Greece: A Photography Guide to Your Next Odyssey
There seemed to be a period during the summer when Greece absolutely dominated social media feeds. You couldn’t click anywhere without glimpsing one of the Mykonos islands, or Santorini, Paros, Milos, or Ios.
It seemed like everyone in the world was vacationing in this country, and we have to admit, it made us decidedly jealous. Granted, we were longingly searching the hashtag #sunnyGreekvacation, so we kind of brought it upon ourselves, but that’s beside the point.
If you’re looking to make people like us jealous with your own Instagram albums, or perhaps a square photo book to seal the deal, then you can’t find any better location than Greece. At every turn, there seems to be a new photo opportunity, complete with rich, textured colors and landscapes that look like they're untouched from 3,000 years ago!
So let’s take a closer look at those landscapes and discover what exactly there is to photograph.
A Piece Of Magic In Georgioupoli
A vacation in Greece can cover a lot of land, so you might not visit everywhere on this list. But we highly recommend that you visit a few of these places at some point, especially the masterpiece that is Georgioupoli. Located on the island of Crete, Georgioupoli is a gorgeous village filled with stunning beaches and some mind-bending sites.
One of these sites is Agios Nikolaos Chapel, which stands at the end of a pebble runway carrying you from the beach and to the sea. It's a perfect spot for a photographer looking for something magical, but we should warn you: if you upload these pictures to our photo book maker, you’re going to have a lot of people asking if they're photoshopped!
A Slice Of History In Athens
If you’re a lover of Ancient Greek stories, then you can’t miss visiting Athens. This is the capital city of Greece, and famous for the Acropolis of Athens and the Parthenon, both of which are two of the most recognised landmarks in the world.
The great thing for a photographer is how hard it is to take a bad photograph of them. No matter the lighting, the weather, the distance, or the angle, these sites dominate the frame and always radiate a sense of beauty and spectacle.
An Olympians Dream In Heraklion
There’s no better way to experience Greece than hiking over the rolling hills, with the blue Aegean sea rippling far below you. One of the best places to do this is in Heraklion, where multiple hiking trails cover large stretches of land, including the Lefka Ori – glorious white mountains that, according to Greek mythology, were formed from the petrified bodies of giants.
Speaking of mythology, this is also the place where you can visit the Palace of Knossos. Not only is this a stunning ancient building, but those familiar with the story of Theseus will know that this is the rumored location of the minotaur's labyrinth. Just make sure to bring a ball of yarn!
An Achilles Heel In Oia
If you want a photography challenge, then we have to recommend the beautiful town of Oia. This is a sight to behold at any time of day, but if you visit the Oia Castle just before sunset, you have the chance to photograph something truly stunning. If the sky is clear and the weather is right, try to take a picture of the town just after the sun sets.
This is the moment between light and darkness where a magical, blue blanket is cast over the white buildings. Mixed with the warm, orange glow of street lamps, it creates an image that, once again, your friends will think must have been photoshopped. When doing this, try to reduce the glare of your camera, and make sure the textures are as soft as possible. Also, don’t be downhearted if you can’t get it right. Even for residents of Oia, capturing the town at its glossy, magical best is their Achilles Heel.
A Symposia In Mykonos
If there’s one challenge that comes with photographing Greece, it’s trying to avoid making it look too landscape-based. When you’re on vacation there, you’ll come across so many gorgeous landscape scenes – not least the ones we mentioned above. But this is Greece, not Ancient Greece. It is very much alive. And one of the best ways to feel that energy is in Mykonos, a renowned location for party lovers.
Whether it’s the beach of Elia sparking into life after sundown, or the incredible, buzzing sky bar in Manto Square, there is so much to do and so many people to meet. For photographers who love instilling energy into their pictures – still coupled with some beautiful sights, of course – this is a must-visit location that will put the cherry on top of any Greek odyssey. If only poor Odysseus had known about it...
