From Here To Eternity © Julia Anna Gospodarou 2012
From Here To Eternity – Vravrona Athens, Attica
This was undoubtedly the most difficult scene to shot to get in my entire photographer’s history. Weather wise, that is.
Actually, I shouldn’t have even been out there to take it, but in a taverna with my friends eating and having fun by the fireplace and watching the frantic sea outside raging in the strong freezing wind and rain.
But from the moment I saw this place, while driving to said taverna, I wasn’t thinking about anything else than how to get out to take a few shots. Which I eventually did.
So, I left them to finish the wine and got out there with my camera and tripod (plus the sandbags for the tripod) and started to look around the place to find some sheltered spot to set up my camera. I didn’t find anything though, so that meant I had to make do with what I had. Which was an umbrella that broke after 2 minutes in a wind that almost knocked me over (happily I was carrying the sandbags filled with rocks, ~10kg each, and they kept me stable), a linen bag for carrying said sandbags (which became “umbrella” for the camera and lens) and a few lens clothes that had gotten so soaked after a while that I was wondering why bother to even clean the lens, better take some artistic blurred photos and go back inside by the fireplace.
I wasn’t even dressed properly for that weather (remember, I was supposed to be inside with a glass of wine in my hand, chatting relaxed), but I didn’t even realize that till I started to shiver from the cold (after having been showered from tip to toe by a huge wave that got me wet to the bone and almost smashed my camera on the rocks (I managed to lift it and save it the very very VERY last second).
But it was beautiful. I hadn’t seen such a crazy weather in a long time and I managed to take a few shots that I like and that were un-blurred ( I still wonder how I managed that under these circumstances). And I eventually got back inside after one and a half hour.
Needless to say, the wine and food were over, and my friends ready to leave, but it didn’t bother me too much (that I was still hungry after having gone out to eat.
Me, I couldn’t wait to get home to see what I have on my card. Well, I know, you know the feeling.
Julia Anna Gospodarou - (en)Visionographer
Julia Anna Gospodarou is an internationally acclaimed photographer, architect with a Master degree, author and highly sought-after educator, teaching workshops and lecturing around the world. Founder of (en)Visionography™ and creator of Photography Drawing™, author of the best-selling book From Basics to Fine Art - Black and White Photography , with high distinctions in the most important photography competitions worldwide (International Photography Awards IPA Photographer of the Year, World Photography Awards SWPA and Hasselblad Masters finalist, as well as 80+ more awards), widely published internationally in books and magazines, Julia is passionate about the art in photography and striving to spread it into the world.