Ioanna Tsilili for Oinochoos Magazine
Portrait photoshoot of the wine maker and artist, Ioanna Tsilili for Oinochoos Magazine. Ioanna Tsilili is a chemical Engineer, Winemaker, Master Distiller and cinema addict . Founder of @tsililisterres.
TAVERNA for Gastronomos Magazine
In this photo story about Taverna for Gastronomos magazine, I shared my angle of view and my respect to all these people who in daily basis keep alive the living history of the greek culture. In all these little spaces, mostly away from the crowd,
humanity and real contact have the first role. The philoxeny and the devotion of the owners, make these spaces ataxic and creates a space in where different people could connect, share their personalities and create culture.
"We enter the 42 oldest haunts of Athens and the countryside of Attica and talk to the people who for decades have held the reins of famous family shops that have written their own history in Athenian gastronomy.
From “Athinaikon” and “Lelouda” to “Oikonomou” and “Diporto”, the historical Athenian taverns that from being haunts of the popular strata became a favorite culinary destination of all social classes.
We select and collect the famous recipes from the most famous taverns of Athens and the surrounding area and present them in detail, with their secrets and the selected ingredients that established them: the fried meatballs of “Katsogiannos”, the yuvetsi of “Kitsoula”, the kakavia of ” Pezoula”, the rooster with thick macaroni of “Rhamnouda”, the bekri meze of “Vardi”. 40 iconic recipes immortal and timeless over the decades.
We learn the history of the tavern, from ancient Athens to the present day and gather in a glossary the old and new terms associated with the tavern and its culture.
We met people of letters and art in historic taverns and let them explain to us through their own experiences and reflections the meaning and essence of the tavern. Pantelis Voulgaris, “Deipnosophist” Christos Zouraris and Christos Chomenidis discuss and reflect on famous dishes of the Greek tavern and George Pittas gives his valuable advice to young tavern owners, through experience as well as his long-term study of history of the tavern.
How much did the Athenian tavern influence literature and music? Papadiamantis, Polemis, Karyotakis, Tsirkas were inspired by the popular atmosphere of the tavern and transferred it to their works, while theories and existential anxieties unfolded on its tables from the companies of Seferis, Papagiorgis, Papanoutsou. But the tavern also left its indelible mark in the popular song that praised it and captured its atmosphere like no other genre.
The tavern in art: Painters and photographers from Hatzikyriakos-Ghikas and Topazis to Manousakis, Craxton and Zavicianos each captured with their art and their eyes the warmth of the tavern and transferred it entirely to their canvas and film . Along with them is the self-taught popular painter Giorgos Savvakis, who with his blinding colors decorated over 40 taverns in Plaka with his murals, vividly capturing their aesthetics and patrons".
International Womens Day
From the International Womens Day campaign of Grand Bretagne Hotel. "Celebrating our lovely ladies, our heroes, our daily inspiration. Happy #InternationalWomensDay to all the strong, powerful women across the world. Keep shining!"
Vasilis & Marina Theocharakis
Vassilis and Marina Theocharaki are the inspiration and guiding force of the Theocharakis Foundation.
Vassilis Theocharakis is a multifaceted personality at the helm of a dynamic and diversified group of large-scale businesses: from the automotive industry, banking, manufacturing and healthcare, to cosmetics, digital systems and shipping.
An equally important aspect of his life is painting. Alongside his legal studies, he attended classes with the great Greek painter, Spyros Papaloukas. His first exhibition was in 1957 at the International Youth Festival in Moscow and since then he has exhibited his works inside and outside Greece, some of which adorn important public and private collections. He has been awarded the titles: Chevalier de La Légion d'Honneur of the French Republic, Archon Cartulary by the Ecumenical Patriarch and of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan. Marina Theocharaki has had an active relationship with the arts for many years, with many exhibitions and publications to her credit.
Portrait photography for Grand Bretagne Magazine.
Headshot photography for Lena Manta
Headshot photography of the greek author Lena Manda. She is Greece’s best-selling women’s fiction author of almost 2 million copies of her books sold in Greece and Cyprus alone, and whose books have been sold to Albania (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER/LOVE LIKE RAIN/COFFEE BREWING ON THE EMBERS/THE LAST CIGARETTE/THEANO, SHE-WOLF OF ISTANBUL), Bulgaria (WALZ WITH 12 GODS), China (WALZ WITH 12 GODS), Italy (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER/LOVE LIKE RAIN), Serbia (COFFEE BREWING ON THE EMBERS/LETTER OF GOLD), Spain (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER), and Turkey (THEANO, SHE-WOLF OF ISTANBUL/THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER) as well as World English rights (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER/THE LETTER OF GOLD (Rights under offer)). She is a true commercial voice to be reckoned with and every new book is a tour-de-force in the Greek publishing world.Lena Manta was born in Istanbul, Turkey, to Greek parents. She moved to Greece at a very young age and now lives with her husband and two children on the outskirts of Athens. Although she studied to be a nursery school teacher, Lena instead directed her own puppet theater before writing articles for local newspapers and working as a director for a local radio station. Manta was proclaimed Author of the Year in both 2009 and 2011 by Greek Life & Style magazine and received the 2016 Public Book Award for Inspirational Heroine for her book ONE LAST APOLOGY. With a charismatic personality that exudes positivity and inspires all who meet her, she is extremely popular in the press as well as social media and Facebook where she is immensely active. Just as her stories and characters captured Greek readers’ hearts, so we believe that they will continue to do the same outside Greek borders. PSICHOGIOS PUBLICATIONS have published 17 of her books – mainly novels. All of them have sold around 100,000 copies each while her best-seller, THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER, has sold over 250,000 copies. Her books have been translated into English, Turkish, Albanian, Italian, Spanish, English, Chinese, Bulgarian, Serbian and Arabic. her book was released in 2001. Sixteen other novels of hers, as well as two collections of short stories, have been published by Psychogios publications. Her books have sold two million copies. Lena's Manta portrait photoshoot took place at her place in Athens.
Dimitra Milona Headshot
Headshot photography for the sailing world champion Dimitra Milona. She started sports at the age of eight. She received her first important distinction in 1993, where she won (as skipper) the Panhellenic championship (Overall, and women) of type 420 boats. In the same year, she also won 5th place with her crew in the Laser II world championship in Lago di Garda . This was the beginning of an impressive sporting career. From 1993 to 2002, she championed in Panhellenic, Balkan, Mediterranean, Eurolymp, but also in global competitions, such as the "Tropheo Princesa Sofia" in Majorca (overall and women's gold medal in the 420 boats). Her journey culminated with a bronze (1998) and a gold (1999) medal at the world championships. Since 2001 she has been serving as an officer of the Navy (Naval Cadet School and NCO School (SMYN)) and lives in Aegina with her family.
Four Seasons Athens Hotel food photography
In this food photography hotel campaign for Four Seasons Palace Hotel Athens, the chef of the restaurant Sergio Favata from Sicily, learned to make tomato sauce in a jar (conserva di pomodori) when he was a child. Next to his grandmother, he also learned the recipe for oregano focaccia, which today takes 35-40 hours to prepare in the kitchen of Mercato. Imagine walking into a delicatessen with fine Italian products – from cheeses and cold meats to olives, breadsticks and many types of bread. And what do the two Italian chefs not bring from their homeland: excellent Acquerello Carnaroli rice, anchovies from Sicily, roe from Sardinia, San Marzano tomatoes, Pecorino Fiore Sardo D.O.P, Pecorino al Tartufo, Caciocavallo di Grotta from Puglia, Gorgonzola, and of course Buffalo Mozzarella D.O.P.
It’s one of the Mediterranean’s most enduring traditions: family and friends gathered around a heaving table, decompressing and reconnecting over delicious dishes made with love. A new weekly reason to bring loved ones together with their grand Pranzo Della Domenica – a sensory recreation of the traditional Sunday brunch, Italian style.
“In Italy, just as in Greece, the traditional Sunday lunch is the glue than bonds families and friends together,” comments Sicilian-born Chef Sergio. “Antipasti platters, succulent seafood, grilled meats, fresh homemade pastas – my earliest memories are of huge sharing plates enjoyed to a soundtrack of chatter and laughter.”
It’s this convivial scene made not just for the Hotel food photography, but in real– equally familiar to Tuscan-born Chef Roberto – that informs the traditional family-centric spirit of each Mercato Sunday Brunch. Light-as-a cloud Foccacia (made to Chef Sergio’s grandmother’s recipe) heads the breads and grissinis that begin the lavish buffet spread: as abundant and authentic as Mercato’s Italian market name-sake.
The finest cuts of Prosciutto, Capocollo, Salame and Pancetta vie for space with creamy artisanal cheeses and a Seafood & Raw Bar packed with Fine De Claire Oysters and Clams, Marinated Mussels and Seabass Ceviche. Salads range from simple Caesar to the melt-in-the mouth refinement of Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio with Rocket, Parmesan and Truffle Mayo – or create one at the Salad Bar. Barbecue favourites include zesty “Sicilian” Grilled Baby Chicken and Pork Spare Ribs that fall off the bone, and that’s before one even reaches the freshly handcrafted pastas and carving stations.
Grande Bretagne Magazine Cover
In the imposing Alexander's Bar voted as the Best Hotel Bar in the world by Forbes magazine, the choice of drinks will impress even the most demanding connoisseur. The bar offers a wide range of unique spirits, skilled bartenders and friendly waitresses, while the rare 18th century handmade tapestry that hangs above the bar depicts Alexander the Greats entrance into Gavgamila, and is one of the oldest trademark items in the Hotel.
I took this portrait photograph of the bartender in front of the magnificent handmade backround of the bar. More magazine covers..
Dr. Nikos Vrachnis
Honored to work with personalities like Dr Nikos Vrachnis. The portrait photoshoot took place at his office in Athens. Nikolaos Vrachnis completed Ob/Gyn training in United Kingdom(UK), 2001. Received postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, Cardiff University, UK. Completed thesis, \”Inflammation and preterm labor\”, at Athens University Medical School, 2005. Currently works as Assistant Professor, \”Obstetrics-Gynecology and Fetal-Maternal Medicine\”, at same University. Has 35+ publications in peer-reviewed journals; wrote or edited 8 books and 20+ chapters in books; over 200 presentations at national and international meetings. Is in charge of Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics(ALSO) course, Greece, and member of ALSO(UK) and ALSO(USA) Advisory Faculties. Recently developed a hands-on Advanced Life Support in Gynecology(ALSG) course. President of Hellenic Society of Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergency and member of the board of Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Portraits for for Gonimotita magazine .
Christos Chomenidis
Portrait Photography if the novelist Christos Chomendis for Greece-is.com.
Christos Chomenidis (Greek: Χρήστος Χωμενίδης) (born 3 August 1966, Athens, Greece) is a Greek novelist. He studied Law at the University of Athens and in Moscow and Communication Studies in Leeds. He worked as a lawyer before becoming a full-time writer.[1] His book Νίκη won the 2021 European Book Prize in the Novel category
