When people talk about modern Greek photography unfortunately there are not many names that might stand out. Most know only Nikos Economopoulos of Magnum. But there is one name that no-one knows, probably because he never cared to promote his work (doesn't even speak English) and I wanted to share it with you.
His name is Andreas Schinas and he is the closest I have seen to Gary Winogrand alive in the sense that he is always photographing. His life is mostly about photography but the most important for him is the connection with people, that is the main reason and joy for him, and that is why he photographs. He always prints his photos and gives them to the people in the streets that pose for him. I have never seen anyone feeling so calm around him, kids, beggars, minorities, luben, they all smile and pose to him, he has that effect to people.. I was hearing from a friend that joined him once in a photographic walk in Athens, that he never felt so scared around these areas and neighborhoods where he walked with such ease and greeted everyone.
If I had to describe his photos it would be the same as his personality, bittersweet. Sometimes humorous and surreal sometimes sad and nostalgic sometimes both. He photographed a lot in Greek weddings and baptisms to make a living, but always with his personal touch.
As a person I cannot forget how preciously he held the books of the photographers he admired and how sweet as a person he is. There is one anecdote in Athens, he was once in the same table with the same group of people with American photographer Bruce Davidson who had come for an exhibition, and when some character from old Athens with a guitar appeared on scene they both jumped to photograph him like instantly and almost fought with each other who would get the best shot
Here is a small piece of his work. He is constantly photographing since the 80s so I guess his archive must be enormous.
His name is Andreas Schinas and he is the closest I have seen to Gary Winogrand alive in the sense that he is always photographing. His life is mostly about photography but the most important for him is the connection with people, that is the main reason and joy for him, and that is why he photographs. He always prints his photos and gives them to the people in the streets that pose for him. I have never seen anyone feeling so calm around him, kids, beggars, minorities, luben, they all smile and pose to him, he has that effect to people.. I was hearing from a friend that joined him once in a photographic walk in Athens, that he never felt so scared around these areas and neighborhoods where he walked with such ease and greeted everyone.
If I had to describe his photos it would be the same as his personality, bittersweet. Sometimes humorous and surreal sometimes sad and nostalgic sometimes both. He photographed a lot in Greek weddings and baptisms to make a living, but always with his personal touch.
As a person I cannot forget how preciously he held the books of the photographers he admired and how sweet as a person he is. There is one anecdote in Athens, he was once in the same table with the same group of people with American photographer Bruce Davidson who had come for an exhibition, and when some character from old Athens with a guitar appeared on scene they both jumped to photograph him like instantly and almost fought with each other who would get the best shot
Here is a small piece of his work. He is constantly photographing since the 80s so I guess his archive must be enormous.