The Greece magazine is out in the world and to celebrate we had a chat with Athens-based cover photographer Thomas Gravanis about life, photography, the wonders of Greece and that rather stunning Symi cover shot.
What do you love about photography?
The ability it gives you to portray beauty in everything you see. The sense that you can immortalise the fleeting moments of your life. The pride you have when you take a good photo. The pride that turns into self-doubt after you look at the same photo for some time. The ability it gives me to turn my emotions into something tangible. The fact that you can witness the history of everything - how photographers portrayed, for example, the war in Vietnam and at the same time how some amateurs portrayed their life, giving you a candid shot of their social gatherings, their customs, everything you can imagine.
Can you remember the first time you picked up a camera?
My dad owns a Canon AE-1 with a variety of lenses. He was storing all the equipment in a cabinet in my bedroom so I remember playing around with it since I was seven or eight years old on a regular basis. Though I never thought I could make this my profession, I always found this art form fascinating.
What is your favourite thing to photograph?
Travelling and documenting the people, the food, the scenery of a place must be my favourite. I really adore open spaces cause it gives a sense of freedom and I can use my camera in many different ways. Literally, I feel my pupils dilate whenever I find myself in a vast place.
You've taken photographs across Greece - what makes working here so special?
The thing I find very unique in Greece is the constant change of scenery from place to place. The architecture, the food, the people, the nature is extremely varied. Also, Greece is a top travel destination and almost everything has been photographed. So it creates a very big challenge to try and differentiate your work and make it somehow unique. Finally, it goes without saying that the light here is one of a kind. You can get very mellow light at sunrise and sunset and very, very harsh lighting during the day - but with a few tricks you can get amazing results.
Do you have a favourite place in Greece?
Andros in the Cyclades is a very dear place and one I hold very close to my heart. Also my hometown, Larissa, and its surrounding villages is a place that defined my aesthetics and the way I use light in my work.
Is there a creative community in Athens?
There is one. Actually a pretty big one. The economic crisis played a big role in people conveying their anger/disappointment/frustration/you name it into art in all its forms. There was also a big wave of international artists who decided to move to Athens, thus creating a very diverse ecosystem of artists.
Can you tell us a little about the photograph on the cover of Lodestars Anthology Greece? Where was it taken and what was the day like?
I was on a one week holiday to the island of Symi with friends. We spent the day at Marathounta Beach where goats casually stroll between the sun-beds. On our way back, I saw this light and asked for a quick stop. It was mesmerising. You could see both Kastro and Symi. Took some photos. Actually, I think besides some portraits of my friends, I only took one photo. The one selected for the cover.
What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?
Shoot and then shoot some more. After that, go out and shoot some more. In the breaks, study the photographers you admire, study the greats of this craft. After that, go out and shoot some more. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire and ask them for feedback. Watch films, listen to music, try to find things that inspire you and convey these feelings into images. Then, go out and shoot some more.
And what is the best piece of advice you've ever been given - about work, life or anything really?
I try in my work and my attitude towards life to have a positive angle and see things in an optimistic way. I’d say that my work and ethics are heavily inspired by Terrence Malick’s Thin Red Line last quote: ‘Look out through my eyes. Look out at the things you made. All things shining.’ This is my mantra and I try to live my life based on this.
What does the word ‘home’ mean to you?
Home is all the fond memories that I run to whenever I’m in need of a haven. It’s my family in our dining table eating and laughing. A bicycle ride in Hue, Vietnam. A camping site by the Trishuli River in Nepal. A midnight hike in Hengifoss, Iceland. A car ride in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. A beach house in Halki, Greece. The moment I laid my eyes on my girl. The morning we adopted our dog. All these fleeting moments that made me who I am.
What's at the top of your travel wish list?
Before the pandemic, I was starting to organise a trip to Kyrgyzstan. But life happened. Besides Kyrgyzstan, I really want to visit the Sapa district in Vietnam, the Li river in China & Bolivia. (A long term plan is also to visit the majority of Greece’s mainland).
You can view more of Thomas’ images here.
Pick up a copy of the Greece magazine here.
