After working hours, the passions and activities of maib people inspire us to bring more value to what we do.
We invite you to discover the passion for photography of our colleague Vasile Tihon, Training and Development Specialist in the Internal Communication and Development Department.
Vasile, for us, you are a revelation. We knew you had two great passions: working as a maib trainer and running marathons and ultra-marathons. Recently, you have another love - for photography. What sparked your interest in photography?
I have had a passion for photography for at least 15 years. Now, I can't even figure out where it came from and when exactly it started. Around 2006, my brother got a compact camera, and I used to take it with me everywhere; with the emergence of smartphone phones, I started to photograph even more. Unconsciously or not, when choosing a new phone, I would draw attention to its camera and whether customer feedback was excellent.
Do you have a favourite subject or style of photography?
You can find people, nature, and objects in my photos, but I especially like to take portraits. I want to capture people as they are, without the social mask. I don't retouch the images; I can only make small edits to remove some minor elements. Otherwise, I promote the person as they are. I prefer to avoid seeing pictures retouched to the point that the man's face becomes like a cartoon character. I even refused to take any more photos of someone who was retouching the photos I took and distorting reality.
Which camera do you prefer to use and why?
I get visual pleasure from the look of classic cameras, which probably made me buy a digital camera with a retro design. For those who are curious, I divulge the model, Fujifilm XT3. But it's perhaps not just the look of classic cameras that appeals to me, as I've recently started shooting film and have already added 4 such cameras to my collection. There is a charm in film photography, that moment of not knowing "Did I get the frame right? Did the person blink? Is there enough light?" and the answer to all these questions you find out after 2-3 weeks when you shoot those 36 frames and give the film to develop.
What suggestions would you have for someone passionate about photography but just starting?
I recommend not getting a camera immediately but always using the camera you carry with you... I mean your smartphone. Even though I've been passionate about photography for many years, I didn't get my camera until 2021. Until then, I photographed with my phone or occasionally borrowed the camera from acquaintances. So my advice is to start with what you have because you can get the latest and most outstanding camera, but you can't get the ability to see beauty. That is learned over time with practice. Using your phone will help you find out what kind of photography you like: nature, portrait or street photography. So when you decide it's time to get a camera, you'll choose one that suits your needs. For example, suppose you're passionate about nature photography, particularly landscape photography. In that case, you'll need a camera and a 10-24mm wide-angle lens to capture vast landscapes with a wide angle of view. If you like to shoot portraits, you'll need a 24-70mm lens. So the knowledge you've gained will help you choose the right lens, thus saving you money because you won't be buying the wrong "tool".
What are the criteria for choosing a camera?
There is so much to say to this question. If I were to keep it short, I would focus on its size when choosing a camera. As photography is a passion for me, I always tend to take my camera with me, and if I bought a bulky camera, that would make me leave it at home more often. So, first and foremost, I would put it as compact as possible so that you are motivated to take it with you wherever you go, wherever you travel. After that, you choose the technical features, layout etc.
How do you find inspiration for your pictures, and does your work at maib influence your creative vision?
I wonder if I look for it or if inspiration finds me. As I said, I carry my camera with me most of the time, and as soon as I see something that catches my eye, I capture it through the lens. My daily work is a creative thing. I do online courses, and I constantly need images for them. Therefore, the "photographer's eye" helps me find or capture the required images. So yes, this passion for photography positively influences and helps me in my job at maib.
Have you ever used your photography skills in any bank-related projects or events?
Even though I have often used my camera skills within maib, I was also a photographer for a financial education event. I took pictures of a group of students visiting the maib headquarters, where they learned exciting things about the national currency, how money is earned and how to save.
Can presenting the human side of banking through photography create stronger connections with customers? If so, how do you approach capturing these moments?
Yes, through photography, we can create stronger connections with the customer. For many years, the banking system has been and at times still is seen as conservative and closed. Photographs of people dressed strictly and looking more severe were used. This also created a cold image of everyone in the banking system. Showing pictures of people smiling, as with maib, people inside the bank who are present in the photos and in the bank's commercials creates a much warmer and more pleasant feeling when you enter the branch or watch a maib commercial.
We thank Vasile for being one of the inspiring people in the maib team and for all the advice he gives to photography enthusiasts.
We invite you to admire some of Vasile's lovely photos in the gallery.
