Autin einai i proti mou sunendeuxi pu gia polu kero anipomonousa na tin paro apo ton fotogafo Petro Koubli, me ton opoio irtha se epafi sto diadiktio prota apo to myspace ke stin sinexia apo to facebook. O Peter Koublis ine enas epitiximenos, piramatikos fotogafos. Exei sunergasti me diafora periodika opos: Status magazine kai Vogue Hellas. To internet periodiko Fashion victims Magazine exei kani afieroma sto prosopo tou, opos ke to eyecandies blogg. Edw einai ke mia dikia mou apoklistikh sundendeuxi me ton anthropo piso apo ton fako! I sunendexi pragmatopoihthke meso email kai stin agglikia glossa kata protimisi tou idiou. Kali anagnosi!
IN ENGLISH
Have some time wanted to interview the very talented photographer Petros Koublis. He has a pretty busy schedule but he was more than willing to make time for this -eagerly awaited- quite a big interview. I first came in contact with Petro and his work on myspace and after watching more at hes pictures on facebook, I can't help but admire Petro even more. His images are without question first rate. He has a fantastic ability of capturing light. Has an impressive list of photographic accomplishments and he is a photographer with own style.
Petros Koublis is a successful Fashion Photographer who live and work in Athens, Greece, where he shoots fashion editorials, campaigns, portraits and art photography with hes team. He's work has been featured in a wide range of fashion publications, from Status magazine to Vogoue Hellas etc. As a photographers he has been seen and heard mostly through hes published images in different contexts. In this interview, I will tell you more about the man behind the camera.
Petros was gracious enough to share a lot about himself and his work –The result is a personal interview with one of Greece's most talented photographers. I have to say, I’m honored of becoming friends with Petro and very happy that he is the first fashion photographer in my blog.
Hope you have an interesting reading!
- Petro tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in 1981 in Serres, a city in Northern Greece. But the truth is that being son of a Military Vet doctor, we travelled quite a lot all over Greece before we settle for good in Athens suburbs.
- When did you decided to become a photographer and why did you choose this job, your family got the photography flame?
I think I am the first of my family to get involved with photography. I got really art directed during high school, wanting to follow a career into fine arts. Painting leaded me to photography, probably because it’s closer to my personality.
- What does photography mean to you?
Photography is both my profession and a passion, so I always find myself struggling somewhere in between. When I first started photography it would be easier to answer this question, as everything about it was simple and pure. Photography was an ideal and a form of philosophy for me back then. Not that today it isn’t, but certainly today everything is more complicated, once I now feel photography as a big construction that can offer some great view from the terrace but it also has some obscure basement rooms.
- How does your personality changes(if it does)when you look through the camera?
Photography can bring along many changes and reactions to someone’s personality. Of course after ten years I practice photography it would be naïve to say that photography hasn’t influence my character as well. But maturity is also a factor we have to take into account. It provides a calmness that is quite important in trying to remain creative. I don’t have to transform myself every time I look through my camera; what I always have to transform is only my subject: each and every time.
-Do you remember your first work in photography as a professional?
As I work in many fields of photography, from fashion to portraits, I think I have quite a number of “first commissions”; one for each field. On the other hand I could argue that photography is such a constant present in my life that there never were any first commissions; everything was always in the same and only route.
- If am not totally wrong you have studied abroad. Where do you think is the best place to live and work as a photographer in the word and why?
Yes, I followed a course in Manchester. But your question is so hard to be answered. I don’t know, there are many possible options. This is what happens when we leave our imagination completely free: a beautiful chaos arises!
- - How did you approach fashion photography was it through your photographic studies?
No. It was only after my studies I realized the creative possibilities that fashion offers. Fate has its own ways I suppose.
- So far, what is the best photo your ever took ? Reverse other photographer's best foto? (can you share with us? send a link with that foto)
I think I always tend to find something wrong in my work after a while. It is part of the procedure I suppose. What every photograph I make has to offer me is a reminder of what I did the wrong way. So I insist to make it better next time: and this is constant. I have to say there is quite a number of images I adore; but that’s a reasonable fact. I mean, to love a medium is to love those who made great art using it. http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/timage_f?object=72888.0&oimage=0&c= This is one of my favorite images for sure, a picture I totally adore.
- Describe a typical weekday in your life or at work.
I suppose there are three possible situations I can find myself involved with. Those are, preparing a shoot, making a shoot and editing the material. So, those activities describe three different procedures in the way I organize each day. If I’m in the stage where I actually prepare to shoot something, then I spend the day looking for a possible location or putting together everything else needed. Then, there is the shooting of course, which can last for many hours – and it usually does. When everything’s over I just have to stay home retouching and editing.
- I have read that Sarah Moon and Paulo Roversi is your influences, how do their work help you while creating your own photography?
It’s because those artists managed to create a kind of imagery that is full of artistic values. I really try to understand their techniques and explore the possibilities of creating something new.
- How do you describe your photographic style?
I could say I feel like a conjectural photographer. I pay a lot of attention to detail and always put the image itself above everything else.
-In your photography career so far your have done different types of assignments, fasthion, portrait, music, advertising etc, do you have any other ambitions have you not yet achieved?
I think I would like to shoot some kind of reportage someday.
- What is the most important thing when your doing a photoshoot technique or vision?
I don’t bother myself with such terms; those or any other. During a shoot the most important thing to me is the image. I’m not in need of words to motivate my passion.
- What do you prefer to photograph in a professional or in private way?
I like shooting different subjects and I actually try to do so. I honestly don’t mind.
- How do you feel about about the use of Photoshop, with all the "before and after" photos?
I do edit my work using computer software. It’s a process I admit I enjoy, as I can reveal my intentions in full scale. There is no honest image after all. Before digital photography there were lighting and darkroom tricks to make it happen. There are limits of course and when those limits are crossed then we probably reach the kitsch area…
- How would you like your viewers to react when they see your photos?
They never act the way I’d like them to. Then again, I think I can’t say how I’d like them to react after all. Making an image and viewing an image are two completely different actions.
- While browsing thought your work, I couldn't help noticing your have many black and white photos, how do you choose between black/white and color?The subject itself asks for a certain approach each time. Then it’s a matter of interpretation. There are many different values to consider, values as color, shape, depth but also atmosphere or feeling.
- As a fashion fotographer you have worked with models from all over the world. Do you prefer to work with greek or foreign models?The large majority of the models I’ve cooperated with are from other countries, this is true. It’s reasonable that different people from different countries and cultures act and behave differently, but I think professionalism is above nationality and this is what it matters at the end of the day.
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of photography?
It’s creative and as everything creative there many spiritual advantages. On the other hand it is quite stressful and always challenging.
- Greece is on the brink of a financial crisis, how are you facing this periode, does it effect your work?
It’s a period of rearranging here in Athens, as there are many issues concerning the industry. All the fields are influenced by the crisis and photography is not an exception.
Have you ever thought of changing profession?
No, not really!
- If you had not become a photographer what had you been then?
I don’t know, almost anything I suppose.
- What advise can you give for someone who wants to follow your photograph steeps?
Devotion is the only thing you need. Motivate yourself with passion and inspiration and then devote to it.
- And the last question , tell us a tittle secret about yourself that no one knows....
That wouldn’t be a secret anymore!
To find out more and to view Peter's amazing portfolio please visit the Petros Koublis photographer website http://www.petroskoublis.com/
