Kostas Petrakis photography

Blog is moving

Kostas Petrakis — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:07:47 +0000

After many months of waiting, coding, customization my new website is nearly finished, so this blog will also be moving to the new domain. Posts and media have been migrated the layout has been set and we are ready to go!

The new website can be found over:

http://www.kostaspetrakis.com/blog

Photography and hiking

Kostas Petrakis — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:24:14 +0000

It’s not secret that often the most breathtaking landscape views (not always the rule though) are to be found in remote isolated and less easily reached places.
If you are into landscape photography and you are passionate about it there will be times where you will be faced with the choice of visiting places which require some hiking either on cold or warmer weather conditions.
The most important factors is to dress properly for those situations, to protect your health and make sure you enjoy your visit in nature the second most important factor is to balance your load, so that you wont feel exhausted once you reach your objective waypoint.
But if you are not familiar with hiking or mountains you naturally don’t know what you should be wearing or buying for those circumstances.

Mountain / Hiking and any kind of activity that involves walking or hiking will make you sweat and will increase your body heat, wearing a proper layering system is essential for making you feel comfortable and especially for keeping your body in a healthy state during the activity.
What is a layering system?
Layering system is the way people who are involved with outdoor activities dress, it consists of 3 layers, the base, the mid and the
outer layer.
Most people use as a base layer a cotton shirt, as a mid layer a shirt and as an outer layer a jacket, but that’s only applicable when you are in the city or you dress casually, this kind of layering is the biggest mistake you can perform while being outdoors, Why? Because cotton does not allow your sweat to evaporate, your body to breathe and eventually it makes you feel cold and puts you outside of the comfort zone.
A proper layering system, depending of your activity should consist of a base layer which is highly breathable, in colder weathers you should be seeking a combination of thermal and breathable base layer while during warm weather you should be seeking a shirt which will wick the sweat away from your body keeping you dry while still breathable to maintain your temperature and reduce the effect of sweating during your activity.
A mid layer consists usually from a fleece jacket or shirt, depending on the weather and the activity level you may not need to wear one (warm weather) or you may need a double fleece jacket (cold weather with small activity level), fleece with a proper base layer will make sure your body stays within comfy temperature while still breathing and allowing body moisture to escape your clothing system. Note that if your photographic trek involves a high activity indicator (such as ascending a mountain) you should also make sure you carry an extra fleece jacket or soft shell jacket for the time you stop (either for photographing or for resting), this is needed because walking will already make you feel hot and sudden change of this situation could be risky for your health.
Finally the outer layer consists usually of a waterproof jacket, make sure the jacket is both light and breathable; those mountain jackets most often come without any kind of insulation, since the layering system ensures about your insulation and the jacket is there to protect you from rain and wind and not to replace your mid layer. Highly breathable is another important factor of this jacket, surely you can find waterproof jackets that cost close to 10$, but try to trek with them on you for a while, soon you will find out that you are totally wet (even though the rain does not penetrate the jacket) from your body moisture and most important you will feel utter discomfort, breathable jackets maintain their waterproof characteristics while allowing your body to properly breathe and remove the sweat away from it.
Hiking boots is another important part of the puzzle, proper hiking boots should be waterproof, should allow your feet to stay dry and most importantly protect them from accidents which are common when hiking over hills or places with lots of vegetation and hidden “traps”.
Shocks should also be breathable, and make sure you bring a second pair with you; you never know when your feet will get wet (even with waterproof boots) and if they do get wet and there is nothing more annoying (and also dangerous for your feet health) than wet shocks and shoes.
Trousers are there to protect your legs from plantation and insects, but also to allow your lower body to breathe properly and also stay dry, a lot of people bypass the trouser parameter, but trust me this is another key component for an enjoyable experience, try to imagine hiking for 3 hours with a wet jean…not the most pleasing experience. Trousers should be comfy, so choose wisely, they should allow your movement easily without restricting you and most importantly without making you feel discomfort, a quick dry trouser is a welcome addition, since in the event you get wet it will dry far quicker from any other typical trouser, they should be long enough to protect your legs, but not long to make you step on them on every step you take.
Gloves for colder conditions are a necessary accessorie as well, they will allow your hands to maintain temperature while stopping winds from making them feel cold, since we hike mostly for photographic reasons, you should be looking for thin gloves, personally, since I don’t easily get cold, I use a pair of polartec made gloves, they are thin, they stop wind from reaching my fingers and making me feel cold and most importantly they allow me to easily operate the camera without needing to take them off.
As I mentioned in the beginning of the article, equipment is another factor, you don’t want to carry extreme loads on your back, I believe its easily understandable, heavy weights on your back, even with the best backpack there is available will soon make you tired and will put a lot of stress in one of the most risky parts of your body, choose wisely your equipment and don’t pack more than needed, 1 camera body (in case you have more than 1), 2 lenses, 2 batteries, your filters and your remote control should be the maximum (in my opinion) on your back, 2 lenses cover nearly everything, a wide angle and a telephoto (such as a 70-200 which will be able to cover most of the situations) will allow you to cover most of the subjects you encounter. A light tripod is also a major relief for your hike, it will take away lots of the stress and it will also allow you to setup more easily and quickly, light tripods are usually more expensive than bulk and heavy tripods but they are worth every little penny!
I hope I managed to cover as much as I could on the subject, if you do have questions or corrections do comment I will make sure either to answer them or add them to the existing article. Happy adventuring!!!

Her silent language

Kostas Petrakis — Fri, 06 May 2011 22:20:28 +0000

Nothing beats the opportunity of having a few days away from the office, I took the chance asked a few good friends and we headed towards the mountain of Parnassos, although close to Athens and one of the most historical spots of Greece it has long lost its glory in terms of respect, nowdays it’s the escape destination for all of those wealthy people seeking some fancy mountain refugee. Yet there are still a few spots around this mountain that you can still embrace nature and purify your soul with the surroundings.
When I woke up and started packing I realized my first photographic yet biggest mistake, I had forgotten my precious 70-200L lense at home and I now I was only carrying my 17-40L wide angle, I initially felt like I was chosen to visit hell, I knew due to weather that my 70-200 would be a valuable tool that days, yet it was not located in my bag…A few minutes later I realized again that the most important joys of life is actually enjoying the journey and not its purpose, so a few minutes later I was back in my “nirvana” state of mind, trying to enjoy nature, company and the few days I had away from office pressure.
We started over the morning towards Sarantari refugee spotted at 1800 meters altitude, it was cool morning at nearly sea level but definitely colder at the height we where about to reach, thick snow and clouds where covering the area and the temperature was already at -12 degrees, a nice warm layering system of clothes ensured that I would stay nice and warm while venturing around.
Although the thick clouds did not allow any special landscape captures the surrounding did provide a few appealing subjects for photography. A lonely tree with a small line formation of rocks hidden under snow did provide the means for an interesting capture, the distant peak of Kelaria just being visible added to the atmosphere of the capture.
It surely was not a perfect photographic day, but yet it was a thrilling day enjoying nature once again in one of its finest dresses…
I hope someday the government in Greece will realize the crime that is committed (once again) in one of the ancient mountains of Greece, I truly hope that people will be able to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of nature that resides in Parnassos…only a few km’s away from the capital of Greece..

Canon 5D Canon 17-40L f/4 Focal Length: 27mm Aperture: f/16 Shutter: 1/20sec ISO: 100 Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Parnassos / Central Greece Date / Time: 17/12/2010 15:54pm Mirror Lockup + remote control

Thy Gift

Kostas Petrakis — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:47:07 +0000

After a very bussy start in 2011 I am eagerly waiting for my first official brake, my first encounter for 2011 in nature, it’s been a while since I last had the chance to feel the essence of life, to touch the gold rays of the sun and smell the clean and fresh air, the air that makes you dream, gives you hope and courage to strive on with everyday madness.
I have been bussy as hell, unfortunately not for my passion (photography) but for the sake of my future (which in Greece gets darker and darker everyday), the workload is so huge that the upcoming escape feels like preparations for a trip to paradise.I always envy people who managed to escape city madness, away from unhappy faces, stress, pressure which mesmerizes your body and soul.It was October but still feels like yesterday, I can even feel the delicate nature odours as if I was there right now, the images or even better the paintings of nature, walking around and admiring a divine creation. On the other hand, I always wonder if short brakes to paradise are better, if this procedure does actually allow your brain to stimulate and react to madness, how would you understand how a paradise feels if you haven’t seen hell?
I was wandering back in October among the scapes of Pindos, it was cold and getting late, the scape was so magnificent and enchanting that made me not think of my cold hands, I had my tripod setup and I was shooting my last pictures as the sun (which was hidden above the overcast sky) was starting to fade and soon I would have to return to my camp, I was trying to frame a picture I had in mind when suddenly I felt a sweet and warm feeling to my right side, it was the sun breaking through the overcast sky and “showering” everything around me, such a magical moment, it was as if the painting changed, as if everything was not like before, soon my tries where abandoned, I turned my tripod towards a small glade that was bathed into the sunlight. The only thought in my mind was how glorious can nature be, how colors, trees and leaves can change your mood in only a few seconds…a divine gift.

Canon 5D Canon 70-200L f/4 Focal Length: 104mm Aperture: f/16 Shutter: 1/4sec ISO: 100 Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Pindos / North Greece Date / Time: 28/10/2010 16:25pm Mirror Lockup + remote control

Twin peaks

Kostas Petrakis — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:01:34 +0000

It’s been a long time since my last submission, been bussy with my nearly ready personal website (http://www.kostaspetrakis.com), I was wondering through my gallery and found a few unpublished pictures from last winter, a lovely time in the Northern parts of Greece (Epirus) which in my personal opinion holds some of the best landscapes in this country.
I never miss the chance to wander around the lovely scapes and every time I have the opportunity I pay my visit to the fairy tale like places around there. This year I am already planning my easter to be back on the wild and still well preserved mountains of Pindos and Epirus in general, I eagerly waiting for it…

Canon 5D Canon 70-200L f/4 Focal Length: 70mm Aperture: f/16 Shutter: 0.6sec ISO: 100 Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Papigko / Epirus Date / Time: 13/2/2010 6:07pm Mirror Lockup + remote control

Layers of color

Kostas Petrakis — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:45:12 +0000

The stormy weather is breaking up, the rays of the previously hidden sun start painting on natures canvas..
Pindos, autumn 2010

Canon 5D Canon 70-200L f/4 Focal Length: 70mm Aperture: f/16 Shutter: 0.5sec ISO: 100 Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Papigo / Epirus / North Greece Date / Time: 13/02/2010 18:04pm Mirror Lockup + remote control

One perfect sunset

Kostas Petrakis — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:32:02 +0000

Although the folder of captures from Pindos is still full of unpublished ones, I felt the urge to post something different, it’s been nearly 1 year since my last submission from Papigo and I have already been there 2 more times since that last snowy session.The mood of the holidays and the lack of cold in Greece gave me a nostalgic feeling, although in the meantime I had my time at Parnassos (a mountain close to Athens) and a few degrees minus yet it couldn’t compete the magical view of Epirus and Astraka.This was shot the same day as waiting for the light, I just had a magnificent evening, God arranged everything from heavy snowfall all day and a clear dramatic skies in the evening as the sun was fading to oblivion.I had already scanned the area, not difficult to find new spots, as the mountains surrounding the place are truly something you surely need to see once in a lifetime, I had made a few captures and I knew the sun would be diving somewhere among the distant mountains, I just had to wish for a clear view where I could frame and capture the view I was anticipating.
Yet nature did it’s miracle one more that day and made my wish come true, the strong light would be a small problem, but then again it would add to the calming and magical feeling of the moment. This is a picture of 4 vertical stitches double exposed and manually blended with Tony Kuypers Luminosity masks.

P.S Title was inspired by “One perfect sunrise” from “Orbital”…

Garden of stones

Kostas Petrakis — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:37:59 +0000

Our first day in Pindos finds us in a state of “nirvana”, the journey was long and waking up in the middle of the night to pack and mount the equipment inside the car is not that fun at the specific moment, travelling for a few hundred kilometers and then spot finding where you should base camp, unpacking and pitching tents inside the cold makes you even more tired, but this really doesn’t stop us from unleashing our minds and hearts into the wilderness once we were good to go!
Finding a photographic spot in Pindos, is really no problem, every single meter there is a new subject, be it colors, be it abstracts, or the magic of nature itself it’s full of subjects! We soon find ourselves near a small stream (at least it used to be back in summer) that has now transformed into a more powerful and charming little river, the place is full of possibilities, water, trees, colors, even macro shots jump out of the frame. I started shooting various subjects in the specific location and few minutes later I moved to a another location which was laying behind me, the first impression of that spot felt a bit boring, but further searching revealed a nice location where the stream would fall on the rocks and bring some action into the frame! I moved inside the water, standing on a sunken stone, trying to keep the water level under my boot height so that I could continue to shoot dry!

Canon 5D Canon 17-40L f/4 Focal Length: 22mm Aperture: f/16 Shutter: 1/4sec Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Vovousa / Pindos Date / Time: 28/10/2010 16:19pm Mirror Lockup + remote control

Veil of tears

Kostas Petrakis — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:40:31 +0000

I always admired Joe Cornish works, I always found fascinating how he could transform a simple image into a photographic masterpiece, frames full of emotions and thoughts that “drag” you inside of them and just let you eyes suck every little detail available in them.
When I was at Pindos over summer, I had seen a small stream in the places we explored, back at that days the stream was really a boring subject, with no flow, little color contrast but yet again it was a promising spot for a future autumn visit.
So in the end of October when I re-visited Pindos, I took the chance to shoot at that place, got myself the gear and mounted my 70-200 lens, I wanted to experiment more with tight frames and the light conditions in combination with the scape in front of my eyes where just screaming for this kind of shooting.

Canon 5D Canon 70-200L f/4 Focal Length: 135mm Aperture: f/22 Shutter: 2sec Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Valia Kalda / Pindos Date / Time: 28/10/2010 15:47pm Mirror Lockup + remote control

Mystical End

Kostas Petrakis — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:28:48 +0000

The day started like a photographer would wish, colors, overscast conditions to filter the strong daylight. Pindos is full of surprises, even if I visit her a thousand times I always find something different, the warm weather back in Athens is long gone, and now I am in front of pure autumn colors, I stop and stare at the greatness around me, leaving nature do the rest…
After a few minutes a cloud is lower than the rest, it covers the distant peak like a veil among the color madness, autumn is finally here, I now can feel and experience her…

Canon 5D Canon 70-200L f/4 Focal Length: 81mm Aperture: f/16 Shutter: 1/5sec Tripod: Benro C-169 / Vanguard SBH-300 Filters: B+W CPL Location: Valia Kalda / Pindos Date / Time: 28/10/2010 16:44pm Mirror Lockup + remote control