Alex is not only passionate about solving complex challenges through smart technology, but he also has a deep love for photography.
Colleagues describe him as someone who is always ready to lend a hand and collaborate to get things done. He’s supportive, easy to work with, and has a real talent for mentoring others and sharing his knowledge.
Outside of work, Alex is a dedicated traveler and photographer, inspired by his father’s passion for film. His journeys have taken him from Romania to Cuba, India, and beyond, culminating in the release of his first photo book capturing life on the streets of Havana.
Read on to get to know him better.
Bianca Cornaciu [BC]: Hi Alex! To start off, could you tell us more about your role as a Software & Infrastructure Architect? What does it involve, and what drew you to this career path?
Alex Ilea [AI]: Driven by curiosity and enthusiasm for learning and challenging tasks, during the years I have had the chance to work in my career as a software developer, technical leader, security specialist, DevOps engineer, and architect.
Right now, I’m more involved in hands-on work than designing the infrastructure, but this is something that changes depending on the needs.
[BC]: What are some of the key challenges you face in your role? Could you share the most demanding project you’ve worked on at TechQuarter?
[AI]: Choosing the right technologies to use for the business requirements and proving the capabilities they offer.
Investigating a problem in a running application that doesn’t reveal many details about the cause of the problem.
Keeping systems up to date with the fast-evolving technology and ensuring security standards.
[BC]: In the ever-evolving field of technology, how do you keep your skills sharp and stay up-to-date with industry trends?
[AI]: While routine is part of daily work tasks, I’m trying to find tasks that involve working with technologies I haven’t used.
At the same time allocate some portion of my free time to learn new skills.
[BC]: Beyond your career in software engineering, you’re also passionate about travel and photography. How did your interest in photography begin, and what has your journey with it been like?
[AI]: My father used to take photos on a film camera in his spare time.
I remember how I was watching him with curiosity and admiration as he was going through the process from taking photos to “printing” them on paper in his improvised lab.
Later, I had a big passion for cinematography, which inspired me later on in my photographs.
I learned from other photographers that I admire, either by going to their workshops, or by watching videos of them sharing their wisdom, and occasionally, I teach aspiring photographers who want to take this kind of photo and need some guidance.
I’ve always loved to travel, to explore the world and observe the culture and life of other people, either from Romania or from faraway countries. I enjoy taking long walks, anchoring myself in the present to observe the beauty of everyday life and capture meaningful moments.
My favourite countries to travel to so far, besides Romania, are Cuba, India, Morocco, and Albania, where I have traveled many times.
After many travels to Cuba, I have decided to publish my first photo book that contains a selection of my most appreciated photos from these trips.
[BC]: Between 2017 and 2024, you traveled to Cuba and published a book showcasing your photography from that trip. What initially inspired your interest in the country and its culture?
[AI]: I remember when I first saw a documentary about Buena Vista Social Club, a well-known music band from Cuba. Their music and their lyrics gave me an impression about their life style which made we want to see with my own eyes.
My decision to go there myself was after I saw some amazing images from photographers that I admire who captured authentic moments of Cuba going beyond the famous subjects like the old American car, sunset on Malecon, the old man smoking a cigar and so on.
[BC]: Do you have a favorite photo from the Cuba collection? If so, what makes it stand out to you?
[AI]: One of my favorite photos from this book was taken in a ferry station where people were passing their time in the waiting area.
In this photo there is a tall young cop who is kissing his girlfriend who’s working at the ferry station. They seem so lost in the moment that they forgot about everyone else around, including the photographer.
Luckily this photo was captured later in the golden light of the afternoon that gives a magic touch to the moment.
[BC]: What was your overall experience in Cuba like? What left the biggest impression on you during your time there?
[AI]: Cuban people are very friendly and warm. I enjoyed talking to them and listening to their stories, many times revolving around the past of the country and how it changed in the last decades.
The population has always been poor, and the latest events in the world have made the situation even worse for them. Despite all this poverty, they know how to appreciate the smallest gifts and never miss an occasion to throw a party for whatever reason.
They mostly listen to Cuban music and are good dancers as they learn it from their childhood. You can hear the music play on the streets day and night.
As a photographer, I really loved the energy on the streets, complemented by the beautiful light and colors.
[BC]: How do you balance a highly technical job with a creative passion like photography? Do you find the two intersect in any way?
[AI]: When it comes to my job, I put my brain at work to solve problems, switching from one task to another. There is a satisfaction in discovering a good solution, learning a new skill, experimenting with a technology, and helping my colleagues. Creativity and responsibility are involved in my job.
Then I switch from work to photography, which allows me to relax completely and reset my mind to get it ready for the next day.
[BC]: How has travel shaped your perspective on life or influenced your approach to work and creativity?
[AI]: Since I had the chance to see different cultures, I learned to appreciate those differences and learn from the people that I’ve met. I think that these travels changed me as they made me more open and more understanding, and helped me learn to become more aware and grateful for the simple things in life.
[BC]: What’s one thing you’ve learned through photography that you wish more people understood?
[AI]: As a naturally introverted person, for me, photography has been a way to get closer to people. It took me a long time to learn how to do that, and I’m still learning. Since photography is about observation, I’ve learned to observe the beautiful details in people, the thing that makes them unique and either tell them about it, or make them feel the appreciation through my expressed energy.
[BC]: And finally, where are you planning to travel and shoot next? Any exciting destinations on the horizon?
[AI]: So far, it’s only a distant idea, but I’ve always loved countries from Latin America. I’m curious about Peru, Chile, Mexico…
[BC]: Any words of wisdom for teammates trying to nurture a creative side outside the office?
[AI]: I don’t see myself giving words of wisdom. However, I’m happy to invite everyone interested in photography to a monthly event in Cluj called Momentum, where we have the chance to learn and discover beautiful work from the featured photographers.
Explore Alex’s Cuba Project in more detail.
