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"The PhotoTechnicians

of Bulgaria"

This story in portraits by Boris Kovachev was made possible with the kind support and cooperation of The Regional Historical Museum of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It took place at the Museum centre for modern history - Angel Bukoreshtliev Str. 14, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

*The entire photographic exhibition was donated by the Auyhor to the Regional Historical Museum of Plovdiv. All display prints were sized 48x33cm, with the exception of the 4 dual-tone portraits, which were 70x50cm each. All intellectual property rights reserved by Boris Kovachev.
Our love for photography - as an art, a technical sorcery, a higher form of science, a masterful manipulation of light, theft of moments from reality, and last but not least - life's struggle for maintaining a life of hardship and constant challenge - has always driven us to gaze upon and marvel at the magnificent fine-art work of renowned photo-artists and photographers. With that said, HOW OFTEN DO WE - the beholders of all that photographic beauty, even with an eye to the viewfinder of numerous cameras, flexing our itchy trigger-fingers - TAKE THE TIME to consider what force drives and keeps these mechanical instruments of our art "alive and kicking". OUR CAMERAS - mechanical devices that far surpass in complexity even the most exquisite products by the Swiss and Japanese watch-makers - are being maintained, repaired and sometimes upgraded even above factory-standards by A HANDFUL of proud Bulgarians, who remain unlit by the flashes and obscured from the attention of the grand exhibition halls. These are the PHOTO TECHNICIANS of Bulgaria. Over the years these masterful artisans have kept the tools of the photographic trade in working order, often tackling nearly impossible tasks – repairing cameras and lenses decades since discontinued by their original manufacturers, being forced to manufacture spare parts on their own, and often even converting everyday objects into makeshift solutions when a factory-spec substitute is not available! The tough living conditions here in Bulgaria forces these technical virtuosos to repair for overly-discount prices equipment SO EXPENSIVE, that the majority of us dare not even look at that part of the manufacturer’s catalog. Besides helping skilled photographers and photo-enthusiasts alike by servicing their gear, our PHOTO TECHNICIANS are a streaming source of valuable advice and information on all aspects of photography, sharing with patience and understanding with all who care only ask for their opinion. IT WAS WITH AMAZEMENT I discovered that for the hundreds of thousands, or even millions picture-snappers, holding a camera in all of Bulgaria, there were FEWER THAN TWENTY brave souls daring to undertake the colossal task of repairing an maintaining photographic equipment for all of us! The vast majority of the public remain oblivious to the personality and the names of these precise masters of fine mechanics and I think it is about time we acknowledge their professional skills and achievements in our land – Bulgaria. A country which is in debt before these unspoken heroes of Photography, since a lot of photo-stories and events of its history would have remained unrecorded in photographs, pictures, shots if it hadn’t been to the toils of these few proud Bulgarians. Today, more than ever, with the immense popularity of the photographic image, as a medium for sharing impressions and emotions, we get to value and treasure the vast diversity of all generations of cameras and lenses – old and analogue, as well as modern digital devices, and the magical blend of both – AND IT IS exactly these few people who are responsible for maintaining, and sometimes even imbuing new lease of life, to the entire kaleidoscope of photo-gadgets surrounding us every day! I am not a photographer, but my love for photography is kept burning by the fact that it’s an inseparable part of my job. To me photography has grown into a hobby, a life’s passion and a salvation from all the “negatives” of modern life – even the most scratched and smudged in fingerprints emulsion negative is more soothing than any “news broadcast”. All this time it was the talented PHOTO TECHNICIANS, who aided me with advice and lent me their professional skills, in order to keep my passion alive. 

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