Balkan Photographers

arigram · May 9, 2008

This is a call for all you photographers that live in the Balkans!
We should meet, collaborate and do great things together.

I just got, what seems to be a very important offer:
a Greek photographer I just met who works for the UN, has just invited
me to Kosovo.
Yes, Kosovo.
Yes, I have a death wish.
Since I am suicidal anyway, I figure I might as well get killed in battle for a good cause. And, why run off to Palestine, Iraq or Myanmar when I can get shot in my backyard?
Unfortunately I will miss all the good fun of the Serbian elections in the area, but I am planning to go soon.
Hey, it can be a whole tour of the Balkans, snapping photos and dodging bullets.

I know I talked with Haris about meeting and I would like to make it happen.
I will speak with you in private Haris.

How about all you out there?
Anybody from the area that wants to meet?

Denis P. · May 9, 2008

I'd like to meet, but I'm not too crazy about Kosovo. Not that I'm afraid (it's not really as dangerous as you make it sound), but it's really far from where I am. I'd rather meet in Greece - Crete sounds nice

Or somewhere along Dalmatian coast in Croatia? Not too interesting for you, being from Crete, but still... One of the islands would be nice.

Well, I'm willing, but can't promise anything. I'm rather busy with my day job and the family (two boys, aged 6 and 8), but I'm willing to try.

On the other hand, if you feel like travelling, you're always welcome to visit (I live in Varazdin, some 80 km north from the Croatian capital, Zagreb).
I've got a guest room, a real lab, lots of old cameras to try out (also a Rolleiflex T) , and would welcome company

Denis

arigram · May 9, 2008

That's great Denis!
I am not inviting everyone to Kosovo, of course not!
But I've had my mind on a Balkan trip for a while and it seems to be a good place to start from,
then visit Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, wherever the road takes me to.

Ok then!
I have a clear route from Kosovo, to Croatia and Bosnia.
Now, we need to find a Serb to complete our crazy group...

And of course, you are all invited to Crete any time.
I too have a spare room and can easily find good accommodation elsewhere.

Sino · May 9, 2008

Ari,

I'd love to meet with you before you leave. We owe each other a coffee -or a raki- and some talking.

-Sino.

arigram · May 9, 2008

Sino said:
Ari,

I'd love to meet with you before you leave. We owe each other a coffee -or a raki- and some talking.

-Sino.

You know these days I am shooting a group of bellydancers...

Sino · May 9, 2008

You are? I do have a Greek belly but I'm not sure about the dancing part... ;-)

I'm visiting north Greece in about a week, and I'll stay there for 7-9 days. Right after that I'll plan a visit to Rethemno and Iraklio if you're there and have the time.

-Sino.

arigram · May 9, 2008

Sino said:
You are? I do have a Greek belly but I'm not sure about the dancing part... ;-)

I'm visiting north Greece in about a week, and I'll stay there for 7-9 days. Right after that I'll plan a visit to Rethemno and Iraklio if you're there and have the time.

-Sino.

Hmmm, doesn't sound good.
I'll be traveling to Athens, Mani and Brussels at the end of the month...
How hard is it to come a Friday or Saturday and leave Sunday?
We can work on the dancing part...

mmcclellan · May 12, 2008

Kosovo is wonderful!!! I just spent four years there and loved every minute of it and the photography scene there is quite active. There are a bunch of good photographers there, and all the ones I know are Albanians. They mainly shoot digital because importing film, paper, and chemicals has been so hard for the past few years, but they were all very active film users before. One, in particular, works for KFOR and I'll be happy to put you guys in touch with him. The Greek photographer at UNMIK probably knows him, anyway.

And Kosovo is beautiful -- lots of good stuff there to shoot from the Ottoman period, landscapes, etc. Folks are quite friendly, too.

Wish I could join you!

arigram · Jun 24, 2008

There is a real possibility that I might head to Kosovo in a couple weeks.
The guy who invited me is leaving for Darfur soon (and passing by your parts Michael)
and I need to grab the chance!
I only need to gather the money for the trip, which is my only worry.
Hell, if I spend all my money on film and travels and frankly I am quite happy this way!
A traveling starving artist! I am one step to joining a gypsy traveling band.

arigram · Jul 4, 2008

So, any photographers from the western Balkans that would like to meet on this trip I am doing?

nino · Nov 26, 2009

It's pretty old topic, but I'd like to know what happend with your trip to Kosovo?

arigram · Nov 26, 2009

nino said:
It's pretty old topic, but I'd like to know what happend with your trip to Kosovo?

It didn't happen. The very last moment something completely out of my hands and out of the blue terminated the trip before it had even begun and with it hopes and dreams that I had placed upon it.

Denis P. · Nov 26, 2009

arigram said:
It didn't happen. The very last moment something completely out of my hands and out of the blue terminated the trip before it had even begun and with it hopes and dreams that I had placed upon it.

Everything that we talked about when you were preparing your trip still stands - at least on my side.

I still have a spare guest room,my lab is still operational, now I have even more cameras than before, and another news - now I can do color, too - I just did a round of E6....

So, whenever you feel like changing the scenery - you're welcome to visit, and we could organize some serious sightseeing and traveling around Croatia....

But, I'm afraid that my spare mountain bike is now way below what you're used to

Denis

arigram · Dec 1, 2009

Thank you Denis.
Its really good to hear from you after all this time.
I am presently stuck at this swamp over here, but trust me, I will take my first opportunity to travel "up there" and meet you.
Of course, you are also always invited "down here".

Balkan Photographers

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