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Alex Souchoroukof
@souhoho
Photographer based in Greece
I’ve had many vacations exploring the enchanting small Greek islands with my family. We’d explore distant beaches, eat watermelons by the sea, and then sleep in our car. Traveling has always been a part of my life. And these trips were all unforgettable moments that I still hold dear to me. We were always on an exciting adventure, and it’s one of the reasons I had such a happy childhood. So it’s easy to see where my passion for traveling originates. We have hundreds of printed photographs that give us such joy as a family as we recall these vacations. I think that’s where my love for photography started too.
Photography was just a hobby for me when growing up. A fun hobby, but still something I didn’t take too seriously. It was in my college years where my desire for taking photos exploded. There was one particular time during an architecture project that I remember vividly. I was sketching and photographing the buildings all around my university campus grounds. As I was trying to highlight different elements in the drawings, I spent many hours doing this. And it was the gray textures in the buildings and the diversity of cultures that made me fall in love with urban photography.
"I then felt the urge to take the only camera I had in my hands and wandered around Athens, trying to capture urban shots."
"Today, I carry my camera with me everywhere I go."
It may sound cliché, but for me, photography is a way to remember. We all tend to forget events, but with my camera, I can freeze a moment in time forever. Photography for me then is like a personal diary. It’s like having a visual memoir that shows me the memories that made me who I am today.
One type of memory that’s had a significant effect on me is related to my underwater photos. Initially, I started shooting underwater because I had hit a creative block in photography. I was trying desperately to create great photographs but just couldn’t do it, for whatever reason. So I thought I might be able to spark my creativity if I tried photographing underwater.
"My perspective on creative blocks is that we have to push harder but in a delicate way. And once I had done this, it was love at first sight."
I experienced a new world in the deep crystal waters, so silent but filled with so many hidden treasures. Exploring underwater made me feel calm, free, and more creative than ever. I would love to develop my underwater photography skills further, so I am sure you will see more content from me in this area shortly.
"Creativity is massively important to me. And I think a crucial reason for my imagination comes from my architectural background."
I believe being an architect is a bit of a superpower for me. It has taught me how to use composition to frame a subject, use the light to shape a photo, and implement forms and patterns in images to create more impact. Each project I do has a story from start to finish, which has been crucial in improving my storytelling skills for photography. Even today, architecture is the key to my creativity. I get a lot of inspiration from architecture books and exhibitions I go to.
"There are many types of photographs I like to take. But street photography is something I've always loved."
Everything about the streets I find beautiful: every street is unique. The buildings, the different faces of the people walking, and the vibes you get from each urban landscape make it an exciting niche. So a big part of my portfolio is still of cities. But over the years, I wanted to see different places that were not necessarily in the center of town. That’s when I turned to travel photography. Nevertheless, I still use the same principles I do for street photography when capturing a great photo. So I search for an exciting face of a local person or aim to shape the light to make it pleasing for the composition. You could probably say that I am looking for street elements in a landscape or travel destination.
On it stands a huge rock called Kalamos. It sits on the southeastern side of the island and is known for being the “Scariest rock in Europe.” Standing 460m high, Kalamos is the second biggest monolith in Europe after Gibraltar. It’s arguably the most impressive natural attraction on Anafi. And right there, I experienced the one most remarkable moment of all of the trips I’ve been on so far. On top of the rock stands Panagia Kalamiotissa church. It’s a pretty whitewashed chapel, built-in 1775. The chapel offers a marvelous view of the entire island and is the perfect spot for sunset gazing. Watching that sunset was the most impressive moment I’ve ever experienced. After running up the mountainous terrain to ensure we could get there on time to see the sunset, we witnessed the sky look as if it were on fire.
"A scene of unparalleled beauty and one reason why I've fallen in love with nature."
The island of Anafi contains lots of small white houses with blue windows and incredibly kind people. My family and I love it! And it’s more than just because of the beautiful beaches and great restaurants. It’s a place where I go when I want to free my mind and to gather my thoughts to see what’s next in life for me. If you’ve found a place just like this, then you know what I mean. And the truth is, even without my camera, this is a special place I would want to experience over and over again.
It’s not just the moment itself and taking the shot that’s important to me, though. It’s also the editing stage afterwards where I try to depict the emotion I could feel when taking the picture. I want people to feel what I felt and visualize what it must have been like to be there. Each photo is like a giant puzzle that conveys different, exciting emotions. And I like to listen to music while editing as I feel it helps me do a better job.
"But in a way, editing is like my version of therapy."
I’ve also started creating videos recently as a way to create forever lasting memories. Videos are compelling when it comes to telling a story. So, I challenged myself, and I made my first YouTube video. It wasn’t perfect, as video production has a steep learning curve. But I enjoy the process so I will continue to improve on this craft. Hopefully, in the future, I will create a documentary about something I’m passionate about.
Mastering a craft is, of course, not easy. But constructive feedback is what pushes me to become better every day. Having the right people who can guide you through each part of the process is quite essential. You should never be afraid to open yourself up to others for advice.
I’ve learned many valuable lessons that I will never forget, from both people and just through my own experiences. But there is one in particular that has stuck in my mind. I was taking a trip to Tymfi, a mountain at Epirus. On top of the mountain, there is a magnificent lake. So, my friends and I decided to hike there. This hike was supposed to be only a day trip, but we decided to stay longer when we got to the top. With only a small backpack, each containing only the bare necessities, it was quite the adventure to stay overnight. So long story short, that night, we experienced the most beautiful night sky of our entire lives’.
"The atmosphere was so clear that we could count every little star."
So what I learned from this is that being spontaneous is a great thing. Many people try to organize everything down to the tiniest detail. But having room for last-minute changes may actually be the best thing that could happen to your trip. Stay adventurous and be spontaneous!
"Who knows, the most remarkable memory of your life is just around the corner!"
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