When you set off with 4 cameras and come home with 5, you know it’s been a good trip. I have spent the last 10 days in Greece split betwen Athens and Nafplio. I set off on the trip with a whole range of cameras; Fuji X-T30, Canon AE-1, Bronica S2A and Polaroid SX-70. Not one is the same or does the same thing. These are some of my favourite images from the Fuji. In 2008 Greece faced what is commonly referred to as “the crisis”; an aftermath of the worldwide financial crisis which (due to a series of sudden reforms and austerity measures) lef to impoverishment, loss of income & property and even a small scale humanitarian crisis. In all, the Greek economy suffered the longest recession of any advanced mixed economy to date.
This recession led to many unfinished & abandoned properties accross Greece. As time goes on these properties decay and deform; it’s less profitable to destroy them and re-build than to just build new elsewhere. I have akways loved the process of urban decay, graffiti and dereliction so whilsr out here I really wanted to throw myself into some exploration…luckily my sister-ion-law shares my passion for photography so we snuck off a couple of times to find some ruins, just not the one’s you’d expect from ancient Greece!
These derelict spaces are often inhabited by both humans and animals; the latter leaving more trace than the former. We, as humans, have an inherent need to leave some form of mark, signal, trace for others to discover, ponder and follow. This is where “the sailor monkey” comes in. Whislt in Nafplio I kept seeing this graffiti signature but couldn’t figure out what it was meant to be. Is it a man with a dust-bin lid on his head? Is it a monkey? Is it a young Greek sailor? Eventually aftwer some discussion over wine we decided it was a Sailor Monkey (so no bin lid)…I think I’ve found him in upwards of 13 locations and hopefully “papped” them all! Most are (hopefully) being developed by Take It Easy Lab in Leeds as we read…keep your fingers crossed!
I have absoluelty loved exploring somewhere new for the first time in ages! It’s really sparked my adventure side again. I can‘t wait to get out and explore more in the near future so if you have any recommendations in the North of England please let me know!!!
I always add a little personal updates to the blog so here they are; condensed and in no particular order; If I’m being honest I’ve had a pretty tough time recently, both mentally and physically, but I’m coming through the other side. My therapist even said to me in our most recent session “You look different…..theres space around you” and I think that’s actually a very apt way of describing things. I do feel like I have space, time, some sort of comfort around me. I’ve started a new job that I absolutely love (theres more to follow about this another day). I’m taking more photos again…which makes me happy. Buying more cameras & camera gear and travelling more again…which also makes me happy. So all in all. I think I’m going to be okay. Thanks for asking. Now please just enjoy the photos, like, share, do all the things.
Ol. x
P.s. I will soon be setting up an online commerce section of the website, so if you see any photos you love and just HAVE to have a print of please let me know and I’ll be sure to add them to the site first.