FRAGRANCES FROM BULGARIA
IN SEARCH OF AROMATIC FIELDS
About the exhibition
The blue-violet beauty of the lavender fields conquered the heart of Krassimir Matarov and he embarked on a several-year search for these visions all over Bulgaria, alongside with his colleague Ruslan Asanov. Back then the aromatic fields were not marked on the geographic maps, there were no signposts and directions, and those few who have already found the seas of lavender were fervently keeping the secret. That is why the two photographers traveled for a long time, talked to experts, pursued the purple and pink visions along the way, and then tirelessly waited for the right moment of the perfect shot. Nowadays the tiny hidden lavender fields have become an enormous source of a fast-growing industry for Bulgaria and attract thousands of tourists every year who desire to look, touch, breathe the fragrance and take photographs of the delicate purple plants.
The Rose Valley near Kazanlak is the home of the magnificent and unique Bulgarian rose, whose cultivation and processing to rose-oil is a centuries-old tradition in Bulgaria. The roses, as well as the customs around them, have become the heart of this Bulgarian region and a reason for pride of the whole nation. Let's explore together the magic of the mesmerizing Bulgarian lavender and rose through the eyes of the talented photographers.
Exhibition is prepared by State Institute for Culture at the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Photos Krasimir Matarov, Ruslan Asanov
Texts Ina Guerdjikova
Special thanks to Museum of Rose – Kazanluk
2017
About the authors:
Krasimir Matarov
Krasimir Matarov is a professional photographer, born in Blagoevgrad and based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The talented artist finds his inspiration in landscape and macro photography. He has participated in number of master classes of the World Photographic Organization and is often invited as a jury in international photo contests. Krasimir's creative vision is recognized through numerous awards from national and international photography contests. The photographer is winner in the 2013 Sony Competition in "Nature and Wildlife" category. According to Topteny.com, Krasimir is among the top 10 photographers in the world. Mr. Matarov has presented several solo exhibitions and took part in numerous exhibitions of various artist.
Krasimir shares his professional experience through teaching photography lessons in different schools for 7 years, as well as beginner and advanced courses in photography and Photoshop. The photographer also organizes and hosts landscape and macro seminars, workshops and master classes. Particularly fascinating are the phototrips and photographic adventures, in which the Krasimir and his team take people who are passionate about photography to picturesque locations around Bulgaria to teach them on spot about specific photographic techniques.
"Photography gives me the opportunity to blend in with nature, communicate with it and show some of this dialogue in my pictures".
Ruslan Asanov
Ruslan Asanov is a Bulgarian photographer who expresses his artistic inspiration in landscape and astrophotography. Ruslan is winner of a number of prestigious photography awards, including Sauod Al-Thani in 2015 with an exhibition in Doha, Qatar, his photography was included in the 100 Best Photos of the Year at the International 35 Awards 2016, participated in exhibition in Moscow, Russia.
With Krasimir Matarov they are organizing photo trips all over Bulgaria to share the beauty of the country and their professional experiences with future photographers. Their joint project can be found at www.europhototour.com