A Decade in 18,000 Frames – Sofia Through the Lens of Ivan Shishiev

Ten years and 18,000 published shots—that is the record of Ivan Shishiev, who recently took a brief look back at the past decade. During this time, he captured countless moments, faces and iconic locations across the Bulgarian capital. His social media page, ‘Sketches of Sofia’, remains one of the most popular, with images that make us both smile and reflect.

Many of the photos are also available in several photo books, which would make a fine addition to any home library. The fourth of these, “Sketches of Sofia – 10 Years in Frames”, has just been released, offering a chance to explore how Sofia has changed over the past decade through Shishiev’s unique perspective, which captures even the smallest details.

“Sofia has changed for the better, though not perfectly. Ten years ago, several metro stations had not been built, and the third line did not exist at all. Lavov Most (Lions' Bridge) was an extremely unpleasant place that people avoided, but now it has become a fantastic square. Vitosha Boulevard was not pedestrianised, and trams and cars ran through it from morning to evening, causing constant traffic jams.

Many old buildings have been revitalised, although some people argue it is not entirely so. The small house at the Vishneva bus stop burned down and was rebuilt; the Sofia History Museum was established in a prominent new location; the ‘Chitalnya’ (Reading Area) was created; and many new festivals emerged. Sofia is changing, but we should not leave it solely to the municipality or the state to address the problems around us when we ourselves have the opportunity to contribute.”

In this edition of the album, Shishiev continues to focus on people and landscapes, as well as numerous events in the city.

“I have tried to capture all the significant events that have occurred in Sofia over the past decade, whether festivals such as ‘Rivers of Sofia’, ‘Sofia Lights’ and ‘A to Jazz’, or more momentous occasions such as the return of Tsar Ferdinand’s mortal remains to Bulgaria, the death of His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte, or even some of the protests that have taken place,” he says.

The most recent photos in the album were taken in July this year. The pages also feature the first images that started the ‘Sketches of Sofia’ project, taken on 16 and 17 March 2015.

When asked which images he selected for the beginning and end of the book, Shishiev explained:

“The first is a black-and-white shot of a boy who has climbed the Fraternal Monument in Borisova Garden and is pointing in one direction, while three others below, shown only as silhouettes, raise their hands and ask, ‘What are you pointing at?’ The last image is one I wanted to use as the ending for my first book but never did: boys on bicycles, again seen as silhouettes against the setting sun along Alexander Stamboliyski Boulevard.”

In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, Shishiev announced that this would be the final book dedicated to Sofia for quite some time.

“If I publish a new book about Sofia, it will be for the 15th or 20th anniversary of the project. Before people start to think that something negative is happening, I want to reassure them that the album Sketches of Bulgaria will be released in two years. This edition will feature photographs from all regions of Bulgaria, where I will meet people, explore landmarks, and capture the small details that we often overlook.”