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Nikos Gogas; Playing with Light

January 4th, 2012

ART & DESIGNCULTUREPEOPLE

By Julie Karatzis

Photography comes from the Greek words: “φως” (which means light) and “γραφή” (which means drawing) – but you probably already knew that. Nikos Papadopoulos Gogas is a master at drawing with light, with the help of his camera, of course, and he’s also the artistic genius who captured my wedding in Saronida, Greece during the summer of 2009 (that’s us, below). Getting married and hiring wedding professionals from over 6,500 miles away was no easy task, especially when I wanted to find that discerning photographer who I could count on to capture our special day.

I found Niko while perusing the internet during one of my many wee-morning-hour wedding research sessions. Delirious and tired of the traditionally posed wedding photography, I immediately fell in love with the way he captured the essence of each moment he was photographing. Not only did I feel like I was a guest at that wedding; I also felt like I knew the couple, as if I were witnessing the wedding of my closest friends.  It was then that I knew we’d hire him.

Preferring to work with natural light, and knowing how to perfectly craft and ‘draw’ with light, is what makes Niko’s work stand above all others. He loves playing with the sharp shadows of the noon hour, and the soft effect of the sun during the early mornings and late afternoons. Technically perfect photos are easy for Niko, but his magic lies in the expressions and feelings he’s able to capture from his subjects. Even though he’s travelled the globe for work, the light on the Greek islands is by far his preferred medium.

Who gave you your first camera, and when?

My father gave me my first camera, but most importantly he gave me the eye of the observer. My father was a cinematographer and so it was very natural to show me the world of images. That was my first contact with the art of photography.

Did you immediately know then that this was going to be your professional calling?

Not at all!!! During the years that I deal with photography, I sold and bought my cameras many times! I stopped and restarted equal times. I have worked doing different photographic jobs. I started being an assistant at different studios, then a photojournalist. I did fashion shootings and editorials for magazines. Only after my studies in commercial photography in London I started my first jobs and I felt for the first time that I did what I loved to do.

Where is the art of photography headed or evolving?

For me art can be everywhere and for everyone. The photographer is not just a camera holder. The photographer has the inspiration: a combination of the right angle of view, the decisive moment and the right light to make a photograph a unique piece of art.

What do you consider a “great” photograph?

A great picture can be a picture that was easily captured or after many hours of observation. I would consider one of my pictures as great if it could say fluently its story… if it could describe in a vivid way the feelings of the people captured and wake up emotions of the observers.

Your work spans various categories: from wedding photography to fine art portraits, all seeming to beautifully capture the emotions of your subjects. How different is it working with a bride, compared to working with the old man in Daramsala, India to capture these moments? Or is it all that different?

It is not so different after all. The most important when shooting people is to make them trust you and so be natural and express their real feelings and not pose for the picture. It’s not so important if the subject is a bride or an old man on the mountains. Each person is unique and has an interesting story to say.

What do you love/hate about photographing weddings?

I love weddings when people are smiley and stylish. Also I love great parties and nice food! I hate the fact that nothing happens twice….

Who photographed your wedding?

A very close friend and very talented photographer was there. We also gave 50 disposable cameras to guests and so everybody was our unofficial photographer too.

The “alive” moments and the subtle details you choose to capture is what I think makes your work so special. What is the inspiration for capturing these moments?

Thank you for considering my work so special!  The energy of people that are involved in my pictures is my inspiration. They smile, they cry, they scream. The way they move, their faces, the way they hold something or look at something…

Who are your favorite subjects to work with?

I love working with people. They say that they feel very natural and relaxed in front of my lens. That is the biggest goal for a portrait photographer like me: make people feel comfortable. Only then they can take pictures that they will love later…

Of your own work, which project are you most proud of?

A project that I presented last October during an exhibition is one of my most loved. It was Polaroid style pictures that I did with my iPhone (!!!) during my traveling in New York last spring. It was moments of the city that I loved; that made pictures that I am proud of. The Brooklyn bridge through the window of an ice-cream shop, a cat in a shop window at the Meat Packing district, the bloomed plums berries at the Brooklyn park, a musician playing the viola at a street market…

Where are you favorite places in Thessaloniki, or Greece in general, to photograph?

There are so many places that I can talk about in Greece, but out of all I will choose Santorini, the place where I will move next year with my wife. It is not only the architecture of the island, but the unique light it has and the energy of the place.

Although most of your work is now in wedding photography, do you consider yourself a wedding photographer?

I love shooting weddings, but I consider myself a portrait photographer. Of course weddings make a big part of my work, but I also do family portraits, magazine editorials, fashion photography and a lot of travel photography.

You recently photographed Maria Menounos, a Greek-American actress, journalist and television presenter. From your experience in photographing other Greeks outside of Greece, how do you see Hellenism as it flourishes beyond the motherland?

It happens very often to photograph Greek-Americans. I consider them to be more Greek than the Greeks who live in the country. The way they enjoy and respect anything Greek, and the way they talk about how they miss it all when far from the country, is something that us, living here forget to appreciate. Also it is very important that Greeks who were brought up abroad, have saved the values of the past days. Besides, it is well known that people with qualities do better abroad, as unfortunately motherland does not take advantage of the Greeks.

Any exciting projects or subjects lined up for the near future?

I am now working on a new project, about Greece and Greeks. I hope that soon I will make a book with these pictures and also exhibit this work in the USA.

Do you ever use real film anymore?

Unfortunately not for business, only for pleasure!

What’s in your camera bag at all times?

I cannot say that I have a favorite camera, but I have a favorite lens. That is a Canon 17-35, 2,8 L.  Lately I bought a small camera that I always carry with me. A Fuji X100. It is my new gadget!!

Check out the rest of Niko’s work here.

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