PHOTOGRAPHER NIKOS VAVDINOUDIS CAPTURES THE ROUGH BEAUTY OF EASTERN MACEDONIA'S PEOPLE

“Faces + Masks“

[Bellbearers – Eastern Macedon]

 

The photo shoot took place in the villages of Monastiraki, Xiropotamos, Petrousa, Pyrgoi, Volakas, Pagoneri and Kali Vrysi in Drama Prefecture (Greece), and in the village of Nikisiani in Kavala Prefecture (Greece).The subjects were photographed in a natural setting, in harmony with their familiar surroundings.In the other photographs, the artificial lighting and setting serve as a spotlight that brings to theforeground the person hiding behind the disguise.

 

The removal of the mask startles observers andunexpectedly forms a bridge between man and his individual roles.This photo shoot took place in the sidelines. It interweaves the recording of actual events with thephotographer’s personal take on things.On 6 ­8 January the whole region will feel the earth tremble from the ringing of the bells and otherrituals performed to cast out any evil, such as animal skins covering people’s faces (masks), bellsstrapped around their waists, masks and ashes. This is how the inhabitants of these villages havebeen celebrating the Dionysian rituas from ancient times until today. According to their accounts,this is a symbolic praise to a fertile and good year, which rests on the pillars of fruitfulness and productivity.

 

Nikos has been working as a professional photographer in Thessaloniki since 1992. He specialises in architectural photography, portraits and food photography, and works with museums, construction companies, publishing houses, architectural firms, industrial plants and hotels.He studied under Dimitris Athyridis at the latter’s studio, and has since 1999 been running studiovd.gr with Christos Dimitriou (www.studiovd.gr). His works have been awarded in photography competitions. He also works with the following photography agencies

 

Nick Vavdinoudis won second place in the international competition “Travel Photographer of the Year” [ TPOTY ], among thousands of entries from around the world.His photographs will be exhibited in the prestigious Royal Geographical Society`s gallery in London from July to September 2015