Devnya, Bulgaria. The town of Devnya, 30km west of Varna, is now known only for its highly noxious chemical industry, but during the last century its reputation was widespread as Bulgaria’s vampire capital. As most Eastern Europe countries belief in vampires was widespread among the Bulgarian peasantry of the time and they had means of dealing with the night creatures. Local wise men [known as vampirdzhiya or dzhadzhiya] were paid handsomely by villagers to drive the fiends away and vampire hunters of Devnya were considered the best in eastern Bulgaria.
Michal Josephy, Ph.D. Anthropologist and travel reporter. Awards: Prix de la Photographie Paris (1*Silver Prize, 2*Bronze Prize, People's Choice Awards 2013), Tokyo Photo Awards (Conflict - Editorial) Bronze Prize (2016) and Silver Prize (2018), Finalist at The Henri (Cartier - Bresson) Award, International Street Photography Awards, StreetFoto Festival, San Francisco (2017) a London Street Photography Festival 2018, Photographer of the Year (2012), ATOD Magazine.Publications: Facts for Life, Calendar for Unicef Mozambique, Annual Report (2012).
