Nikos Papadopoulos. Photographer
"I was born in Sydney Australia. I grew up in Thessaloniki and studied at the university of West Attica, Fine Arts & Photography. I started my career shooting architecture photography. Since 2000 I've been doing fashion photography traveling in Europe and shooting for numerous magazines and advertising agencies. I currently live in Athens".
BYO: You have worked around the world. Where did you have the best experience professionally?
NIKOS: In New York. A photographer has unique support at all levels.
BYO: Is fashion a global issue or is there a local mindset, philosophy, and aesthetics?
NIKOS: Fashion was a global issue, before Instagram. A significant effort was made in fashion photography that relied on top magazines and creative agencies. These defined the world aesthetics and it was mainly driven from Paris, New York, and London. But Instagram changes everything. I am not sure if we have seen the new landscape yet, maybe it will abolish fashion photography in the end! But surely, in each country, fashion photography has its own characteristics that are shaped by the local market and culture.
BYO: Do you consider yourself exclusively a commercial photographer or there are also other aspects that you express?
NIKOS: No, I never considered myself a commercial photographer, even though fashion belongs to applied photography. I was always trying to go beyond the boundaries of advertising.
BYO: Do you like Athens? Is it a photographic city?
NIKOS: I really like Athens, but it’s not a photographic city for fashion.
BYO: Are there any photographers who inspire you or they are role models for you?
NIKOS: Yes, of course. Giannis Bechrakis (Greek photojournalist and head of the photography department of the Reuters news agency in Greece). A versatile and unique artist. I admired him immensely.
BYO: Do you have a favourite image? Either yours or another photographer’s.
NIKOS: yes, a picture from Sebastiao Salgado's series in Serra Pelada a large gold mine in Brazil.
BYO: Are you working on a specific project at the moment?
NIKOS: Unfortunately not. Covid has really reduced the activity.
