{"id":11984,"date":"2013-05-31T02:00:45","date_gmt":"2013-05-31T09:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=11984"},"modified":"2013-05-27T13:27:08","modified_gmt":"2013-05-27T20:27:08","slug":"the-transformative-experience-of-shooting-street-photography-abroad-by-dimitris-makrygiannakis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2013\/05\/31\/the-transformative-experience-of-shooting-street-photography-abroad-by-dimitris-makrygiannakis\/","title":{"rendered":"The Transformative Experience of Shooting Street Photography Abroad by Dimitris Makrygiannakis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Photo by Dimitris Makrygiannakis. Click to read more.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eric’s Note<\/strong>: I first came across Dimitris Makrygiannakis<\/a> on Hardcore Street Photography<\/a>, and was blown away with his unique vision. I love the way how he captures life through his lens, with a surrealistic flair. To see more of his images and his thoughts on street photography, check out his feature below.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dimitris:\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I am 34, originally from Greece, and I have been living in Sweden the last 9 years and traveling a lot. I am also a medical doctor by profession.<\/p>\n

\"1\"<\/p>\n

I have always had a passion for photography, but I used to see the world through the eyes of a tourist. Two and a half years ago, I joined Flickr after a friend recommended a photo by Lukas Vasilikos<\/a>. I was so impressed by the shot, that I became enamored with street photography.<\/p>\n

When I first started shooting street photography, I started with a zoom lens. However with guidance from my first teacher Antonis Bultadakis<\/a>,\u00c2\u00a0I learned how important it was to approach and embed yourself with the people you intended to shoot, and switched to prime lenses.<\/p>\n

In June 2012, I bought a 35mm lens which I intend to use for many more years, as it feels like the right focal length for me.<\/p>\n

\"point-2\"<\/p>\n

I usually don’t have a lot of free time, but I shot every summer. This is the downside of being a medical doctor in “real life.”<\/p>\n

In August 2012 I went on a 6 month trip to India, which was the best thing in my photographic life so far. Spending all the time there with photography was the primary purpose of the trip. Everyday, I felt my photography maturing quickly– and I started to reconsider things about photography. \u00c2\u00a0I highly recommend the trip to anyone.<\/p>\n

Before I left for the trip, I was lucky enough to attend a workshop on artistic photography by Lukas Vasilikos<\/a>, which was very educative, and helped for the next months in preparation for the trip.<\/p>\n

\"eye\"<\/p>\n

I find ”non-western” countries and especially India a street photographer’s paradise, there are so many more opportunities in the street than in the ”western” countries.<\/p>\n

It takes of course time to stop seeing as a tourist and see more as a street photographer. A challenge is also to make street photography in Sweden where I live, have not been so focused on that yet. I hope to focus more on that in the future.<\/p>\n

\"8\"<\/p>\n

I get a lot of inspiration from looking on other people’s work, there are always new insights to discover while looking at others’ pictures, I guess it is good though to filter the information according to your personality.<\/p>\n

\"9\"<\/p>\n

When I “hunt” for photos on the street, I try not restrict myself. I love the feeling of my eyes wandering without a specific aim. However once in a while in those few moments in life, people and things will come together magically for a moment. If I record that, it enough for me.<\/p>\n

I like looking at different kind of photos on my memory card at the end of the day. Of course, the negative side of this is that I never think about working in the project mindset.<\/p>\n

\"13\"<\/p>\n

In India I started taking many shots of the same scene, especially when many people are included in the scene. It is really worthy. I was kind of an 1-shot-and-go person until my recent trip.<\/p>\n

\"14\"<\/p>\n

My aim is to be a morally decent street photographer. I show photos that I am hoping that the people being showed would also like. And I try to solve misunderstandings in the street with a smile and sometimes long talks in order to explain and promote street photography.<\/p>\n

\"15\"<\/p>\n

I think street photography is something we can do even in our kitchen, it is just a concept. And it needs good directors, regarding both posed and unposed photos.<\/p>\n

\"16\"<\/p>\n

I would like to thank Antonis Damolis<\/a>, Christos Kapatos<\/a>, Nikos Pavlidis<\/a>,\u00c2\u00a0and Andreas Paradise<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0for fruitful discussions and good advices. Recently I started lessons on philosophy of photography with Achilleas Nasios<\/a>. Akis Karamanos<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0is there for me always. And because street photography and photography in general consumes long hours from my off-work day, I would like to thank my girlfriend for her understanding :-)<\/p>\n

\"3\"<\/p>\n

Part of my latest work in India is going to be exhibited in Stockholm in May-June in CUP Stockholm<\/a>. Together with the In-Public exhibition<\/a>, there is going to be a small parallel exhibition by Brian Sparks<\/a>, Mattias Lepp\u00c3\u00a4niemi<\/a>, Ola Billmont<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0+ (second flickr page<\/a>), Magnus Fr\u00c3\u00b6deberg<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0and me. Another exhibition with Antonis Damolis<\/a>, Haris Panagiotakopoulos<\/a>,\u00c2\u00a0and Giorgos Marazakis<\/a> will follow this September in Crete island, Greece, more to be announced.<\/p>\n

\"puff\"<\/p>\n

Follow\u00c2\u00a0Dimitris<\/h2>\n