Photo Album on Constantin Orasan's website

Tulips at Wisley Garden

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve been a member of RHS Wisley Garden for over four years now, and no matter when I visit, I’m always struck by how much there is to see in bloom. Even in winter, when most plants are resting, you can still find pockets of colour inside the greenhouses.

Every visit seems to end the same way: I take far more photos than I planned. And every time I get home, I tell myself I should upload a few to my website, not just because the flowers are so beautiful, but also to keep track of how blooming times change from year to year.

Christmas market in Craiova

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being an invited speaker the 3rd edition of the Conference on Recent Advances in Digital Humanities. The event was excellent, as expected, and my talk on LLMs and accessibility was warmly received. The real surprise, though, was discovering the city of Craiova and its Christmas market.

Craiova is quite far from my hometown, so I never managed to visit it while I was living in Romania. After accepting the conference invitation, I learned about the Christmas market and wasn’t sure what to expect. It turned out to be remarkable. It was voted the best Christmas market, and after seeing it, I completely understand why. There is even a flying Santa Claus. The market was crowded every evening, but I still managed to capture a few 360-degree photos of the main square.

The shell grotto

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This summer, I spent a few days of holiday in Kent, and one of the most intriguing attractions I came across was the Shell Grotto in Margate. I decided to explore it, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. The grotto is truly a hidden gem — a subterranean passageway adorned with a stunning mosaic of 4.6 million shells. What makes this place even more fascinating is the mystery surrounding its origins — no one knows who built it or why. You can learn more about its history on its official website or through its Wikipedia page.

Bluebells in Cocknell's Wood

Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bluebells in Surrey are pretty spectacular, and since I moved in Surrey, nearly 4 years ago, I went to see them every single year. In the past, I used to go to Staffhurst Wood, but that’s a bit too far away. This year, I decided to try a new place, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I embarked on a journey to see the famed bluebells of Cocknell’s Wood, and I was absolutely blown away by the sheer scale of the floral display. The moment I stepped into the woods, I was greeted by a breathtaking sea of blue. The sheer number of flowers was staggering creating a photographer’s paradise.

Barcelona

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Photos taken in Barcelona, Spain during a number of trips I took more than ten years ago. Even though I haven’t been there for a while, Barcelona is still one of my favourite cities.

This photo album is part of my attempt to revive my old photo galleries.

Malaga

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Photos taken in Malaga, Spain in December 2010. That was the first time when I visited Malaga and the only time when I was there for holiday. I still remember quite fondly what a wonderful time I had, especially because the weather was hot even for a Spanish winter.

This photo album is part of my attempt to revive my old photo galleries.