I am drawn to and guided by human connection. Through photography I strive to reveal and preserve moments and places that are seemingly left behind. There is uniqueness to every community. I am inspired to convey the inner power of the people in front of my camera: what shines under hardship, hard work; generous spirit, moments of strength.

After immigrating to the United States and living there for more than ten years I realized how important Bulgarian culture and traditions are to me. Surrounded by different cultures and backgrounds in the States has underlined for me how special it is to value where we come from and what we can learn from valuing that in ourselves and in others. After studying photojournalism and photographing the Smithsonian Folklife Festival I became passionate about cultural preservation, and deeply valuing the plentiful resource of local cultural heritage.

For many years I have been concerned with the possibility that the Bulgarian villages are disappearing and that the only people left to sustain it are the elderly who had no other choice. I wish to capture and preserve it for future generations, inspire people to recognize the beauty and benefits of village life and what it has to offer them. Here, perhaps we can find some of what is missing in our lives; contact with nature, and the feeling of self-sufficiency; actual human contact; living in the moment.