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The

Artist

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Photographer

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Visual Artist

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Film Director

Natalia Ciobanu

Nominated in
2025
By
Photo Romania Festival
Lives and Works in
Chisinau, Moldova
Based in Chisinau, Moldova, Natalia Ciobanu is an internationally recognized photographer specializing in portraits and travel photography. With over 18 years of experience, she masterfully blends color and emotion, crafting images that tell profound human stories. Her work has been exhibited across Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine and has earned prestigious awards, including Gold Winner at the London Photography Awards, Finalist in the Smithsonian Contest, and distinctions from Nikon Photo Contest and Trierenberg Super Circuit. For Natalia, photography is more than just capturing moments; it’s about telling stories, connecting with people, and celebrating the beauty of the world in all its diversity. Each photograph she creates is an exploration of humanity and a tribute to the colors that define our lives.
Projects
2025

Between Color and Expression

"Between Color and Expression" is a photographic project dedicated to exploring the depth of human emotions and the diversity of inner states, as reflected in authentic portraits. Through this project, I aim to capture more than just images: I seek to unveil the hidden stories behind each gaze, the vulnerability, strength, and uniqueness of every individual. Each portrait is an invitation to introspection, a window into the human soul. Color plays a vital role, becoming a universal language through which I convey complex emotions—joy, melancholy, serenity, or turmoil. The vibrant or subtle tones not only complement the expressions but create a visual harmony that amplifies the message of each image. This project is a celebration of humanity, of the contrasts and nuances that define people. Every face photographed carries a unique story, and through "Between Color and Expression," I aim to offer viewers the opportunity to reflect on their own states and emotions, finding fragments of their lives mirrored in the captured moments.
Show full project
2023

Artists

"Artists" is a tribute to the souls who create—not just their work, but the essence of who they are. This project captures them in their element, where passion meets process, where hands stained with paint, ink, or clay become extensions of their spirit. More than portraits, these images reveal the quiet struggles, the fleeting moments of inspiration, the solitude, and the fire that keeps them going. Their studios, their tools, their unfinished ideas—everything tells a story. I want to show the invisible thread between the artist and their creation, the raw beauty of making something out of nothing. This is about devotion, about the need to create even when no one is watching. It’s about art as survival, as identity, as truth. "Artists" is not just about what they make—it’s about who they are when they do.
Show full project
2023

Artists

"Artists" is a tribute to the souls who create—not just their work, but the essence of who they are. This project captures them in their element, where passion meets process, where hands stained with paint, ink, or clay become extensions of their spirit. More than portraits, these images reveal the quiet struggles, the fleeting moments of inspiration, the solitude, and the fire that keeps them going. Their studios, their tools, their unfinished ideas—everything tells a story. I want to show the invisible thread between the artist and their creation, the raw beauty of making something out of nothing. This is about devotion, about the need to create even when no one is watching. It’s about art as survival, as identity, as truth. "Artists" is not just about what they make—it’s about who they are when they do.
Show full project
2025

Between Color and Expression

"Between Color and Expression" is a photographic project dedicated to exploring the depth of human emotions and the diversity of inner states, as reflected in authentic portraits. Through this project, I aim to capture more than just images: I seek to unveil the hidden stories behind each gaze, the vulnerability, strength, and uniqueness of every individual. Each portrait is an invitation to introspection, a window into the human soul. Color plays a vital role, becoming a universal language through which I convey complex emotions—joy, melancholy, serenity, or turmoil. The vibrant or subtle tones not only complement the expressions but create a visual harmony that amplifies the message of each image. This project is a celebration of humanity, of the contrasts and nuances that define people. Every face photographed carries a unique story, and through "Between Color and Expression," I aim to offer viewers the opportunity to reflect on their own states and emotions, finding fragments of their lives mirrored in the captured moments.
Show full project
Natalia Ciobanu
was nominated by
Photo Romania Festival
in
2025
Show all projects
Each year every member of the FUTURES European Photography Platform nominates a set of artists and projects to become part of the FUTURES network.

Adrian Tudose’s work is deeply rooted in empathy and the human experience. His ability to capture fleeting, transient moments in urban spaces transforms everyday encounters into meaningful, structured compositions. By engaging with themes of emotional vulnerability and social representation, his photography offers an introspective look at the human condition. His contribution to the European emerging photography scene lies in his capacity to bridge documentary and artistic photography, presenting images that are both aesthetically rich and emotionally profound. Tudose's approach challenges viewers to reconsider the role of photography as a medium for storytelling and human connection.

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Natalia Ciobanu, with her long-standing dedication to portraiture and travel photography, contributes a vibrant and emotionally charged perspective to contemporary discourse. Her project "Between Color and Expression" explores the depth of human emotion through striking use of color and composition. By focusing on the authenticity of her subjects, Ciobanu offers a visually poetic reflection on inner states and identity. Her work resonates with a broader European audience by celebrating diversity, introspection, and the universal language of color. She reinforces the significance of portraiture in contemporary photography, emphasizing its power to evoke personal and collective narratives.

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Toma Hurduc’s documentary approach provides a critical, thought-provoking examination of the socio-political landscape in the Balkans. His project "Two Suns" delves into the region’s post-communist struggles, exploring the tensions between inherited ideologies and the rapid expansion of consumerist culture. By blending factual and imaginative elements, Hurduc crafts a layered narrative that questions the construction of memory and the perception of reality. His use of black-and-white 35mm film adds a timeless and surreal quality to his imagery, reinforcing the stark contrasts present in Balkan societies. His work contributes to contemporary European photography by documenting underrepresented histories and offering a raw, unfiltered perspective on socio-political change.

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Together, these three photographers redefine contemporary photography through their commitment to emotion, identity, and societal reflection. Their selection for Futures Photography 2025 highlights the evolving landscape of European photography, where personal narratives and critical discourses merge to shape a more inclusive, thoughtful, and visually compelling future.

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Photo Romania Festival's 2025 nominations were curated by:

Andrei Budescu | Photographer and university professor, former Dean of UAD (University of Art and Design), Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Panagiotis Papoutsis | Photographer and former Artistic Director of Ioannina Photo Festival, Greece

Dorel Găină | Photographer and university professor, former Dean of UAD (University of Art and Design), Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Sebastian Vaida | Photographer and Artistic Director of Photo Romania Festival, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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