Hi, I’m Niki Gleoudi. I was born and raised in Greece.
When was your first picture taken?
I remember the first picture I took ever, it was with a Kodak Instamatic camera and I was around eight years old. My parents were posing holding each other and my father was explaining how to press the red button. That’s when I took the picture, while he was explaining and hugging my mother.
How do you put the person, place, or thing in front of the camera onto film, chip, or paper the way you want it to?
It depends on the situation. If it’s a portrait I usually take the picture quite close and pretty much straight forward. If it’s a candid moment it’s harder to explain. Rules do not apply as everything happens so fast. Of course frame, composition and light play are very important.
What photographers have influenced you, and how have they influenced the way you approach your subject?
In the past I never studied other photographers. I just enjoyed taking pictures and mostly street photography. One teacher in college loved Bruce Davidson and I shared the admiration.
The last ten years I took some workshops and started looking at other photographers work.
David Allan Harvey influenced me in taking pictures with my soul, and Alex Web and Costa Manos in the use of color and light. Bruce Gilden influenced me in daring to be closer to my subjects.
What exactly do you want to say with your photos, and how do you make your photos do that?
In my attempt to capture the moment I realized that I focus on the human condition of my subjects Relationships, emotions, expressions, people being able to “let go” of everyday stress, or not. This can either be depicted in a portrait, or by using street – candid photography, where more random factors take place. The challenge there is to freeze the fleeting moment that would otherwise vanish unnoticed, while trying to portray the underlying energy.
I try to do this through the use of colors and light.
What photographic gears do you use to stay focused on what you do best when shooting?
The only thing I have with me is my camera and an extra Battery. Sometimes I carry a waterproof string bang, a raincoat and a hat.
Any technology/software/hardware?
I use Lightroom and I have a Mac book pro
What motivates you to continue taking pictures? Is it political, intellectual or emotional?
Emotional. I love the feeling I have when shooting, and especially when I understand I got a good shot! I also like the feeling of being able to “freeze the moment”, helping me remember in the future, and even for the next generation.
