long term project – Alex Galmeanu's Blog

29 October, 202629 October, 2026

Anastasia, the 24th picture

October means another meeting with Anastasia in my studio for her annual portrait. We started this project in October 2003, exactly 23 years ago. Since then, we’ve taken one portrait every October, so this year marks the completion of our 24th image. That’s 24 portraits spanning 23 years, from 2003 to 2026.

It all began in October 2003, when a very young Anastasia first walked into my studio. Back then, I took her portrait without a specific project in mind. By coincidence, she returned the following October, in 2004, and I took a second portrait, quite similar to the first. That was when we realized this could become a long-term project, and we decided to meet every October for as long as possible, repeating the portrait each year and gradually adding new images to the series.

23 October, 202423 October, 2024

Anastasia – year 21

It’s October again, and, as usual, Anastasia came to my studio for her annual portrait. It’s been 21 years since we started this project, and after this long run, we’ve completed the 22nd image.

Everything began in October 2003, when a very young Anastasia entered my studio for the first time. On that occasion, I made her a portrait without having a project in mind. Coincidentally, Anastasia returned to my studio the following October, in 2004, and I took a second portrait similar to the first one. From that moment, it became clear that this could be a long-term project, so we decided to meet every October for as long as possible, annually repeating our portrait and adding new images to the set.

Interestingly, over all these years, I’ve changed my studio three times, camera and lighting equipment countless times, but I never changed the chair Anastasia sits on. Amusingly, the chair isn’t visible in the pictures, but we (Anastasia and I) know it’s there.

23 October, 202223 October, 2022

Anastasia, fotografia cu numărul 20

It’s October, and as you surely know, it’s the month I usually meet Anastasia Olaru for our annual portrait, so here it is. This time we have a beautiful round number, 20 images since we started the project.

It started in October 2003, 19 years ago, when Anastasia entered my studio for the first time. With that occasion unscheduled, I’ve made her a portrait. Luckily, as a coincidence, Anastasia came again to my studio the following year, in October, and I took her a second portrait similar to the first one. From that moment, it was clear that this could be a long-term project, so we decided to meet each other again every October for as long as possible, annually repeating our portrait and adding new images to this set.

6 October, 20211 April, 2023

Anastasia, fotografia cu nr 19

It is October, and as you probably already know, it is the month I usually meet Anastasia Olaru for our annual portrait, so here it is.

It all started in October 2003, 18 years ago, when Anastasia entered my studio for the first time. With that occasion, totally unscheduled, I’ve made her a portrait. Luckily, as a coincidence, Anastasia came again to my studio the following year, in October, and I’ve taken her a second portrait, similar to the first one. From that moment, it was clear to me that this could be an exciting project, so we decided to meet each other again every October, for as long as possible, annually repeating this portrait.