The long way back home – my photo of the year 2025

In September 2025 I was traveling for business in the SE of Romania. Given the good weather, I decided to travel by car, although distances are not a joke in these parts. As a secondary goal, I wanted to check out the famous landscape of Dobrudja, a province of which I heard so many good things regarding its spectacular appearance. Although I packed a film camera with me (Nikon F2), I also had my Nikon D850 with a 35-70/2.8 safely tucked under the belt of the passenger seat.

Indeed, the land is magnificent in its wild-like appearance; it reminded me of a trip I made to Iceland a long time ago: same dark features of the land, almost primeval feeling of untouched nature, jagged mountains and long shadows. I wasn’t disappointed, for the land indeed offers many opportunities to take beautiful shots.

At one point, looking out on the car’s window, I noticed this ancient type of horse cart, traveling on a narrow road, in the fields nearby. It moved slowly, as things are moving down here on the fringes of the Balkans. For centuries, these carts were the only means of transportation available to farmers and peasants alike, and are still used on a rather large scale in Romania (and of course, in the nearby countries too); of wood, of a rudimentary built yet sleek and affordable, powered by one or two horses, are very much suited for transportation of both humans and cargo, in the vast rural / agricultural areas.

I like to think the carter was heading home, coming from a day’s field work. He took it slowly, as there was no need to tire the animals, of which he care more than anything else (beside his family, of course). He knows that without them horses, his work and living are compromised. Why should he rush? At the end of this day, he’ll have counted a good day’s work, with what I hope was a good crop. Yes, he is tired but he is content with his lot in life and the work done. His family will await him with a hot meal and lots of love. What else is there in life, worth pursuing?

This photograph is one that speaks to me the most in 2025, I guess. And this has value, for me.

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