The Solution

Darija spent several months in Eastern Serbia with Vlachs, a small ethnic group with a deeply rooted cult of death. They believe that the existence of the living is tightly interwoven with the life of the dead. She documented their mystic rituals and ceremonies turned into a celebration of life, moments of joyful grief that elsewhere would be considered tragedies.

My chosen design approach was both minimalist and bold. I went for a full white cover complimented with a subtle red end-blocking to hint at the duality of the subject matter; an edge of darkness brought into the light. The Inside spreads were designed with a strong emphasis on the photography itself, using generous white spaces and cinematic compositions to tell the story to the reader.