In the immediate aftermath of Romania’s December 1989 revolution, the country was gripped by turmoil and uncertainty. The violent overthrow of the Ceausescu regime, marked by an expedited trial and the execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, left a nation in disarray. Romania, once a tightly controlled communist state, found itself in a fragile transition to a new political order, struggling with both the physical and emotional scars of decades of repression.
Between 1990 and 1991, I made several visits to capture the profound changes unfolding in Romania. These visits marked one of my first reportages in a country deeply affected by political and social upheaval. The photographs I took during this time reflect the raw aftermath of revolution—empty streets, hesitant faces, and the quiet chaos that came with the collapse of an oppressive regime. There was a sense of collective disbelief as the nation tried to comprehend its newfound freedom while grappling with economic instability, uncertainty, and a deep sense of loss.
People were still coming to terms with the brutality of Ceausescu’s reign, and the streets echoed with both hope and confusion. There were moments of celebration and defiance, but they were often tempered by the fear of an uncertain future. My images from this time document not only the devastation left in the wake of the revolution but also the resilient spirit of a people who, despite the many challenges, were determined to rebuild their lives and their country.
Roma woman at the flower market in Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Queuing for food, Bucharest, Romania, October 1990
Romania in the immediate aftermath of the December 1989 revolution that culminated in an expeditive trial of the Ceausescu couple and their execution. The photographs were taken during several visits between 1990 and 1991 and are one of my first reportages in a politically and socially affected country. Playing in between apartment blocks, Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Guarding the 'People's Palace' nowadays the Romanian Parliament, Bucharest, November 1990
Bucharest main railway station, a gathering place for street children left behind in the post revolution era, Romania, April 1991
Roma minority in the suburbs of Bucharest, Romania, November 1990
Apartment interior in the suburbs of Bucharest, Romania, November 1990
Timisoara in Romania, November 1990
Post Ceausescu demonstrations in Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Park in Bucharest, Romania, October 1990
Morning street lecture, Bucharest, October 1990
Waiting for a repair, Bucharest, Romania, October 1991
Covered market, Bucharest, October 1990
Free walking in the street, Bucharest, November 1990
New apartment blocks in the suburbs, accomodating people displaced by the destruction of entire neighbourhoods in the city centre during the construction of the 'People's Palace', Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Child, Romania, November 1990
Medical facility for children with special needs, Bucharest, November 1990
Encounter in Toplet, a village in western Romania, November 1990
Bucharest, December 1990
A cold winter day, Bucharest, December 1990
Public phone in central Bucharest, April 1991
Flower stand, Bucharest, December 1990
Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Market seller, Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Market in Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
Poultry section, Bucharest, April 1991
Bucharest, April 1991
New neighbourhoods in the periphery of Bucharest, April 1991
Bucharest suburbs, Romania, April 1991
Bucharest suburbs, Romania, April 1991
Children looking for useable waste, suburbs of Bucharest, April 1991
Downtown Bucharest, April 1991
Romani people starting the day, periphery of Bucharest, April 1991
Post revolution readiness, Bucharest, April 1991
Remembering the revolution, Bucharest, April 1991
Shortly after the revolution bet shops started to appear. Bucharest, April 1991
Old neighbourhood being gradually overtaken by new apartment blocks, Bucharest, April 1991
Bucharest city centre, April 1991
Bucharest encounters, Romania, April 1991
Children playing, Bucharest suburbs, April 1991
Street scene in Bucharest, Romania, April 1991
After the fall of Ceausescu, construction plans have continued paired with the destruction of complete neighbourhoods. Bucharest, April 1991
Neighbourhood in the periphery of Bucharest, April 1991
