Carla Loves The Greeks + Open Shade

Carla Coulson - Copyright Chasing A Dream

I discovered these divine people when I was on holidays in the Greek Islands a couple of years ago. I was dying to do simple portraits of them in black and white that would show their incredible faces.

I made a couple of attempts but as I don't speak a word of Greek and most of them didn't speak any English I couldn't get them to understand what I wanted. It was killing me I loved them!! There faces were so different to ones I see everyday on the streets of Paris.

It came to me in the middle of the night. I went to the local internet cafe typed out my story in english and translated it in 'Babel Fish' and printed it out.

I wanted to photograph them on a simple white background and fortunately in the cyclades there is white everywhere.. Every building is painted snowy white. As it was the middle of August and the sun was beyond glaring I decided the best thing was to find a wall in open shade and photograph them in front of it so I would get a nice even light without too much contrast.

So bascially I had this piece of paper with 'Babel Fish Greek' on it that explained I was a photographer and I wanted to do a series of pics and if they were ok with it could they find a white wall nearby in the shade where I could take a photo of them. OR SO I THOUGHT.

They would all roar with laughter when I handed them the piece of paper as they started reading!! But all of them seemed to understand what I wanted and my series started..

When I was lunching in a restaurant in another part of the island there was a young girl who spoke perfect Greek and English. I asked her if she could read my Babel Fish note. She burst out laughing. What was so funny???

Apparently my note was telling them I was a photographer, that I loved their face and would they mind taking a photo of ME in front of a white wall in the shade!! No Wonder they were laughing..

Just goes to show what a kind and generous race the Greeks are even with a silly Australian and a dumb note. Wishing them an easier time in the future with all the EU problems..

Light and love

Carla xxx

If you love reportage photography you will probably love A Greek Portfolio by Constantine Manos. Its one of my favourites. I picked it up on holidays on Amorgos..

ps taken on tri-x 400 and my Leica M8.2

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