Douazeci de ani de lumina, locuri, oameni – si bucuria tacuta de a privi lumea prin obiectiv.
In acest octombrie se implinesc douazeci de ani de la primul workshop de fotografie din Magura, Bran — momentul in care a inceput ceea ce avea sa devina PhotoTOUR, prima agentie de turism din Romania dedicata exclusiv turismului fotografic. Si singura.
Doua decenii de ture foto si workshopuri, de prietenii nascute sub lumina rece a diminetilor de munte sau in tacerea apusurilor in care cuvintele se opresc - pentru ca totul merita doar privit. Douazeci de ani de fotografie si calatorie.
O viziune care a prins radacini
In 2005, in octombrie, am pornit dintr-o credinta simpla: ca fotografia devine mai puternica atunci cand este traita impreuna.
Dincolo de aparate, tehnica si compozitie, exista o curiozitate comuna - dorinta de a intelege lumea prin imagine.
Primul workshop, cel de la Magura, a fost inceputul unei povesti care avea sa adune, de-a lungul anilor, mii de participanti si sute de itinerarii.
„Toamna la Magura” a devenit rapid mai mult decat o tura foto: o traditie, un reper si o sursa de inspiratie pentru intreaga comunitate fotografica din Romania.
„Prin PhotoTOUR, mi-am dorit sa construiesc nu doar o agentie de turism, ci o scoala informala de a privi lumea.”
Patagonia, Chile - Torres del Paine
Romania, privita altfel
PhotoTOUR a fost mereu despre a spune povestea Romaniei altfel - despre a lega fotografia de sensul mai profund al calatoriei: descoperire si intelegere.
Motto-ul nostru, „Calatoreste ca un fotograf”, s-a nascut firesc din aceasta idee.
De la Maramures - cu mocanita si bisericile sale de lemn - pana la colturi ascunse ale Deltei Dunarii, de pe culmile Retezatului pana in satele in care timpul pare sa fi uitat sa treaca, fiecare traseu a fost o explorare a luminii, locului si oamenilor.
Proiecte precum „Muzica lemnului“, „La deal cu Mocanita“, „Delta Salbatica“ sau „Toamna la Magura“ s-au transformat, in timp, in adevarate capitole dintr-un atlas vizual al Romaniei.
Nu doar excursii — ci experiente scrise, la propriu, in imagini.
Romania, Maramures - Mocanita de pe Vaser
Dincolo de granite
Dar PhotoTOUR nu s-a oprit niciodata la hotarele tarii.
De-a lungul anilor, am condus grupuri de fotografi in Himalaya, Patagonia, Tibet, Dolomiti, Alaska si Peru - locuri in care geografia devine spectacol, iar fotografia, introspectie.
„Acolo unde altii ajung ca turisti, noi ajungem ca povestitori.”
Acelasi spirit a dat nastere seriei video Povestile PhotoTOUR - scurtmetraje si reflectii despre fotografie, calatorie si descoperire:
https://www.youtube.com/@mihaimoiceanu3010
Franta, Chamonix
Educatie prin fotografie
Dincolo de calatorii, PhotoTOUR a fost intotdeauna un proiect despre a invata sa vezi.
Prin workshopuri, analize de portofoliu, discutii pe teren si feedback personalizat, am incercat sa-i ajut pe participanti sa depaseasca latura tehnica a fotografiei si sa-si cultive propria privire.
In timp, s-a format o adevarata comunitate de fotografi care stiu ca o imagine buna nu se face doar cu aparatul, ci cu ochiul, rabdarea si timpul petrecut privind.
Nepal, Himalaya - Dhaulagiri
20 de ani si un nou inceput
Astazi, PhotoTOUR este mai mult decat o agentie de turism sau un proiect educational.
Este o stare de spirit, un loc de intalnire intre oameni, culturi si natura.
Douazeci de ani de proiecte, drumuri si povesti sunt, de fapt, doar inceputul unui nou capitol.
Privind spre viitor, PhotoTOUR isi propune destinatii noi, prietenii noi si vise noi de fotografiat - totul sub acelasi motto care ne defineste de la inceput:
„Calatoreste ca un fotograf.”
Franta, Chamonix
PhotoTOUR – 20 Years of Journeys in Images
“Twenty years of light, places, people - and the quiet joy of seeing the world through a lens.”
This October marks twenty years since that very first photography workshop in Măgura, Bran — the moment that planted the seed for what would become PhotoTOUR, Romania’s first travel agency dedicated exclusively to photographic journeys.
Two decades of expeditions and workshops, of friendships born under cold mountain mornings or silent sunsets where words fade - because everything simply deserves to be seen.
Twenty years of journeys told in images.
A Vision That Took Root
Back in 2005, I started PhotoTOUR from a simple belief: that photography becomes stronger when it’s lived together.
Beyond gear, technique, or composition, there’s a shared curiosity - the wish to understand the world through images.
That first workshop in Măgura became the beginning of a story that would gather, over the years, thousands of participants and hundreds of itineraries.
“Autumn in Măgura” soon turned into more than a photo tour: it became a tradition, a landmark, and a source of inspiration for the entire Romanian photographic community.
“Through PhotoTOUR, I wanted to build not just a travel agency, but an informal school of seeing the world.”
USA, Alaska - Wonder Lake, Denali
Romania, Seen Differently
PhotoTOUR has always been about telling Romania’s story in another light — connecting photography not just with travel, but with its deeper meaning: discovery and understanding.
Our motto, “Travel like a photographer,” came naturally from that idea.
From Maramureș - with its steam train and wooden churches - to the hidden corners of the Danube Delta, from the Retezat peaks to villages where time seems to have stopped, every route has been an exploration of light, place, and people.
Projects like The Music of Wood, Up the Hills with the Mocănița, Wild Delta, and Autumn in Măgura have become, over time, chapters of a visual atlas of Romania.
Not just trips - but experiences written, quite literally, in photographs.
Romania, Maramures - Mocanita de pe Vaser
Beyond Borders
But PhotoTOUR never stopped at Romania’s borders.
Over the years, I’ve led groups of photographers to the Himalayas, Patagonia, Tibet, the Dolomites, Alaska, and Peru - places where geography becomes spectacle and photography turns into introspection.
“Where others arrive as tourists, we arrive as storytellers.”
That same spirit inspired the YouTube series PhotoTOUR Stories - short films and reflections about photography, travel, and discovery.
Italia, Dolomiti - Civetta si Dolomiti belunesi
Education Through Photography
Beyond travel, PhotoTOUR has always been about learning to see.
Through workshops, portfolio reviews, field discussions, and one-on-one feedback, I’ve tried to help participants move beyond the technical side of photography and cultivate a way of looking - a visual mindset.
Over time, this became a true community of photographers who understand that a good image is not made only with the camera - but with the eye, patience, and time spent observing.
Romania, Retezat - Lacul Bucurel
20 Years and a New Beginning
Today, PhotoTOUR is more than a travel agency or an educational project.
It’s a state of mind, a meeting place between people, cultures, and nature.
Twenty years of projects, journeys, and stories are, in truth, just the beginning of a new chapter.
Looking ahead, PhotoTOUR will continue exploring new destinations, new friendships, and new dreams to photograph - all under the same guiding motto:
“Travel like a photographer.”