My first post for 2018 is all about how I spent the last days of 2017. Exactly the same way I’ve been spending it the last few years, in the same house in Ano Doliana in Arcadia, with the same company doing exactly the same things. Things such as eating lots of amazing food, playing cards for hours and when in need of a break, we go for long walks in the nearby chestnut forest. Unfortunately there was no snow this year, check last year’s post though. Having a routine in your vacation is so comforting and clearly I don’t want to change this recipe at all. But I did change one recipe this year and that’s the season’s cocktail. Last year it was all about Grey Goose Le Fizz, this year it is all about Espresso Martinis. The recipe is quite simple, all you need is 45ml Grey Goose Vodka, 25ml espresso, 15ml coffee liqueur, a pinch of fleur de sel, lots of ice and (VERY) good shaking skills. Serve in a martini glass and garnish with grated chocolate or a few coffee beans. This was the perfect accompaniment to our long card sessions, perfect both before or after dinner. Try it out, if you like coffee you will love it!
Peloponnese
Waiting for 2017 in Ano Doliana
Just like last year, I am back in the wonderful village of Ano Doliana, in Arkadia, to spend the holiday season with good friends. I guess you can call it luck, but exactly like the previous time, it snowed while I was there. And this village and it’s surrounding area look fantastic in snow. Of course I didn’t miss a chance to get out and take some photos of the beautiful winter landscapes. I had another good reason this time; to test my brand new Canon 5D IV and of course the fantastic Sony A6300. If you are ever in this little village, it’s good to know there are two traditional taverns serving really nice home made food and of course the best lamb chops and round cut pan-fried potatoes. It was great fun making a portrait of one of the owners! Check the photos below.
MiRo
A few months ago I visited Nefeles Mainalon Resort to shoot an editorial for Celestino. We planned ahead with the rest of the team and we also collected some dresses from the Greek fashion designers MiRo. Here are some of the shots I chose from that particular shoot with our model Mariana. It was a very cold day on the mountain but we enjoyed every minute of it! Styled by Yiorgos Mesimeris muah Konstantinos Sakkas.
Taygetus
My latest visit to my hometown Kalamata, Messinia, was accompanied by bad weather. But as my friend and fellow photographer Thodoris claims, that’s the best time to go out and shoot. And that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t find any friends that could join me, so I took Grappa (you know, man’s best friend) and we drove to the mountains. It was pouring but the thick fog really got me going…one of my favorite visits in Taygetus so far. I have also included some pictures I took in December in the same area, to make this my first post in 2016! My next goal is to climb this mountain to its peak (2407m) and photograph everything along the way.
A glimpse of Autumn
This past weekend some of us were feeling very wanderlust. But the forest kind. We have been having an extended summer and really needed a change of scenery from the beautiful beaches. So without any planning we all decided to go to lake Doxa in Feneos. The weather was still very sunny and bright but once we stepped into the thick forest there was a different feel, exactly what we had missed!
Neratza Hotel
The usual Sunday get together. Hot summer day, but what better option for exploration than an abandoned hotel by the beach? You can always go for a swim after shooting!
Little Fig Tree
It’s always the weekend. I just need to leave the city. The hot summer weather just amplifies this wanderlust. Thanks to Fanis and Lia, I quenched my thirst for a bit of adventure. They invited me over to their rural house in a small village near Mycenae. I was ready in an instant, packed the camera bag and just left the city behind.
Lake stories
Another visit to Feneos, but this time we had props to play around with. Weather was not perfect but matched the spooky mood we were after!
Mani reloaded
As an obsessive person that I am, I keep returning to the same places over and over. This long weekend I decided that it would be ideal to travel to Mani. Again.
Autumn in Mani
Late October in Greece is usually quite warm. Combine this with a national holiday and you have a long weekend. Long enough to drive to the south Peloponnese. Mani is one of those places I can never get bored of.