Nafplio Greece
Nafplio is a beautiful coastal town in the Peloponnese. It is a historical Greek town, which had once been the capital of the independent Greek state during the first years after the revolution of 1821
Nafplio is situated in a wonderful area of the Argolis Gulf and is ideal for anyone to wander around the area of Argolis, its sights and beaches. In Nafplio you can see the lovely historic old town, the islet of Bourtzi, Acronafplia and its impressive castle Palamidi.
Nafplio has an interesting cultural movement and a developed local market. It is only 140 km away from Athens and is ideal even for just a day trip, although most visitors prefer it as a weekend destination.
The biggest Camera
George R. Lawrence was a unique photographer but mainly was a man of innovation and patenting. He began his artistic career by making enlargements of passport photos using crayons. As his workplace he had a small space that he had rented in a photographer’s studio. When the photographer disappeared one day, his whereabouts unknown, he left behind his equipment and darkroom.
He convinced a photographer to teach him the basics of the development and processing of photos, but from there on he was self taught. Within seven years he had become a famous commercial photographer specializing in large prints. The slogan of his photography studio was ‘The Hitherto Impossible in Photography Is Our Specialty’. The big challenge didn’t take too long to arrive. The Chicago & Alton Railway asked him to photograph their new train in a large photo to send to the International Exhibition of Paris in 1900, the same International Exhibition for which the Eiffel Tower was built.
In order for Lawrence to achieve this imagery, he built a huge camera named Mammoth and succeeded once again in the impossible. The Cramer Company of St Louis manufactured the 8 x 4½ ft glass plates and also produced the large sheets of sensitized paper used in making the contact prints. Bausch and Lomb Optical Company of Rochester made two lenses for the camera, a wide angle and a telephoto lens. The construction of the camera took two and a half months.
The three final photos picture cost 5000 dollars, which was an enormous amount for that time. But they gained by the huge advertisement and the main feature is the slogan used in literature, ‘The Largest Photograph in the World of the Handsomest Train in the World.’ Lawrence won the ‘Grand Prize of the World for Photographic Excellence’ with his photos in the Paris World Exhibition.
In the photo I have attached you can see Lawrence next to the massive lens camera holding the lens cap underneath his arm, at the time the photograph was taken.
For the life of George R. Lawrence, you can read more at vikipedia
Arta Greece
Arta is a city on mainland Greece in the region of Epirus situated very near to the Ambracian gulf and at the estuary of Arachthos River. Arta was the capital of Epirus in ancient times while during the Byzantine era it was the capital of Despotate of Epirus.
The surrounding area of Arta has an exceptional natural environment, high mountains, rivers, springs and waterfalls, lagoons with many rare species of birds, while the plain of Arta is famous for its agricultural production.
The major sight of Arta is the historical bridge of Arta, but due to its long history Arta has many sights of archaeological, historical and religious interest in the area as there are many Byzantine churches and monasteries.
Rhodes island Greece
The island of Rhodes is the capital of the Dodecanese and is one of the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands. Rhodes is a very popular international tourist destination and has direct flights to major European cities.
It is a large island and you will need several days to explore it. Although Rhodes is famous for its medieval Old Town which is one of the Unesco World Heritage sites, wherever you go on the island you will be dazzled by its extraordinary beauty.
What you most definitely should visit in Rhodes is the Castle town of Lindos, the special beauty of the area of Prasonisi, the Green Valley of the Butterflies and the 7 springs. As for the beaches in Rhodes you can find countless and for every taste. In recent years, Rhodes has emerged as a popular destination for extreme water sports.
The camera film
A short story
I was watching the boats ropes being untied from its bollard on the quayside, instructions were coming over the loudspeakers on the stern, in my camera only three frames from the last 36 film were left, in my wallet was enough money for a pack of cigarettes and a cup of coffee. Once again my summer vacation on a desolate Greek island was ending. The return journey back to the port of Piraeus would last more than 15 hours. My first concern was sleeping space. I was walking around the boat to find an appropriate space and at some point I found a nice corner next to a staircase. I laid out my sleeping bag and sat observing the people. After a few moments, I put the camera to my eye, but the thought that I was down to my last 3 frames made me put it down again. The boat departed and the Sun came into my frame and everything became wonderful silhouettes.
I got up and made my way to the bar to buy some cigarettes and a coffee with the last of all I had left, should I take it now or maybe save it for later? Being absorbed by this profound thought I was blocking the queue so I moved away, hesitated and was about to go back (should I get the coffee finally?) but the people in the queue behind didn’t allow me to rejoin where I had left, I had to wait again… at the end of the queue. Turning around to take my place, I heard a female voice.
– Would you like me to get anything for you?
– Aah Thank you very much, a coffee with some milk.
– Frappe?
– Uhm… a Frappe, yes.
I must have looked very lost, both surprised and lost at the same time. After a while and with the coffee in my hand. We introduced ourselves to each other.
– Nadia.
– Takis. Thank you very much, how much did it cost?
– Please, my pleasure, it’s on me.
We started chatting, Nadia was also returning from her summer vacation back to Athens and back to work. I asked her to join me in my corner where my sleeping bag was to drink our coffee together. Time passed very pleasantly with her. Her voice had a warm character which I found very soothing.
– I am travelling with my friend, who I have left alone for quite a while. I should find her and we may catch up later for another chat.
– Go, I’ll be around here somewhere.
And she was gone. I began to play with the camera again. I lifted it to my eye, framed a shot, and back down again, the 3 last frames made me hesitate. A person caught my attention; I had him in my sights for a very long time, snap… I got what I wanted, my remaining frames had became two now. I became restless and got up to go for a walk.
Wandering around I soon found something to relieve my boredom, a guitar. I mustered a smile and asked its owner if I could borrow it a while. I sat and started strumming the guitar. People began to gather around, Nadia came with her friend, offerings in the form of beer and wine began to arrive and the atmosphere became warmer and warmer.
The man who kindly lent me the guitar was a member of a band whose members were all aboard the boat as they were returning from a summer job on the island. Slowly everybody began to join in with our little soiree’. We now had a bouzouki, an accordion, a toubeleki drum and a female singer. The company grew increasingly. I left the guitar for a little while in someone else’s hands, I wanted to eat and drink something from the many offerings… not to go wasted. I sat next to Nadia who was still singing, she had a wonderful voice. At some point she told me:
– I must find a place to sleep tonight.
– Why? Haven’t you found anywhere yet?
– No.
– Come with me then to my corner, there is plenty of room and we can fit easily.
– Really?
– Uhm… do you think that I am trying to fool you around?
– I am going to arrange it and come back again.
They gave me the guitar again. The feast continued. Nadia came back.
– All is good; I’ve set up my sleeping bag next to yours.
– “Lay your mattress for two, for you and for me …” I sang my reply.
– And when are you planning to go to bed, sir?
– Uhm… first I have to finish the repertoire, ma’am.
– Oh we are saved now! We will get to Piraeus and you will still be singing!
– Nah, just in a bit…
– Okay I’m going, I feel a bit sleepy…
– Okay I’ll come in a little while too…
But the mood of the people would not settle for “a little while” and a little while became two hours. I eventually went to lie down too. Nadia was already sleeping. I fell asleep looking at a little piece of heaven.
The next morning I woke up facing a beautiful smile and a coffee.
– Good morning, we will be arriving soon; we have enough time for a coffee.
– Good Morning!
– How long did ‘in a while’ last night?
– Hmm…
– What hmm, you think I am foolish? I told you that you would be singing until we got to Piraeus!
– We haven’t even arrived in Piraeus yet. Nadia, are you becoming a bit desirous?
– Yes I have, do you have a problem with that?
– No, not at all!
– I’m going to see how my friend is doing and I’ll be back. Wait for me and we’ll leave the boat together.
– Ok, I’ll be waiting for you.
– Are you going to take care of my sleeping bag?
– Yeah, I’ll pick it up, don’t worry.
– I’ll leave my bag here, don’t get lost!
– Not gonna happen.
I got up, picked up the sleeping bags and watched the people. I began once again to play with the camera, two more frames left, probably one; I will save one for Nadia. Nadia didn’t come back. I waited until the ship was empty. After a few years n Aegina island, I gave the sleeping bag away to a Dutchman whose own had been stolen. Inside her bag there were hair clips and a pocket camera 110, with a used film. I thought it would be too intrusive to have it developed. I would come across it from time to time whilst moving from one place to another. Sometime after 20 years, I finally decided to have it developed. I retrieved the photos but the colors were awful, a reddish tint dominated. There was me, in all of them. Just as I was at the age of 21, playing the guitar and singing with a smile surrounded by people, faces tanned by the summer, smiling. Some are fuzzy; in some I have red eyes from the flash… or perhaps maybe a glint of what could have been.
The first travel photographer
Pierre-Gustave-Gaspard Joly Lotbinière
The year 1839 was a milestone for Photography. That time was in Paris a truly imaginative guy, Mr Pierre-Gustave-Gaspard Joly who had married a wealthy aristocrat in Canada and added to his name the surname of his wife, de Lotbinière.
Pierre-Gustave was an exceptional traveler for his time. His family was involved in the wine trade, and from his youth had traveled to different countries to find new markets and to make new agreements. First in Europe, from Switzerland where he was born, to France, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Russia, and across the Atlantic to South America, the USA and Canada where in Montreal he met and married his wife Julie-Christine Chartier de Lotbinière.
In 1839 this well-traveled chap was in Paris planning a voyage to the Middle East. He learned about photography in Paris and the daguerreotype process that had just been announced to the French Academy of Science. Immediately, he supplied himself with all the necessary equipment by Noël Paymal Lerebours in order to take pictures of the antiquities of the places to which he would travel.
He arrived in Athens Greece via Malta and he was the first photographer to take photos of the Acropolis (The first photos of Athens). From there, he continued his journey on to Egypt and then to the Holy Lands, Syria and Turkey. On this trip he took 92 photos in total and some of them were published by Lerebours in his book ‘Excursions daguerriennes’ (1840-41) along with some others by the architect Hector Horeau in his book ‘Panorama from Egypt and Nubia’ (1841).
After this trip, it appears that he never took any more pictures again. The fascination with the invention of Photography led a lot of people to get involved in travel photography. Especially the French publishers, financed pionner photographers who had the desire to travel. The photos taken by Pierre-Gustave-Gaspard Joly in Athens, all suggest that they were the first travel pictures ever taken. On the journey that he continued after Greece he was accompanied by other photographers traveling in East for the same purpose. The first photographs of Athens and the Acropolis make Pierre-Gustave-Gaspard Joly the first travel photographer in the history of Photography.
Santorini island Greece
Santorini is a unique Greek island in the Cycladic island group and indeed in the entire world. Santorini has a unique charm thanks to its particular style of architecture and the volcano which has formed the wonderful caldera. These have made Santorini one of the most popular travel destinations in Greece and around the world.
Santorini is a travel photographer’s paradise as there is nothing on the island that does not deserve to be photographed. Although I love all the Greek islands Santorini remains my favorite.
Apart from the volcano and the unique landscape Santorini island has one of the most important prehistoric villages in the area of Akrotiri, while being famous around the world for its local products, mainly wine, fava beans and the Santorini tomato. Because Santorini is my favorite destination I will follow with many posts about the stunning island of Santorini so as to share with you its unique beauty.
You can also read about Santorini island
Lefkada island Greece
Lefkada is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea with a peculiarity. There is no need to board a boat to visit the island as it is well linked to the main land by a floating bridge.
The island became famous around the world during the decade of the 1960’s as the Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis bought a small island called Scorpio close to Lefkada, upon which he married Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of the murdered US President John F Kennedy. Scorpio was recently purchased from the granddaughter of Onassis, by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for his daughter Ekaterina Rybolovleva.
You can enjoy my travel guide about Lefkada Island Greece https://lefkadaislandgreece.gr/
Today Lefkada is a well developed tourist destination that stands out for its exceptional natural environment and its famous beaches, while in recent years it has become very popular for the enthusiasts of Wind and Kite surfing.
Discover true luxury in Lefkada island Greece https://www.lefkadaluxury.gr/
The first photos of Athens
In 1839 the year that Photography was invented, Pierre-Gustave-Gaspard Joly de Lotbinière arrived in Athens on the first stop of his trip to the Middle East and took some photos of the Acropolis. These photos are the very first photos of the Acropolis, the first pictures taken in Greece and everything shows that they are the first travel pictures ever taken by the first “travel photographer”.
Athens first photos October 1839
Unfortunately, none of the 92 original photos taken by Pierre-Gustave have been preserved from his trip to Greece, Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Turkey.
Athens first photos October 1839
The only ones that have survived and we know of nowadays are those which were printed in two books ‘Excursions daguerriennes : vues et monuments les plus remarquables de globe – Daguerreotype Excursions: the world’s most spectacular views and monuments’ in which we can see some photos of the Acropolis and in the ‘Panorama d’Égypte et de Nubie avec un Portrait de Mèhemet-Ali et un text orné de vignettes – Panorama of Egypt and Nubia with a portrait of Mèhemet-Ali and a text illustrated with vignettes’ in which we can see some photos from Egypt.