experience to see the passion, the power, the charisma of great flamenco artists.

One of the dancers I encountered in this tablao was Gema. I photographed her just a few meters away from the venue, because there I discovered this splendid panorama of Barcelona.

Flamenco wasn’t born here, but this region gave some of the best dancers. Originally from Andalusia, in Southern Spain, Flamenco has been influenced by and associated with the Romani people in Spain.

Gema herself comes from a Romani family which has strong ties with this astonishing art. Gema’s great-grandaunt, Carmen Amaya, was one of the greatest flamenco dancers of all time. Some say Carmen was the first female to truly master the flamenco footwork, previously reserved for the best male dancers, due to its speed and intensity. She used to be called a human tornado. Now, almost a century later, her great-grandniece continues the tradition.

I sometimes feel that the photos of mothers with their children...

I sometimes feel that the photos of mothers with their children tell so much and a longer caption would only spoil the charm. So I will only say that I photographed Carmen, who is Romanian, and her daughters, Ranya and Zara, who also have Middle Eastern roots, in Bucharest, Romania.

I noticed Hajnalka on a rainy day in Nyugati Train Station, in...

I noticed Hajnalka on a rainy day in Nyugati Train Station, in Budapest, Hungary. Her colourful outfit was contrasting with the dark weather.

Hajnalka is a nurse and she has seen them all in the hospital where she works. But she chose to stay on the bright side of life, expressing that every day through her style.

“I believe in unicorns” she told me. In that rainy day a few dozens of them were flying on her jacket.

These lovely ladies met in high school and they remained good...

These lovely ladies met in high school and they remained good friends since then. About 70 years later, I met them on the streets of Oslo, Norway. It was a dark day of May, but they were shinning. They told me they are out “to celebrate old age”. Beautiful age and beautiful friendship!

After I photographed her in January on the streets of Dublin,...

After I photographed her in January on the streets of Dublin, Ireland, she recited one of her poems. Wow, you can’t imagine how amazing she is.

Natalya is the kind of poet who’s art is also about reciting her poetry. She’s a spoken word artist who combines boldness and sensitivity in an astonishing way. “I can be soft and strong in the same breath” says one of her lines.

Please take a minute and read one of Natalya’s brilliant poems, called “Not like other girls”. It’s her story, but also the story of so many of us:

——————————

“I never liked pink or glitter or bows. Instead I chose blue and dirt and diggin’.
Never liked lipsticks or perfume, never hung horse-themed posters in my bedroom,
assumed I was not like the other girls, and the other girls were not like me.
I shied away from my femininity, maximised my masculinity
so that the boys wouldn’t pick me last in team chasing.
I’d sooner fall in the muck than be stuck sittin’ with the girls,
all swappin’ stories of the glories of kissing boys. It was all just noise to me.
I didn’t see why I was different but I knew I was.
I didn’t abide by the agreed upon girl code laws.
I didn’t want to be girly or soft or weak.
I didn’t want to be considered delicate or meek ‘cause that’s what girls are
– or so I was told.
Society had pitted me against myself.
I denied my own identity to embody what was said to be for the boys,
but now I know I’m not like other girls.
I can be soft and strong in the same breath
I can like shoes and makeup and still have depth.
I can be brave while wiping tears on my sleeve.
I can be everything or nothing I’m expected to be.
I can be like the other girls and they can be like me.”

Two soulmates and a heartwarming story. I met Marina and Elena...

Two soulmates and a heartwarming story.

I met Marina and Elena on the streets of Valencia, Spain in March. The two young Spanish live in Alicante and were traveling here.

Marina and Elena told me that people usually believe that they are sisters. And in a way, that’s true. Since they met in their university, a few years ago, they are almost always together and like to call themselves soulmates.

They love to go to dance classes together, to do slalom and to volunteer in children hospitals doing different activities with the little ones. Both spent much of their childhood in hospitals
and they know how important is to have support when you need it most.

I felt so much love, kindness and generosity coming from these amazing women while talking to them. And to me these are synonyms of beauty…Multiplied by two.