Photo of the week: Town of Erzurum

In the Balkans is one of the truly great books. I gave my copy to a good friend (who helped me when I was shooting in the Balkans). Might have to buy another, thanks for the reminder! The shot with the va-va-va-va poster in the background is a classic, it somehow encapsulates the pride and dark violence of the Balkans. To be totally honest, not sure if the shot chosen for Photo of the Week does him full justice.

Comment posted by Bill on October 30, 2007

I think I know what you mean Bill. I did not want to choose one of his most iconic photographs since I wanted to show an image that might not be that well known by those who know Economopoulos already. But maybe that wasn't the right decision. So you think the photograph you described would be the one shot we should have posted?

Comment posted by Martin Fuchs on October 30, 2007

I too think that Economopoulos is one of Europe's unsung photographic heroes. I first saw his work at Frank Viviano's house a few years ago when Frank was still writing for the National Geographic. They worked together on that Balkan book and have remained in touch since so I have been able to get glimpses every now and again of some of Nikos' recent work as well. I have to say that his work has inspired me and started me off on an attempt to document a small community that was changing rapidly (click on my name to see the work I mean)

Although I rarely work in black and white it was the edges of Economopoulos' images that always got me thinking ... just before the crop ... it somehow always made me think that they weren't cropped after the fact but were framed like that in camera.

Something that Frank told me about Nikos - he was a law student in Greece headed for a lucrative career when a wave of numbness overcomes him in a classroom. He rises from his desk, walks out the door, and leaves jurisprudence forever for the precarious existence of a wandering photographer. "I wanted to stop thinking and begin to feel," he said.

Something to remember when behind the camera is it not ?

Comment posted by o'connor on October 30, 2007

Doesn't get the attention of the photo community in there either...

Comment posted by John Vink on October 30, 2007

What are you referring to John?

Comment posted by Martin Fuchs on October 30, 2007

Wow, I am very much impressed by Nikos Economopulos photography. I just viewed this galleries that you posted. Very, very impressive really. Old school black and white street photography. And as of the photo you posted: yes, maybe there are other photos that would have fit better, but this one is beautiful! Very simple and effective. A good scene! Sorry for my bad english and thank you for showing me this photographer!

Comment posted by Bernhard Weber on October 30, 2007

Well I think that Nikos should have been more involved in Magnum Group projects than he has been in the past. Greece seems to be very far from Magnum at times... Or is it the other way around?

Comment posted by John Vink on October 31, 2007

i was just wondering if you guys know Andrej Ban, he is photographer from slovakia,
his work is pretty much about balkan... and some other places as well
just check his website www.andrejban.com

Comment posted by jakub on October 31, 2007

I bought the Balkans book years ago in a bargain bin at a used book store here in Oregon. I could not believe that I had never heard of him and how incredibly good he was. Over the years I've weeded out dozens of photobooks from my shelves, but Balkans stays. It's one of the best I own.

Comment posted by Thomas Boyd on October 31, 2007

I really like the work Nikos made in the 1980's - 1990's. It really inspired me. But what did he do after that ?
Has he had his "big time" then ? Or is it that I don't know what he did recently ?

Comment posted by pierre yves on October 31, 2007

Thanks jakub for your link to the andrejban website. Another very accomplished photographer.

Comment posted by scott lucas on November 1, 2007

Does anyone knows how Nikos works. I guss he uses film? -which lense is his favoritte?
I suppose he never set his camera on "auto"?Does he only use leica?.
Sorry to interrupt you with these silly questions.
Thomas

Comment posted by Thomas Johannesen on November 1, 2007

Hi Martin, sorry so late getting back on. I wouldn't want to push one photo or another, didn't mean to criticize... I can certainly understand your choice, for me it's just a little too 'clean' or innocuous compared to the rest of his work. I agree about how there's always cool stuff going on around the edges of many of his pics...

Comment posted by Bill on November 1, 2007

Thank's for pointing out Mr. Economopoulos work. It's stunning and so full of detail, so many stories in there. A conversation with him for the blog would be so interesting! I hope you can do it!

Comment posted by Lea Kast on November 5, 2007

@Thomas Johannesen:
I participated in a three days workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece with Nikos Econoopoulos in March 2006.
He is using a Leica MP4 with a 35 mm lens, but in his early work he shot with two Olympus cameras (the one was OM-2 I think) with 35 mm & 28 mm lenses.
The film he is using is Kodak Tri-X 400.
In 2004 a book came out with 54 folk fairy tale tellers from the Aegean island with portraits taken by Economopoulos.
Recently he published photos at the german magazine Mare with immigrants who try to travel from Greece to Italy: Link here
There is currently an exhibition in Athens, Greece with 14 new photographers, who participated at a workshop with Nikos Economopoulos titled City Streets in collaboration with the British Council: Link here

Comment posted by Leonidas H. on November 26, 2007

There is a web site for Economopoulos' On the Road projects:
http://www.ontheroad.gr

Comment posted by Leonidas H. on November 26, 2007

Incredible image. Not much more to say. Only that I love it.
Pierre
www.e-photographie.net
www.aufildesjours.info

Comment posted by Pierre Wetzel on December 16, 2007

I would probably agree that this particular picture doesn't do justice to the photographer's work however it is his and it is interesting for studying. You get to see his signature -in my eyes - by the kid and its stance which reminds me of some of his earlier pictures and also by the complexity and depth of the background.

I've met the guy in his house in Greece a few months ago and for me also is one of the top photographers of our time. Major thanks to some friend here who posted links to recent work. Among the things discussed which stuck with me is that he strongly believes that you need to study A LOT and look at various photographers. Talent is not enough :)

Comment posted by Apostolos Chatzilakos on August 25, 2008

as for his recent work just type economopoulos on the search option on magnum website and you get everything untill 2005! !

Comment posted by Apostolos Chatzilakos on August 25, 2008

I just looked at the examples of Nikos's work available here. Wonderfully insipring photogaphy. Reminds me of HCB. Seems to be a stlye that's rapidly going out of fashion these days as street photography becomes a less acceptable practice or even verges on outright illegality at least in parts of Europe and maybe America too.
However, in my naive way I often wonder how someone like Nikos survives. So you walk out on a career in law in preference for a peripatetic life as a photog. Very honourable and brave. So he becomes a Magnum member and apparently sometimes runs photo workshops, although no one outside of Greece seems to know who he is. He publishes a couple of books. Maybe he gets somethng in a magazine now and again. Does that provide a living or does he have a day job too? Can any photogs today, Magnum or otherwise, honestly claim to make a living from street photography?

Comment posted by Nigel Amies on August 28, 2008