Queer film photographer Kate Anderson (@kviii_film), based in Brooklyn, New York, has had a love for analogue photography since her grandfather gifted her an Olympus OM-1. This gesture formed an interest that continues to define her artistic vision today, in street photography, studio portraiture, interiors, and most favourably her travel photography. This series follows Anderson's two-week trip to Greece, spent exploring the Aegean Sea, visiting the islands Santorini, Naxos, and Paros. Her photographs gracefully illuminate the charm of the Greek islands, amplifying their simple, yet magnificent landscapes and traditional towns.
Santorini, the volcanic island known for its glorious white architecture and deep blue domes, is a part of the Cyclades island group on the South side of the Aegean Sea. Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades, is better known for its rich history and ancient ruins, famous for the ancient Temple of Apollo. Paros, smaller and more centrally located, offers a quieter atmosphere, providing a place to discover the intimate moments of local life. Anderson finds these moments in all of her scenes, calling attention to the often overlooked details of her surroundings to paint an immersive picture of the Greek summer.
Beyond the iconic blues and whites, I was drawn to the smaller details that give these islands their charm: sun-faded doors, bougainvillea climbing over quiet alleyways, linens drying in the breeze.
It is in this that Anderson's photographs find their timelessness-in their honest, captivating portrayal of the quaint yet vibrant spirit of the islands. Anderson describes these scenes as both unchanging and fleeting: places we often visit for the summer, standing still as though they will endure time indefinitely, possessing an everlasting essence, largely adopted from the traditional atmosphere and appearance of the islands. There is solace found in these towns spared from modern hindrances, paved with cobbled streets, populated with fishing villages, unchanged much since their construction. As Anderson explains, she looks to find;
The stillness of a quiet day when the light shifts at sunset, the textures of everyday life, and the quiet beauty found in the details.
Consistent throughout the series is an undeniable expression of colour. In each photograph the colour forms a striking visual foundation, drawing us towards it and inviting us to explore the scene. Take the contrasting blue of the Aegean Sea against the bright white of the Greek architecture, or the warm orange octopi hanging against the sunset above the evening ripples of the calm water. Even in the serene moments of fishermen fixing their nets, bold colours populate the scene. Anderson captures these evanescent moments with striking detail, never losing sight of the broader atmosphere her surroundings create. This series was shot with a combination of Ultramax 400 and Kodak Gold, working well with the bright sunlight of the Greek summer. A few of her images were shot using the Fujifilm x100f, Anderson noted that this was her first time working with digital, previously unfamiliar with digitals ability to provide an instant photographic outcome. She added that working with film and digital in combination offers a freedom, as it provides the ability to slow down and speed up your work pace at your own convenience. As a photographer, a variety of tools- mediums, in this case, is enriching to not only the outcome- but the experience of shooting.
© Kate Anderson
