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
