I had the chance to meet up with Chieska who is currently living in Bristol. It was great to finally meet a photographer whose work I admire very much.
It was a wonderful chance to chat and get in touch with our inner Flickr geek.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Chieska
Sipa Press photographer arrested and beaten while taking photos inside port
Once again the Greek law enforcement authorities have covered themselves in glory. This time arresting then beating handcuffed French photographer, Oliver Jobard who was covering a story on Afghan refugees in the port city of Patras. It's almost a year since I suffered similar treatment (see here) at the hands of the Greek riot police for taking pictures during a peaceful demo. You have no idea how much I hate these knuckle grazing, corrupt neanderthals.
"French photographer Olivier Jobard of the Sipa Press agency was arrested and beaten by a coastguard officer on 4 July while taking photos in the port of Patras, in northern Peloponnese, for a report on immigrants. Detained by the police on charges of “resisting an authority” and “physical injury,” he was released the next day pending a trial, which was due to begin today.
For years, a special permit has for been necessary for anyone taking photos within Greece’s ports, which are regarded as military or high-security areas.
Jobard told Reporters Without Borders that Sipa Press requested a permit for him but it had not been issued by the time he needed to begin working. He took photos without any problem on 3 July, when he was questioned twice by port guards and was allowed to continue working after showing them, at their request, the pictures he had been taking. "
See here for the rest of the story from Reportage Sans Frontiers"
Thanks to Devious Diva for putting me onto the story.
"French photographer Olivier Jobard of the Sipa Press agency was arrested and beaten by a coastguard officer on 4 July while taking photos in the port of Patras, in northern Peloponnese, for a report on immigrants. Detained by the police on charges of “resisting an authority” and “physical injury,” he was released the next day pending a trial, which was due to begin today.
For years, a special permit has for been necessary for anyone taking photos within Greece’s ports, which are regarded as military or high-security areas.
Jobard told Reporters Without Borders that Sipa Press requested a permit for him but it had not been issued by the time he needed to begin working. He took photos without any problem on 3 July, when he was questioned twice by port guards and was allowed to continue working after showing them, at their request, the pictures he had been taking. "
See here for the rest of the story from Reportage Sans Frontiers"
Thanks to Devious Diva for putting me onto the story.
When in England
You know you're in England when;
- it's 14c outside, raining and the guy in front of you is wearing a hoody, raincoat, Bermuda shorts and flip flops.
- anything, and I mean anything can be turned into a sandwich. Sushie sarnie anyone?
- the TV is full of chefs cooking wonderful dishes whilst the audiences stuffs themselves with crisps, pot noodles and microwaved hamburgers.
- your umbrella has not left your side for weeks and it's July.
- you go to a demo and it's so quiet you think you've joined a funeral procession by mistake.
- whatever media you choose to use and abuse has exactly the same stories, just in a slightly jumbled order.
- it's 14c outside, raining and the guy in front of you is wearing a hoody, raincoat, Bermuda shorts and flip flops.
- anything, and I mean anything can be turned into a sandwich. Sushie sarnie anyone?
- the TV is full of chefs cooking wonderful dishes whilst the audiences stuffs themselves with crisps, pot noodles and microwaved hamburgers.
- your umbrella has not left your side for weeks and it's July.
- you go to a demo and it's so quiet you think you've joined a funeral procession by mistake.
- whatever media you choose to use and abuse has exactly the same stories, just in a slightly jumbled order.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
St Thomas the Martyr
I was just wandering around the church when the warden(?) came up and said that if I wanted I could go up to the gallery and take pictures from there. By strange coicncidence I recognised him as I had taken his picture last year while on holiday in Bristol. Small world as the saying goes.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
In England
Yesterday I splashed out and bought Don McCullin's In England, a collection of pictures by the world class photographer. As well as going to war zones in far off lands he also took stunning images of places closer to home. Inspired by what I saw I thought I'd post my take on the same issue.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Off to the park
Yesterday was picnic day so me, Lydia and her cousin, Maisie went off to the local park in search of berries and mischief.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Life, death, education and pottery
Another day busy doing..... well, what exactly? Nothing "productive" in the classic Ricardo or Adam Smith sense of the word.Still, saw lots though. Love, death, education and broken pottery. In the morning I decided that I'd take some portrait shots of Lydia, Josh and Maisie. Easier said than done. In fact a bit like playing golf in a hurricane as no one wanted to sit still for longer than a hummingbird's heartbeat.
Later it was off to the centre, camera in hand to see what fate presented me with. Floral tribures to a teenager beaten to death for helping a woman, graduation ceremonies and French TV crews all featured heavily. Oh, the broken pottery was part of an exhibition at the Arnofini arts centre in which memebers of the public were invited to use in order to create their own art masterpieces.
I even saw the sun!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Rain, rain go away....
Well, true to form it rained like crazy on my first day in England. A month's rainfall in just 24 hours. Last year they had the worst flooding in decades. I swear the government will be deporting me soon if this keeps on.
Still, it's been an interesting 24 hours in country. So far I've seen two arrests, a major traffic accident and witnessed a guy saunter off with a load of copper piping nicked from a building undergoing restoration. Some people would say that I have a gift for attracting trouble.
Lydia, on the other hand is having the time of her life playing with her cousins, Maisie and Josh so she has not really noticed the appalling summer (how can they tell?)
Monday, July 07, 2008
Fly me home on a big jet plane
Tomorrow me and Lydia are to England in a strange role reversal in which we flee from the sun and embrace wet summer. It will be good to go back and see family and friends once again.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Stereosis 99Hours Photography Exhibition Stereosis International Slideshow
Stereosis 99Hours Photography Exhibition Stereosis International Slideshow, originally uploaded by emmanouil papadopoulos.
Stereosis 99Hours Photography Exhibition Stereosis International Slideshow. I will have some of my pictures in the slide show. Cooooool!!!!!!. A couple of them are included in the poster above. The show starts on 8th July at 9pm at Zeuxidos and Iktinou St in the centre, just below Agia Sophia church.
Hot as hell
Today I finished off the last of my bureaucratic entanglements. I'm not sure how many pieces of paper I managed to collect or stamps I needed but a conservative estimate puts the number at near 50!!! just to get one job done. I swear you could send a manned mission to Mars with less paperwork.
The worst part of it was running from one end of the centre to another in 40c heat. Still, fingers crossed I won't have to go through this kind of palaver again soon.
The 11th Anti Racist Festival Thessaloniki.
Last weekend I had the chance to go the 11th Anti-Racist festival here in Thessaloniki in which many groups and activists took part. As the organisers, The Anti-Racist Initiative, Thessaloniki say in their press release (click here to read it - Greek only, though)the event was designed to give a voice to those who have no voice and especially to the children of immigrants who often reach adulthood without any official papers and so risk deportation to countries they've never even seen.
"Θέλουμε να ακουστεί η φωνή «αυτών που δεν έχουν φωνή» και πρώτα από όλα των νέων, των παιδιών των μεταναστών. Των παιδιών που, ενώ έχουν μεγαλώσει στην Ελλάδα, η ρατσιστική πολιτική του ελληνικού κράτους τα μεταχειρίζεται ακόμα ως «μετανάστες». Των παιδιών που, μετά την ενηλικίωση τους, κινδυνεύουν να μείνουν «χωρίς χαρτιά», «λαθραίοι» και «λαθραίες» στην ίδια τους τη χώρα και απειλούνται με απέλαση σε μια ξένη χώρα που δεν γνώρισαν ποτέ!"
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Nikos
I bumped into an ex - student as I was going through the centre. It was great to catch up on news.
Intense argument over our sacred right to park
These two guys were arguing with each other in Aristotelous Square. I'm not sure how it started but somehow they managed to keep on shouting at each other, walking off then return for a new bout repeatedly while I was there.
Amusing, I suppose, if you're into boneheaded machismo in 40C heat.
All in a day's work
What a day! Woke up to a power outage which lasted most of the day and then things went downhill. With no way to cook or even make coffee I decided to head off to the centre to get some bills paid and tie up loss ends, Great in theory but with temperatures in the 30s C and humidity hitting new highs means that you feel like you're trying to operate in a sauna with a wet blanket over your head.
Later me and Lydia ended up in the ER of a local hospital after she banged her foot badly while running around the flat. After four hours of waiting the doctors told us that she had a minor break in her small toe so they bound it and said there was nothing to worry about. She'll be as good as new in a couple of days, which is good news.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Leaving
Finally got my new passport which means that me and Lydia will be off to England soon. She can't wait to go and has been bugging me all week about the details. I think she's even more excited than I am about the prospect.
I Fought the Law
Following the example of other cities green activist organised a naked bike ride to highlight the problems caused by excessive car use in Thessaloniki. However, the public prosecutor threatened to arrest anyone who demonstrated undressed.
The riders complied with his request but that didn't stop the riot police turning up in force and arresting a English Cypriot protester for allegedly being naked.
www.nowpublic.com/world/naked-bike-ride-runs-foul-police
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Naked bike ride runs foul of police
Green activists in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki clashed with riot police during their attempt to hold a naked bike ride in order to protest excessive car use. Senior police officials, however, had warned that anyone not wearing clothes would be arrested and so the ride went ahead with the protesters clothed in beach wear and body paint.
According to protest spokesperson, Kostas Terzopoulos Thessaloniki is the dirtiest city in Europe especially in term of pollution and that excessive car use leads to massive problems with air quality and noise pollution.
Problems began when riot police closed the main road leading into the city and forcibly arrested an English protester who they claimed was naked. Amidst tense scenes the hundred or so cyclists eventually persuaded the riot police to let the bike ride continue.
Later cyclists closed the main Tsimiski St with a sit down protest in order to demonstrate against the detainment of their fellow protester who was, according to police authorities set free. They condemned the police handling of the ride as heavy handed and out of all proportion.
The Greek police force has a chequered history as far as the handling of public demonstrations and has often been the target of complaints and law suits over excessive use of force. Last September English teacher and NowPublic contributer, Craig Wherlock was hopitalised by riot police for taking pictures during a peaceful march.Whilst in November 2006 Cypriot student, Augustinos Dimitrios was savagely beaten by plain clothes officers. Despite the fact that the incident was captured by TV cameras and shown on national TV no officer has been charged with a criminal offense.
Bike protest stopped by riot police
Following the example of other cities green activist organised a naked bike ride to highlight the problems caused by excessive car use in Thessaloniki. However, the public prosecutor threatened to arrest anyone who demonstrated without clothes.
The riders complied with his request but that didn't stop the riot police turning up in force and arresting a English Cypriot protester for allegedly being naked.
Video from Thess.gr
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wedding
Lydia was a bridesmaid at this wedding. I hung around and took a few pictures of the couple and it was soooooo obvious how much in love they were. I hope to have captured a taste of that in this picture.
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