honorable mention
Alain Schroeder belgium
title
Miracle Mud
In the beginning of the 20th century, when the curative properties of the mud were recognized by the scientific community, Techirghiol established itself as a spa town with organized mud extraction and treatment facilities. The public nomol (mud) baths are open 7 days a week. Buckets of mud are spread around the beach and people cover all or parts of their bodies then stand in the sun for 20-30 minutes as it hardens changing from shiny black to light gray. Next a swim in the lake gently and ecologically washes the mud off sustainably recycling it. But that is not all. The benefits of the saline lake water are extracted by allowing the salt to dry on the skin in the sun. A final rinse in fresh water leaves the skin soft and hydrated.
Residents of the region have been coming here their whole lives, while visitors from other parts of Romania and elsewhere generally come for a week or two combining specialized treatments at the sanatorium or more luxurious hotels with regular visits to the lake.
In 2013, he uprooted his life, trading-in his shares in Reporters, to pursue life on the road with a camera. Schroeder now travels the world shooting stories focusing on social issues, people and their environment. «I am not a single shot photographer. I think in series,» he says adding, «I strive to tell a story in 10-15 pictures, capturing the essence of an instant with a sense of light and framing.»
He has won many international awards including Nikon Japan, Nikon Belgium, TPOTY, Istanbul Photo, Days Japan, Trieste Photo, PX3, IPA, MIFA, BIFA, PDN, the Fence, Lens Culture, Siena, POYI and World Press Photo.
He is represented in France by REA.
Website: https://alainschroeder.myportfolio.com
Instagram: alainschroeder
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entry description
Techirghiol, derived from (Turkish) Tekir’s lake, is a small Romanian town on the Black Sea famous for its therapeutic mud discovered by an old Turkish man and his donkey. There are several variations of the story and its origins, but all share the same principle: the thick black mud (highly-concentrated sediment rich in organic matter) found at the bottom of the lake is particularly effective in the treatment of arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, skin ailments and detoxification, and beneficial for overall well-being.In the beginning of the 20th century, when the curative properties of the mud were recognized by the scientific community, Techirghiol established itself as a spa town with organized mud extraction and treatment facilities. The public nomol (mud) baths are open 7 days a week. Buckets of mud are spread around the beach and people cover all or parts of their bodies then stand in the sun for 20-30 minutes as it hardens changing from shiny black to light gray. Next a swim in the lake gently and ecologically washes the mud off sustainably recycling it. But that is not all. The benefits of the saline lake water are extracted by allowing the salt to dry on the skin in the sun. A final rinse in fresh water leaves the skin soft and hydrated.
Residents of the region have been coming here their whole lives, while visitors from other parts of Romania and elsewhere generally come for a week or two combining specialized treatments at the sanatorium or more luxurious hotels with regular visits to the lake.
about the photographer
Belgian photographer Alain Schroeder (b. 1955) has been working in the industry for over four decades. During his tenure as a sports photographer in the 80s, his shots appeared on more than 500 magazine covers. Book assignments and editorial pieces with subjects as diverse as travel, art, culture and human interest followed and in 1989, he co-founded the Belgian photo agency, Reporters. Schroeder led the business during the golden years of photography and into the digital age.In 2013, he uprooted his life, trading-in his shares in Reporters, to pursue life on the road with a camera. Schroeder now travels the world shooting stories focusing on social issues, people and their environment. «I am not a single shot photographer. I think in series,» he says adding, «I strive to tell a story in 10-15 pictures, capturing the essence of an instant with a sense of light and framing.»
He has won many international awards including Nikon Japan, Nikon Belgium, TPOTY, Istanbul Photo, Days Japan, Trieste Photo, PX3, IPA, MIFA, BIFA, PDN, the Fence, Lens Culture, Siena, POYI and World Press Photo.
He is represented in France by REA.
Website: https://alainschroeder.myportfolio.com
Instagram: alainschroeder
back to gallery