In the Oas region of Northern Transylvania, near the border with Ukraine, shepherding used to be more than a profession, it was a way of life, with traditions passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years. Photographer Remus Tiplea, 44, spent nearly five years documenting their customary way of shepherding. (Remus Tiplea)

In the Oas region of northern Transylvania, near the border with Ukraine, shepherding used to be more than a profession, it was a way of life, with traditions passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years. But today, shepherding is changing to become more efficient and traditions are being left by the wayside, so photographer Remus Tiplea, 44, spent nearly five years documenting their customary way of shepherding.

“I became friends with the shepherds,” Tiplea told weather.com. “The shepherds did not hesitate at all to let me photograph them [and] they even rang to tell me if anything interesting would be happening that day to the sheep herd.”

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Over five years, Tiplea was able to photograph in all seasons, from spring when lambs were born, to winter when the sheep huddle in huge herds to keep warm under the snow. He was also able to experience first hand how important the bond between shepherd and sheep was in traditional shepherding, seeing how the washing and cutting of wool, or the making of cheese, has been done for hundreds of years.

“I have a very close relationship with the shepherds,” Tiplea said. “Today, sometimes I just go to see them without photographing them.” As a result of this trust that he built up, he was able to gain their trust so as to really be able to witness the ancient tradition. He was able to observe shepherds playing music for their flocks, and he was even able to attend a traditional funeral of a shepherd, where a rare tradition was practiced: Four sheep walked around the coffin three times, before they were given away as charity because in Orthodox tradition, what is given away at the funeral is what the dead will have again in his afterlife.

To see more of Tiplea’s photography, visit his website.

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