Ivan Yalanji

Ivan Yalanji was born in 1980 in the Gagauz region of Moldova. His maternal grandfather, Nikolay Chakir (a nephew of the famous Gagauz enlightener, Protopriest Mikhail Chakir), worked as a photographer's assistant at the court of King Carol II of Romania, and later, at the court of King Mihai I.

After Mihai I was removed from power by the Communists in 1947, he was forced to flee to his relatives in Gagauzia.
Ivan never met his grandfather. He only knew him through his mother's stories. His grandfather left behind an old German ZEISS IKON camera and several photographs of the royal family, which he personally participated in creating.

These photographs were a family secret - Ivan's parents never showed them to guests. Ivan's grandfather was able to pass on his interest in photography to his son-in-law. Ivan's father enjoyed taking pictures of his loved ones, local landscapes, and his children... The process of making photographs seemed like a real miracle to young Ivan. He watched with delight as the image of life appeared in a small tray of solution under the red light... Even then, Ivan's parents noticed how their son's eyes lit up when he looked at photographs in magazines.

Ivan's parents really wanted him to become an agrono...