My first touch with travel photogrphy was due to my father during the 70’s (yeah..I am this old). He was an amateur of the black and white era. He used to turn the single house’s bathroom into a darkroom. Later I started taking his camera. I enjoyed shooting landscapes, buildings, and people in the streets. This is why he was angry with me. I was wasting the expensive films, not on souvenir photos, but on what later turned out to be my first steps in travel photography. I have never regretted it. I left behind a seventeen year carrier as engineer in the industry, just to follow my dream. I hope you ‘ll find my stories (and my cooperation proposals) interesting.
See some of my articles
- Went for Birdwatching but…??
There come times that what you find, is not what you went for. It was early in the morning in August. I traveled to the wetland of Agios Mamas in Halkidiki, having in mind that the flamingo breeding season had already begun. Moments before dawn, I am at a thoroughly chosen spot. I have engaged my largest telephoto lense, hidden myself behind the reeds and…waiting. … - The hidden stories – One day in the streets of Thessaloniki
Some things happen so perfectly. You could say that some invisible force is pushing them, so that they fit perfectly into something that you have no idea that will happen, or even when it will happen. The photo was taken by a very good friend of mine, Vasilis Kaloutsikidis. It is very rare indeed to see me in the frame. I am the one sitting … - Why do they stand on one leg?
This is not a punishment. It is a very common posture for most birds. Nature has endowed them with a mechanism, that allows them to place only one leg directly under the center of gravity of their body. This way they spend less energy than if they stood on two legs. Scientific research has shown that birds hardly move their muscles when standing on one … - One day in the office…
You wake up before the dawn, you give a hit to the alarm clock that is insisting on repeating its creepy tune every five minutes, you get up, get dressed, load up the equipment you’ve carefully prepared from the previous day. While the city is still sleeping, you jump out of the house heading towards???…. Everything is prearranged: where we ‘ll go, where we ‘wi’ll … - Old time photo printed on glass!
The print has been processed in the studio of German photographer Thomas Benzinger in Stuttgart, in the begining of 19th century. At that time, photo paper was not very common. Photographers spread the photosensitive materials onto a glass plate in the darkroom and then followed the process of exposure, development, and fixing. The photo shows a general view of the shore of Thessaloniki (Saloniki Gesamtansicht … - Canvas patterns in the wetland of Chalastra viewd from above
The morphology of the soil in the Chalastra wetland as we approach the Axios River Delta looks like handiwork when viewed from above. Greek mythology says that wetlands were inhabited by the Gods. This is the reason why in most of them archaeological ruins have been found. In all religions the concept of divinity is directly linked to the creation of life. And water is … - Sunrise!
Even though heavy clouds completely cover the sky, the sun is still there and the new day will always dawn. - In Greece we call it «The Moon of August»
The August full moon is always unique. A full Moon is when the hemisphere of the Moon that is permanently facing the Earth, is completely illuminated by the Sun. This happens once a month, when the Moon is directly opposite the Sun so that it is illuminated, but also opposite the Earth so that it is visible. The full Moon is associated in popular perception … - Talking about inspiration
It’s simpler than it seems. There comes a time when you’re alone with yourself. You write nonsense just as it comes to you, or you randomly click with your camera. And suddenly, like a revelation the image appears to you. Then a story is born. A story that will awaken new emotions in you. That will bring out from the depths of your soul something … - Remove cap first!
We’ve said it thousands of times: First remove the cap from the lens and then take the picture! I’m sure this has happened to everyone at least once. You have the image of the century in front of you, you raise the camera, you take the right pose, you close one eye, you put the other in front of the viewfinder and suddenly… darkness! Watch … - A new year begins
At the dawn of the new year, the creator’s palette is full of colors. Sometimes you don’t have to travel far away. Just step out of your door at the right time and what you see will take you on a mindblowing journey. The colors of winter are unique and very different from those of summer. The winter images of the Greek countryside are not … - «A picture is worth a thousand words» – Who told it?
The phrase «a picture is worth a thousand words» is an evolution of the ancient Chinese proverb that says: «Hearing about something 100 times is no more convincing than seeing it in front of you even once.» The inspiration belongs to the American advertiser Arthur Brisbane of the Syracuse Advertising Men’s Club, who first used it in March 1911. Due to its Chinese origin, it … - See me…see you – I met a toad!
Walking through the paths and…suddenly a moment of embarrassment, but also curiosity. Looking to each other and…. I wish I could know what you’re thinking (if you can think) and what you’re feeling (if you can feel), as you see me so huge in front of you. A numb toad was taking its first steps after hibernation, when we found ourselves in the same path. … - Back in time with Orient Express
| This is a summary of the complete article | The Railway Museum of Thessaloniki houses a piece of not only greek, but also international railway history. The courtyard hosts two of the three surviving carriages from the legendary Orient Express. The beds carriage was built in England in 1949 and the restaurant in 1905. The name Orient Express means «Express of the east» and … - Argo and the myth that «hides a grain of truth»
| This is a summary of the complete article | The Argonauts’ expedition is mentioned in greek mythology as the first overseas voyage of the Greeks and probably the beginning of organized Greek navigation (the beginning of shipping according to the poet Pindar). At the same time, the myth speaks of the second historical great colonization of the Greeks in the Black Sea. Led by … - What is the time? Ask the sun…
All we have to do is stand on the squqre with the initials of the month we are in and our shadow will «show» the time. In other words, we become… the «guide» of the clock. How are we sure that the time is correct? Just like with any modern clock. We trust the manufacturer. The sundial is the oldest timekeeping device. It was invented … - Abandoned Panteleimon tunnel in Pieria
| This is a summary of the complete article | I have also passed over these rails. Since I was a student, until the year that the new high-speed trains entered the route. This was one of the most beautiful parts of the journy. It was the point where the mood changed dramatically, when the endless and tough mountain landscape was replaced by the shore … - «Peserved»? I am sad and angry!
I am sad and angry when I see our cultural heritage being destroyed and painfully surrendered to oblivion. Three years after the first time I photographed it, it has become completely different. The only common thing between then and now is that it still stands in the same spot. Every contemporary «artist» has left his «work» on this centuries-old cultural monument. Not even a few … - The plavas of Macedonia and their long history
| This is a summary of the complete article | The word «plava» comes from the Bulgarian infinitive plavati (to sail, to swim). The history of plava begins with the settlement of Chalastra, a small city located in the Delta of the Axios River, very close to Thessaloniki. However, its origin comes from Ancient Greece. It was very important for the people who lived next … - See me…see you – I met a silver pelican!
«What’s up mate? What are you doing here in my kingdom? You ‘d better not come any closer, because I will spread my huge wings and start dancing in the wind.» I met this messed haired guy in the dawn, when the first sunbeam was coloring the horizon. I’ve never met such a look before, for sure! The silver pelican is one of the biggest … - Making bridges
After a while the wind will ruin this masterpiece. The tiny artist that created it has already moved on. One of the unknown properties of the spider’s web, is that it serves as a bridge to get through large gaps. The spider has no wings to fly, but nature has given it a unique gift for building bridges. Research conducted at the Department of Applied … - It’s a life lesson
It trusts the wind. The wind helps its seeds travel. Sometimes they enter our homes like a «thief». Their journey ends when they fall to the ground. They patiently wait for the rain, that will help them take root and a new plant will be born. The life cycle of the dandelion is a lesson in trusting nature and life. It is true that we … - Let’s take a snapshot!
Time to break the myth! It is not wrong to believe, that professionals do not take advantage of their work, because they take it for granted that they will be able to do it tomorrow…and the day after tomorrow…and forever. This is why the plumber’s house has dripping taps, the electrician’s house has burnt out light bulbs, and the photographer’s house has no family snapshots. … - Just before the day surrenders to the night
The sun disappears slowly behind the bank of Strymon river. According to greek mythology, Strymon was the King of Thrace and the son of God Ares. When his son Rhesus was killed in the Trojan War, King Strymon in his grief, fell into the river and was drawned. From then on, the river took his name. The Strymon River originates from Mount Vitosha in Bulgaria … - If only I was five feet taller…
When the reeds are taller than you…you have to find a way to climb higher. I offen think of one of the oldest and most famous photojournalists of my hometown Thessaloniki, Yannis Kyriakides. He allways used to carry a ladder wherever he was going.
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