Spiritually awakened, he chose photography and due to his ambition and dedication in less than a year his work has been internationally recognized and he became a stringer for some of the most important press agencies (Associated Press and Getty Images).

Photography became a new means of expressing his social artistry and belief in doing good. Therefore in his projects he approached some of the intriguing aspects of living in today’s Romania, in an attempt to raise awareness and increase social responsibility among institutions and individuals. He believes that we are way beyond the point where a true documentary photographer simply just shows us the reality as they see it.

While being objective, he believes that photographers should continue their work and attempt to help way pass their assignments. And that is because, as ‘eye witnesses’ they have or should have a better understanding of the situation than anybody else.

He is especially attached to the Roma people’s cause and he hopes that one day, his work, from images to public speeches and presentations will help end the plight of the Roma people. UNHCR, UNICEF (Romania and Switzerland), Open Society and Amnesty International already used and commissioned his work on Roma people.

He did two stories for Le Monde des Religions (part of Le Monde Group) – 2010 and 2011. In April 2012 he had an assignment for WIRED Magazine in Glasgow, Scotland. In May 2013 he had an assignment for Beobachter Magazine. In 2013 he helped BBC produce “Living with the Roma” documentary.

Mugur’s images have been published by Le Monde des Religions, The Economist, The New York Times, Welt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mois, Beobachter, Marianne, NRC, Vice Romania and Vice International, The Guardian. He exhibited for UNHCR, marking the WRD and the 60th Anniversary of UNHCR and his work on recent uprising events in Syria was screened at Visa Pour l’Image 2011.

His photo-essay on the plight of Roma people in Romania was screened at Visa Pour l’Image in 2012. ‘Roma, always’ photo essay was screened at Visa Pour l’Image in 2014.

His story about the plight of the Roma kids in Eforie Sud was featured in the ‘We the Children’ unicef anniversary book marking 25 years since the UN convention on the Rights of the Child was signed.

Even though he only started as a photographer in 2010, he won the iReport CNN award 2010, he had his images selected among Daphne Angles (2010), Alexia Singh, Renata Ferri and Paul Romer (2011) personal choice at CPN (Canon Professional Network). On December 20, 2011, he received a ‘Honorable Mentions’ distinction – UNICEF ‘Photo of the Year’ 2011. In 2013 he won third place, portrait category in Pictures of the Year International competition.

He is the first Romanian photographer selected to be part of Canon Ambassadors Program as an Explorer. Invited in 2012 by American and the Dutch Embassies to discus about the plight of the Roma community in Baia Mare. Invited in 2013 by World Bank to discuss about living conditions among vulnerable groups with focus on Roma people. As a result of his implication in helping end the Roma plight and following the attacks of local authorities, that turned him into a target, Mugur was granted the human rights defender status by Amnesty International.

In 2014, united by their shared believes in education and implication, Mugur was invited by World Vision to become their ambassador.

Public speaker on human rights issues and social implication through photography (Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Oradea).

Invited by high schools and universities to talk about human rights and social implication – Lauder Reut, I.L. Caragiale (social camp at Valea Plopului), CN Aurel Vlaicu, CN Grigore Moisil, Avram Iancu School, CN Mircea cel Batran (Constanta), IEFC (Barcelona).

In 2014 the Romanian National TV did a feature about Mugur’s work.

In 2019 he made his debut as a producer and film director. His documentary, Red Man was awarded Special Mention at the international political film festival, Cinepolitica.

A newcomer to the ever growing numbers of photojournalists, Mugur has made himself known very rapidly, covering a variety of subjects in different countries for extended periods of time. He produced a large body of work over a very short time span. He has all the resources required to be a recognized member of the present time photojournalism community, as well as the drive to invest every effort in this endeavor. With good light inside the soul and outside in his photographs, Mugur, as a true advocate of change, hopes his images will highlight important human issues and persuade the viewers to step in and offer practical help to those in need.

To Mugur, and hopefully for all photographers, making a practical difference for the better for those in need through his pictures is the main target, the highest and only truly meaningful reward for his work.

“We claim we want to help when all we do is to run from one story to another…I say, let’s be redundant for a while and stay on the stories next to us until we really start seeing improvements. There are many stories that need our long term commitment. I choose to tell the story of the Roma people for it’s a story more relevant today in Europe than it ever was. Respecting the rights of the Roma people is something each of us can help others do. It’s not easy and it involves Romanians and Europeans alike” – Mugur Varzariu.