- HELLAS PhotoART

HELLAS PhotoART [PhotoART Gallery at foot of this page. Click on photos to enlarge]

I really enjoy this "project".

A number of years ago I bought a book called Kaleidoscope: Colours and Textures of the Greek Islands. It contained photographs by the renowned photographer Hans Silvester. The photographs in the book are not the usual "scenic" shots, but rather close-up shots of shapes, surfaces, colours and materials, which form almost abstract compositions. Hans Silvester states that by taking these sorts of photographs he is inventing nothing new. He simply wishes to show what there is to be seen if you keep your eyes open and also possess a certain visual sensitivity. For what one is really talking about here is cultivating the art of observation.

Over time, writes Silvester, the pigments on surfaces such as walls, doors and shutters, for example, alter. The materials become warped, cracks appear, paint flakes, and the actual substance of paintwork changes visibly. Successive coats of paint react in different ways; and by this means, a flat, faded surface is transformed into an interesting composition.

Greece, and the Greek Islands, in particular, abound with possibilities to photograph the sorts of subjects that Hans Silvester is talking about, here.

I love his book and page through it over and over again. I have often pledged to "mimic" his work. I have always thought that the concept of photographing the subjects that he does is so clever and innovative! And the resuls are captivating and almost, without exception, quite beautiful, too.

On a visit to Heraklion in Crete, I was strolling through the backstreets when my eye caught a rather interesting "composition" on the wall of a derelict house. It was the catalyst that reminded me of my intention to try to take some pics "Silvester-style". After taking the first one, I became aware of the many other "compositions" around me. In the space of about 200m I took about ten shots of interesting "compositions", which caught my eye. Such fun! I was reasonably pleased with my initial efforts.

The crucial thing, I reckon, is not to go around "looking" for these "compositions", but to be sufficiently observant to be able to spot them when chance leads you to them.

I shall continue to add to this PhotoART Gallery whenever I visit the mainland and islands.

[KALEIDOSCOPE; Colours and Textures of the Greek Islands. Hans Silvester, with an introduction by Hubert Comte. [1996] ISBN 0-500-01776-X

COMING IN 2008....HellasART.net A new, dedicated site of Greek-themed photographs and paintings