Balgarianovinite.com An exhibition featuring a selection of works by certified photographers opened on Sunday at the Astoria Grand Hotel in Sofia as part of the Sofia Photo Talks forum and the European photographic qualifications programme of the Federation of European Professional Photographers (FEP).
Sofia is hosting this year’s forum and the FEP European Photographic Qualifications from June 12 to 15. The programme is organized by the Association of Professional Photographers (APP).
The official exhibition presents works by photographers who have obtained European professional qualifications. During the event, Miroslav Fabian, Olivia Blanquet, Nico Trinkhaus, Konrad Paprocki and Aja Skrivanova were awarded the Qualified European Photographer (QEP) distinction, while Valentina Acrement received the Master Qualified European Photographer (MQEP) qualification.
“As you can see in this hall, the standards for European photography are exceptionally high, proving that professional photography continues to thrive even in the age of artificial intelligence,” said FEP Executive Director Anna Kaleva-Tsagklas at the exhibition opening.
She expressed hope that the forum would inspire more Bulgarian photographers to apply for European qualifications and to participate in future judging panels. Kaleva-Tsagklas explained that the European Photographer (EP) qualification is assessed online, while QEP and MQEP candidates are evaluated through printed portfolios.
The four-day forum brings together leading European photographers and members of the FEP international jury in the Bulgarian capital. Among them are FEP President Barrie Spence, Qualifications Commission Chair Jim Lowe, and holders of the highest MQEP distinction from the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Czechia, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden.
Bulgarian photography has achieved significant success at the European level in recent years. Bulgaria currently has around ten photographers holding the European Photographer qualification and two photographers with the QEP distinction. Among the country’s most notable recent achievements is the success of Bulgarian photographer Yuliy Vasilev, who won first prizes in the Food and Advertising and Commercial Photography categories at the FEP Awards 2025 in Copenhagen.
Speaking to BTA, newly awarded MQEP holder Valentina Acrement said she had worked for three years on the project that earned her the distinction.
“The series explores the digital experiences of teenagers and how difficult it is for young people to grow up in an increasingly digitalized world,” Acrement said. “Technology is supposed to help them become more connected, but it often has the opposite effect.”
The forum will conclude on June 15 with public lectures by FEP President Barrie Spence and Italian photographer Eugenio Li Volsi.
The Federation of European Professional Photographers brings together national professional organizations from across Europe and maintains a certification system through the EP, QEP and MQEP qualifications. MQEP is the Federation’s highest professional distinction and has so far been awarded to around 100 photographers across Europe. Sofia Hosts European Photography Forum and Exhibition of Certified Photographers 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-14 17:22:19 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law