Days Away - Photographs by Panayotis Kasimis by Panos Kasimis

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Panayotis Kasimis

DAYS AWAY

57 color photographs

All photographs Copyright © 2016 Panayotis Kasimis This book may not be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage or retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without permission from the publisher.

1st edition - 2009 2nd edition - 2016

Book design by Mark Gill AMBIUS Publ. Inc. 714 12th Ave Seattle, Washington

To friends, whose occasional or prolonged companionship, enriched these travels.

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“Laid waste on this jurney, only my dreams will wander these desolate moors.” Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694)

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Intoduction

he camera is often considered to be a passive tool under the control of the operator. This definition implicitly constrains how we use the medium, as well as how we look at – and what we see in – its interpretations of scenes, objects, events and ‘moments’. Based on the evidence of photographic practice as a result of the ways in which the medium interprets, juxtaposes and renders the elements in front of the lens, the camera is capable of depicting scenes, events and moments that did not exist and could not have existed until brought into being by the act of photographing them. When we think of the serious issues of our time, we may wonder how valid or important mere photographs are. We might as well ask how real or important is the music or the emotions it raises within us. Photographs are, indeed, expressions of something undeniably real, even if they are necessarily simplifications of a rapidly evolving and highly complicated phenomenon.

From the Caribbean to Mexico and Costa Rica, and from California to Alaska, Greek photographer Panayotis Kasimis travelled for almost two years - late 2004 to early 2005 - capturing aspects of everyday life. Although the urban environment is the focus of most of his photographs, here and there we sense the hint of a drier solitude, something not recorded by the camera. Kasimis is adjusting to his subjects, finding sense in isolating something that was uncertain and self-absorbed. The quiet, withdrawn, self-reflective nature of some of his photographs is most likely a partial portrait of the photographer. In those instances the photographer may see in other faces or architecture, ‘moments’ or ‘scenes’ more of what he is himself than what his subjects are. The fact that Kasimis’ photographs are in some ways self-portraits is what keeps them from becoming simple, nostalgic postcards. Being inside and outside in this way creates a complex dilemma for anyone who still believes that photographs show us the world as it is. Kasimis discovers the beauty of the common, everyday subject, be it a building, a doll’s face, a street scene or an insignificant detail, and shares it with the viewer. And yet the viewer is not innocent or unaware of the lens. He becomes a witness of the photographer’s attempt to recover the photographic reality and photographic time; time which depicts a revealing, spontaneous moment. Claire Delany Seattle, 2016

Photographs

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Biography

Panayotis Kasimis is a freelance photographer of 30 years and photography instructor. Born in Athens, Greece in 1964, he made his first steps in photography in Berlin and Athens, completing his studies at the Royal College of Arts in London - MA (Hons). He has attended workshops with Chris Killip and Mary Ellen Mark. Panayotis has exhibited his work in solo exhibitions in Rome, Athens, uneau (Alaska, USA), Eindhoven (The Netherlands), and group exhibitions in Istanbul, Athens and London. His work has been published in numerous Greek and international magazines. His first book “Days Away”, a result of his work in Latin America and U.S.A, was published in 2009 by Ambius Publ. Inc. He has organized and taught seminars and workshops for adults and children. He has taught photography at “Diathlasi” cultural group of the Municipality of Dafni, Athens and at “Ionian” private high school. In 2001, together with eight friends and former students he founded the photographic club “Ennea”. In June 2013 he founded the Center for Creative Photography in Athens, where he teaches photography until today. He lives by the sea, photographing constantly. www.kasimisphotography.com

List of photographs

Aruba, 2004

20. Mexico, 2006

39. Seward, 2005

Mexico, 2004

21. Mexico, 2006

40. Juneau, 2005

Costa Rica, 2004

22. Mexico, 2006

41. Ketchikan, 2005

Costa Rica, 2004

23. Mexico, 2006

42. Hoonah, 2005

Aruba, 2004

24. San Diego, 2005

43. Ketchikan, 2005

Costa Rica, 2004

25. San Fransisco, 2005

44. Anchorage, 2005

Costa Rica, 2004

26. Aruba, 2004

45. Juneau, 2005

Costa Rica, 2004

27. San Fransisco, 2005

46. Juneau, 2005

Mexico, 2004

28. Key West, 2004

47. Anchorage, 2005

10. Mexico, 2004

29. San Fransisco, 2005

48. Juneau, 2005

11. Saint Lucia, 2004

30. San Fransisco, 2005

49. Seward, 2005

12. Costa Rica, 2004

31. Seattle, 2005

50. Anchorage, 2005

13. Mexico, 2004

32. Seattle, 2005

51. Ketchikan, 2005

14. Saint Thomas

33. Seattle, 2005

52. Ketchikan, 2005

15. Mexico, 2004

34. Seattle, 2005

53. Skagway, 2005

16. Mexico, 2004

35. Anchorage, 2005

54. Ketchikan, 2005

17. Costa Rica, 2004

36. Juneau, 2005

55. Juneau, 2005

18. Mexico, 2005

37. Juneau, 2005

56. Ketchikan, 2005

19. Mexico, 2006

38. Juneau, 2005

57. Hoonah, 2005

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all friends, colleagues and acquaintances who, for diffenrent reasons, made this journey possible. James Husband and Emily Johnson for their advice and assistace. Wendy and Dennis, Lucy, Jo, Alin, Jennifer, William and Jill for the good times, and everyone I shared a moment with. A heartfelt thanks to James King for his friendship and support on practical matters. Although for me the photographic process is a solitary act, assempling my photos into a book is not. I would like to thank everyone in Ambious who worked to make this second edition of the book a reality. A special thanks to Marc Gill for the beautiful new design and to Anna Thomas for believing in my work and publishing it anew. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Ms. Claire Delany for her insight and her kind words in introducing this second edition of “Days Away”. P.K.

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714 12th Ave Seattle, Washington

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This electronic version (PDF) of the book

“Days Away” by Panayotis Kasimis is offered for FREE as a token of aprecciation, celebrating the completion of the second edition of this book.

You may NOT sell or buy this electronic book, or otherwise profit from its contents as it is copyrighted material.