An exhibition of portrait photography of Bulgarian soldiers was unveiled just several days before May 6 - the Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Army. Military exercises, ceremonies and rituals are shown through the lenses of the first female photographer of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense Vyara Yoveva. She managed to capture the moment and reproduce those events in frames filled with a lot of emotions. The photo exhibition is held under the auspices of the Minister of Defense and can be seen until May 8 in the Military Club in Sofia.

Vyara has been working under that project since 2013:

“I want to show the best aspects and the reality in the Bulgarian army, as well as the people who are part of the armed forces. It is very easy and attractive to make photos of machinery, equipment and weapons. However, there are always people behind those machines and I want to tell more about their lives in my photos. I want to motivate the Bulgarian soldiers, because they are dedicated, serve well their motherland and wear their shoulder straps proudly.”

Vyara is proud of her job, because she is the first female photographer employed at the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. Moreover, her job is a great professional challenge:

“It was quite difficult in the beginning, because people did not show high confidence in a shy and feeble girl wearing a huge briefcase. However, I did things step by step and built my own style. I love to do irregular and difficult things. Thus, I feel the pleasure of my job. ”

Vyara’s passion in photography came accidentally - after she received a camera as a present. Now, photography is the meaning of her life. In her view, the most important thing for all photographers is to capture the right moment, although their equipment weighs nearly ten kilos. “You must wait for that moment to come. You must be prepared for each look, smile and gesture and think one move ahead”, says Vyara.

Vyara is not even afraid of photographing military exercises:

“Military trainings do not scare me. On the contrary, they fill me with more ambition. When I attend such events I know what to expect and think one move ahead. I am always on the alert, because it is dangerous to be around and I make sure I am not taking photos under a helicopter or nearby weapons.”

The brave photographer has captured with her lenses a lot of emotions in that harsh military environment.

“In most cases photographers make history. I was very excited when I had to take photos of the last flight of a Bulgarian general. He gathered all his family members and friends to witness his last flight. The general did his job for one last time. This was the end of his professional career, which made me very emotional.”

The military men are also people with big hearts. That is why Vyara dedicated her exhibition to a charity cause:

“I am planning to make a book with all my photos and donate the revenues from that book, because an eight years-old Bulgarian girl needs medical help. Her name is Nikita and she is a daughter of a Bulgarian seaman from the naval forces. That child suffers from cerebral paralysis and urgently needs financial assistance to pay for her surgery.”

Here is what Vyara wished her colleagues on occasion of May 6- the Day of Bulgarian Army.

“May all Bulgarian soldiers wear their shoulder straps proudly, be loyal and love their country as always.”

English version: Kostadin Atanasov