Fleeting youth

Back in 2018, when I moved to Santorini, I used to spend a lot of hours scouting for new, interesting spots to shoot. Beyond the obvious, stunning views of the Caldera, Santorini has so much more to offer. The "other side" of the island, as we like to call it, is full of culture, quaint little villages, and unique photo spots you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Winter is when I produce my best work. It’s the only time of year when I have the clarity and energy to shoot purely for myself. The slower pace of the island during this season gives me the space to really think and reflect.

One day, while scouting, I stepped onto a dark red rock, and something clicked. As a newcomer to Santorini at the time, I had to prove myself in a highly competitive industry. I immediately started putting together a plan to bring all my equipment to this spot, which wasn’t exactly easy to access. The location itself was tricky, and the tide was an important factor. I had to wait for the water to recede enough to pass through without getting soaked (I didn’t have an assistant in 2019).

The vision I had in mind was clear: a purposeful visual narrative. I wanted the series to follow a specific theme while reflecting my ultra-dramatic style at the time, all while enhancing the composition with the technical lighting approach I was just discovering.

Each shot was intentional: the womb-like rocks, the roots that seemed to rise from within the earth, becoming a continuation of the model’s limbs. All with a purpose to reflect the fleeting nature of life.

Want to read more? See the process behind ‘Circle’, fine-art project in Mykonos, Greece.