In 2013, Mihaela Noroc took her camera and backpack and left her home of Bucharest, Romania to travel. She had been inspired by a trip she had just taken to Ethiopia, where she found herself surrounded by an amazing mosaic of cultures and traditions. It was after that trip that she realized she could combine her two passions (travel and photography) and make a career out of it by photographing women around the world.
How it Started
On her journey, Noroc began photographing everyday women candidly. Her goal was to showcase that beauty has no bounds, and that the diversity of our world is a treasure —not a reason for conflicts.
During her travels, Noroc photographed more than two thousand women in every corner of the world. When there was no language barrier, she listened to their stories. Oftentimes, she would only have minutes to capture a portrait, but the result of her curiosity and appreciation for diversity is a stunning photography project called The Atlas of Beauty.
Noroc sought beauty in everyday women around the world. From Brazilian favelas, to isolated areas of Afghanistan. She found them in an Iranian mosque; on the Tibetan Plateau; in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and in North Korea. Noroc also explored remote regions like the Amazon rainforest, but found equally interesting subjects in upscale areas of Paris, in downtown New York and in the heart of Beijing.
The vibrant photography book is a collection of 500 of her best portraits of women around the world, from more than 50 countries. Accompanying the images are stories that capture a rare glimpse into the daily experience of women, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. The perfect coffee table companion for anyone who appreciates the beauty in travel.
MICHELLE ARELLANO MARTIN
