Fotograf Vasilis Liappis

—Zuallererst - wen können Sie als besten Fotografen in Athen, Griechenland nennen? :)

—There are many talented wedding photographers in Greece, and in Athens particularly. Not trying to be politically correct, it is just the truth. I have to pick from so many. One of my favorites is Aristotelis Nikolaides.

—Sind Sie fotogen?

—I am very photogenic, especially behind my camera!

—Wie sind sind zur Fotografiebranche gekommen?

—I started as a photography student, back in 1998, working at the same time as an assistant in a commercial studio. Since then, I have tried and worked in many genres of professional photography industry, with the latest being the wedding photography, which I practice for more than 6 years now.

—Was macht Ihrer Meinung nach ein gutes Foto aus?

—Less is more, first and foremost, and secondly, a good communication of feelings from the subject.

—Reisen Sie gern?

—I love traveling and always looking forward to it. If I can achieve traveling and work, I'm a happy man!

—Was gefällt Ihnen an Ihrem Beruf am meisten?

—Connecting with new people, couples and professionals.

—Was gefällt Ihnen an Ihrem Beruf am wenigsten?

—The weight of equipment I have to carry around

—Was ist die Zukunft der Fotografie?

—I believe that as photography evolves, so do professionals. So, that being said, I see more professionalism and lots of beautiful and unique images!

—Was das Besondere an dem Fotografiegenre, auf das Sie sich spezialisiert haben?

—Communication with ordinary people, like me will be the first thing, and the second one is that for a special day in people's lives, I become part of that day!

—Wie gehen Sie mit Kritik um?

—I love criticism in a polite manner. Always makes things evolve in a better way.

—Gibt es irgendwelche Trends in der Fotografie?

—Trends come and go, but a good photo is always good, no matter how many years pass.

—Was sollten die Kriterien für Kunden bei der Wahl eines Fotografen sein?

—First of all, I believe that both parties should have some common ground. Besides the budget and services provided, the photographer and the client should get along well. That is the first thing I tell my new clients, when I get a request for a booking. I like to meet them first, and if we get along well, from the first meeting, then everything else is doable. Of course, quality of services provided, professionalism and discretion play an equally important role in choosing a photographer.

—Was ist bei Fotoaufnahmen strikt verboten?

—Not to be distracted by anything, not to be rude to anyone, not to be nervous or anxious by any circumstances that may occur.

—Welche Details werden häufig übersehen, die ein Fotograf aber erkennt?

—Reactions of guests in a wedding, beautiful light (reflections, backlight, sidelight etc), shapes and all kinds of things that can form a good composition for a photograph.

—Was beeinflusst den Wert eines Fotos? Welche Elemente sind wichtig?

—How interesting the subject is, what makes it pop inside the photo, which are the secondary elements that help the subject, and of course the quality of light used.

—Welche Person verkörpert für Sie das 21. Jahrhundert am besten?

—The common man, you and me.

—Was würden Sie gern fotografieren?

—I want to take photos of my girlfriend, just because she never lets me!!! The most difficult subject I ever met, lol!

—Gibt es für Sie in Ihrem Beruf Tabus?

—I always, always arrive at least half an hour earlier than agreed, always deliver earlier than agreed as well.

—Mit welcher Ausrüstung würden Sie gern fotografieren?

—I would love to shoot with George Pahountis, a fellow Greek photographer, with whom I have the same origins as well. Island of Karpathos that is.

—Worüber machen Sie sich Sorgen und warum?

—I worry much about intolerance, because that makes people hateful, and in history the examples are more than enough that show where this has brought mankind.

—Was war der eindrucksvollste Moment in Ihrem Leben?

—The first time I traveled by my self. I loved the feeling of freedom to chose what I'd do next. It was also a good chance to discover myself and to think deep about many things that concerned me at that time.

—Welche literarische Figur oder Filmfigur wären Sie gern und warum?

—As a child, I loved reading a comic series, named "Lucky Luke", by a Belgian artist Morris. I loved the fact that he was efficient no matter the circumstances he had to face each time, he was lonely with a horse as his only friend, and always, riding towards the sunset as a lonesome cowboy.

—Wer inspiriert Sie in Ihrem Leben und warum?

—My recently gone Father, because he was a fighter, nothing was given easily to him in life, but he gave too much to me, nevertheless.

—Wie definieren Sie Erfolg? Wie messen Sie ihn?

—Success for me is doing something that people appreciate. I am happy if the people I work with are happy. Money is important of course, but as long as I get along, I don't mind that much. I'm a simple person, living a simple life. No fancy lifestyle here.

—Gefällt es Ihnen mehr, wenn man Sie mag oder wenn Sie respektiert werden?

—I prefer to be respected, not only because it is more difficult, but because it is more substantial in my opinion.

—Was war der größte Fehler bei Ihrer Arbeit?

—I gave too much of my effort, without being appreciated.

—Was nehmen Sie mit, wenn Sie auf Reisen gehen und warum?

—A cell phone, my camera equipment and a pair of good walking shoes, because all I do is searching online where is the next interest point for shooting, and then I go there on foot, just not to miss any parts of my way there.

—Haben Sie Apparate oder Ausrüstung, die Sie lieber nicht hätten kaufen sollen? Warum?

—I'm not a compulsive buyer, so, everything I buy is for a reason, and being used.

—Wie bilden Sie sich weiter, damit Ihre Bilder noch besser werden?

—I love watching webinars and of course study other photographers work, either on social media or other platforms. Through the years I discovered that being interested in more than one genre in photography, keeps me motivated, and I certainly am not fatigued by my work.

—Welche Arbeiten haben Sie als Fotografen am meisten beeindruckt?

—When I started, I loved Edward Hopper's paintings. Victor Lax is one of my favorites, but I also admire and being influenced from many other styles as well. Lately I admire many Scottish photographers, because of the dark and moody pictures they make, in such dramatic landscapes. I really wish I could visit Scotland one day!

—Was hätten Sie auf jeden Fall wissen müssen, als Sie mit der Fotografie begannen?

—That it's not that easy as it seems. It is an art, and as such, it takes a long way to master the craft, lots of patience, exercise, and many different aspects that you need to learn and exceed to.

—Was möchten Sie mit Ihren Fotos zum Ausdruck bringen?

—I want to bring out a positive feeling, sometimes surrounded by a much darker mood. Only to emphasize that there is always hope in the end of the tunnel.

—Was motiviert Sie weiterzumachen?

—Every photo is different than the previous one taken. That only, is enough not to make me bored of what I do.

—Hätten Ihre Eltern strenger sein müssen?

—I think they raised me to be a good person, so I think they made a pretty good job in terms of strictness.

—Wenn Sie zurückschauen, was hätten Sie besser machen können?

—I definitely would like to have studied more, in a university, far away from my city.

—Was halten Sie vom Leben auf anderen Planeten?

—Who am I to answer such kind of a question? I believe it's possible though.

—Wer sind Ihre Helden?

—Every day people are my heroes.

—Wovor haben Sie keinerlei Respekt?

—Mostly politicians, but just to be safe don't want to name any lol!

—Was tun Sie in Ihrer Freizeit?

—Landscape photography is my no.1 hobby. Besides that I love swimming and being near the sea in general.

—Welche Seite Ihrer Persönlichkeit bleibt dem Publikum verborgen?

—I'd rather not answer LOL!!!

—Wann sind Sie mit Ihrer Arbeit in jeder Hinsicht zufrieden?

—Once I get feedback from my clients. Until then, I always am anxious and uncertain.

—Glauben Sie an die traditionellen Rollen von Mann und Frau?

—I'll say just this one sentence. I'm the king in the kitchen.

—Schließen Sie schnell Freundschaft?

—Friends with the real significance of the word, no, but I love to interact with new people all the time.

—Wo würden Sie gern leben?

—In a Greek island, surrounded by the sea.

—Was war das Dümmste, auf das Sie sich je eingelassen haben?

—I agreed to drive in a remote and full of turns road, after a wild night out, and just a day before I give my driving license tests.

—Gibt es ein Leben nach der Heirat?

—If there's a will, there's always a way. So, my answer is yes, of course.

—Haben Sie einen Lieblingswitz? Erzählen Sie ihn.

—Knock knock....

—Lieben Sie Hunde oder Katzen?

—More of a dog person here.

—Wen oder was hassen Sie?

—I hate arrogance and intolerance. Two of the worst characteristics in my opinion, a person could have.

—Das Beste im Leben ist:

—Life by itself is a miracle. But besides that, all the things you get to learn, see, live, feel, laugh for or cry for... Life is good!

—Das Ärgerlichste im Leben ist:

—Getting up very early in the morning... :-P

—Gibt es etwas in Ihrem Umfeld, das Sie ändern möchten?

—Yes, traffic jams...

—Was würden Sie an sich selbst gern ändern?

—I would like to reduce my stress levels.

—Was würden Sie in der Welt ändern?

—Hatred of any kind is the thing I would eliminate, if I could.

—Haben Sie ein paar Tipps für angehende Fotografen?

—Never give up, never listen to people who tell you that you are not the right person for such a job. Persist and love every moment of what you do.

—Wenn Außerirdische auf der Erde ankommen und Sie sind die erste Person, die sie treffen, was sagen Sie zu ihnen?

—Let me take a picture of you! I know it's a cliche, but who's that photographer that would miss that kind of chance, right?

—Angenommen Sie erhalten den Auftrag, einen Film aufzunehmen. Welches Genre würden Sie für den Film wählen?

—I like Dramatic films

—Morgen werde ich...

—HIKING!!!