Alexandra Argyri is a photographer. While viewing her dedicated to soccer exhibition “Off-sight” in ArtVille in Athens I realized that she is one of these artists who manage to capture the moment. Moreover. Her lens seal pictures that not everyone can see ... The young photographer has her own unique style and especially profound eye. She is excited by man.
Alexandra is sensitive and genuine. Even when she reflects difficult social issues she does not peel and judge, she simply shows. In her own way. With warmth and understanding. “Because everyone has his own problems,” she says. Her images are romantic and slightly melancholic. She has worked on portraits of famous artists, singers and sportsmen. You will see pictures of Hristoforos Papakaliatis, Sofoklis Shortsianitis, Konstantinos Markulakis and many others in her gallery. If you want to get acquainted with the works of Alexandra visit her website: www.alexandraargyri.gr
Soccer is my passion. I go to the stadiums since I was 5-6 years old. I'm a crazy fan of Panathinaikos. I began to understand the game at the age of 10-12 and started to like soccer more. The strange thing is that nobody has created this habit. Neither my father, nor my brother. They do not deal with soccer at all. I found it myself. It took my entire mind. From Saravakos in 1987 until today.
Over the years the students at school were playing soccer, but nobody wanted to play with me because I was a girl. And I wanted very much. Then I started just to watch. I watched European matches and Greek ones. I constantly went to stadiums. The story with the soccer photos began after I’ve graduated the photography school. The “Off-sight” project took me 12 years. I told to myself that at some point I can present all these photos. I decided that I want this to be during a year of European or World Cup. And see what happened. Greece qualified for the World Cup ...
Camerawoman – this was my job at the beginning. I shot the phases, goals, etc. I sent my photos to the Associated Press because I belong to it. I saw, over time, that this is not very me.
Candid as I can be, I did not like the fight and elbowing in the locker room of the players to make the best picture. I did not have the necessary equipment either. I liked the ball and legs. So I started doing photography sections in other subjects. I made one topic - the bench. Reactions on the bench, joy, sadness, enthusiasm ... Anger, nerves. Then I made the sector theme. Mother with child, bullies, and everything that can happen on a single sector. Then I did legs. I understood that soccer is actually in the legs. All the strength and tension are there. We work and chase the ball with the brain, but the strength is in the legs and they do the entire job.
Exhibition “Off-sight” does not consist of pictures that you will see in a newspaper after a match. It shows my view on scenes of the game, which the eye of the spectator, player or coach can not capture. Empty sector and shoes of a player or left gloves... That’s why the exhibition is called Off-sight. It seems to me that most pictures are melancholic, but at the same time have the momentum. They are a bit romantic too. It is also important that none of the pictures is “adjusted”. All of them are reporting.
Rightly you can tell that the players are lonely. As the photographer is lonely at the stadium. This is the only thing that bothers me. When the team scores a goal I have no one to share my happness, because I'm alone. I forget to shoot very often. I feel more a fan and friend of the team rather than a photographer. If Panathinaikos plays with Roma I feel nervous whether we will score. Sometimes I'm ready and waiting for a picture of the net, but the team scores a goal and I start to shout. I go into raptures and forget to shoot. Soccer is my passion, not my job, that’s it.
AGRESSION
I've made pictures of aggression on the stadiums. I did not want to expose them, however. I do not think this is something people would like to see. We should be ashamed of aggression, outrage and rowdiness... People broke on the stadium because of other problems. Not because of the game. Like the outrages on Syntagma...
I can not say exactly what happens on the stadiums, however. I think it is what happens during all demonstrations. Whether it's an economic crisis or a protest because of ship strikes, for example. Everyone is looking for a way to vent his anger somewhere. And the stadium is the best place to do it. You get together every Sunday; the one sees the other, this is how the things are ... It would be better measures to be taken as were taken in England years ago. But we are in Greece and the aggression problem remains like we say that cigarettes are banned, but we still smoke.
MAN IN THE FRAME
I certainly want to shoot a man in my photos. My job as a photographer is in the fashion, advertising and portraits. I like fashion, although it is something set, but I like the portraits more because you have to discover the man who stands in front of you. Whether he is an actor, writer, artist ...
WEIRD PHOTOS
There is nothing quite strange. There are, however, difficult working conditions. Once we went to work in a huge studio and while we were shooting someone stole all our equipment. During some other photo sessions we got drunk at noon. It was Christmas and the models pretended they were drinking wine, which they gave us then...
THE DIFFICULT THING
To show the personality of the man who stands in front of you. In fashion and in portraits. You have to show something to express him, but you too. For example, if a poet is slightly melancholic you must show it somehow. Because he is like this and because he writes melancholic poetry, for example. But at the same time you have to express your aesthetics. This is difficult. Every time I take things as a challenge.
There are many technical difficulties, of course. You may find yourself somewhere with no electricity but you have to take pictures with flash. Another thing is that we shoot summer pictures in winter and winter pictures in summer. At the moment we shoot the winter collection of furs and coats. At 40 degrees! At Christmas we usually shoot swimsuits. These are the difficulties of photography.
I DO NOT LIKE TO SHOOT
I do not like to shoot houses and structures in which the human element is missing. I did not like to make reportage photos before. This year, because there were so many events, I began to like this. There is a lot of human element in them.
But I do not like to shoot a “beautiful” house where people sit on the couch in the company of friends, drinking their beverages. Because it is not true. To shoot a house as in everyday appearance, I can figure it out. But not otherwise. There is no sense in showing a house, where 100 croissants and carefully arranged oranges are served for breakfast. Because the things are not like that.
BRIDGES ...
The other thing that excites me and I am working on are bridges (worldwide) and the vehicle. When I decide to arrange an exhibition it will show again materials collected for 10 years. I am working on this project little by little, in parallel with my daily work. I do not collect 10 images to say: “Let's do a show.” I’m not a snob and I'm cautious. But as it appears, this may be a problem because when we decided to make the Off sight exhibition it turned very difficult to choose the exact pictures. Just imagine that I was at the stadium every Sunday and Wednesday for 12 years. I've been at stadiums abroad too.
WHEN EXHAUSTED
I go through phases in which the daily routine eats all my energy. Often when shooting things to earn money you can not express yourself. You have always some guidance from a client. You can not make pictures as you like when shooting politicians. This can really exhaust you, but inspiration does not stop you. You go somewhere for a couple of days, you see something nice and charge yourself again. I saw a very nice beach this weekend and immediately took out the camera. Nevertheless I told myself that I do not want to shoot anything for two days, I still shot. The camera has become an extension of my hand. I see things as photographer. What lens sees is what my eye sees.
But what really tires me is friends’ demand to shoot. Especially when we're on vacation. The friendly photographs of the “you and me on the beach” type make me tired. In such cases, I refrain from taking pictures. I say “Fellows, I'm on vacation.” I understand that their expectations are reasonable. But imagine both of us are on vacation and all the time I keep asking you: “What happened to Cecil? Is the transfer complete, etc.”
WORLD OF DIFFERENT COLOURS
Every country has its culture, its colours. Each country inspires you. But I think I could not live in another country. The only place that resembles Greece a bit is Spain. This is Mediterranean culture, there is a sea and both countries are similar. But I get home-sick after about two weeks abroad. Otherwise I made a tour in China. Each culture gives you inspiration. I, however, was born in Greece. I grew up here and I'm not going to go to another country.
I DO NOT LIKE TO SNAP SHOT
Now there is a general tendency to snap-shot. It's like you ended up at a party and shoot whatever you see. The light is not ideal and it is assumed that it is not adjusted. Although these are snap shot pictures, I do not like them. The flash of the camera is also used for them. You get somewhere, press the button of the camera 10 times and this is the fashion Editorial. This is the trend of magazines over the past two years around the world. It has come to Greece already. I do not like it at all. There is something obscene in it. It is a bit Testino. I like Testino, but his romantic things. For any photographer I can tell you that I like, I refer to his romantic period. Berson or Newton or Maze ...
MY PHOTOS ARE ROMANTIC
Most of my photographs are romantic. Art directors tell me that. I do not like to show the so-called dirty part. I will show dirty, but in my way that will bring something more peaceful. It will not honk. Here's an example - I made a report about prostitutes and brothels that are near Metaksurgio and Keramikos. I saw them again from another, more peaceful point of view. From the perspective of “why she is doing this”, not criticizing “see what she is doing!” There is no criticism in of my photos. Even if I show breasts, they are soft. Because everyone has problems. Who am I to judge them? I can be judged too.
I AM ASHAMED TO SHOOT OTHER PEOPLE’S MISERY
I am ashamed to shoot the misfortune of others. I saw hungry and poor people on the streets when I was in China. I was embarrassed to photograph people without teeth only to make a nice photo. It's a bit like a military report. Personally, I have not gone to a war, but many photographers go. I am taking off my hat to them. In this case, the very dynamics of the topic is such that you yourself would make wonderful pictures if you were there with a camera. Whenever you shoot a child with no hand or feet you will make a good photo. It is the same wirh a beautiful sunset. If you go to Santorini to photograph the sunset of Ia for example. There are views and issues that are so exciting, magical and powerful themselves that everyone can make good photos. Also, if you're in space and should take a picture of what you see, you yourself will make it. The only difference is that you probably would put the planet in the center. Most people put the topic in the center. I would put the planet on the left, the right or just a slice of it.
IF I WAS NOT PHOTOGRAPHER
I wanted to become a dancer when I was a child. I played sports gymnastics. But my parents said “get a degree first and then do whatever you want.” I like the legal profession and forensics. And soccer, of course. I can be a referee, but unfortunately there are no women referees.
SUMMER MEANS GREECE
Summer is always equal to Greece. Whatever trips I plan they are always for the Christmas period. Summer is for Greece. Favorite island? Our islands are so beautiful that I can not choose one. But I'm not fond of the tourist islands. Last year we went to Patmos, Lipsi and the region. It was magic. Beach, moon, fish ... It was great. I like the islands Serifos, Sikinos, Kimolos. I love the sea.
PLANS
My recent plans are related to recreation. I am waiting for August to go somewhere. In regard to the work, as I said before, I am working on two projects - bridges and vehicles. I will make an exhibition at some point. I want to be healthy and okay so I can work. To do the things that I like and inspire me. And to have friends around me.
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