The distinguished photographer speaks to “P” on the occasion of his new album about one of the most special places in Crete
* By Antonia Koutsaki
A small window into an authentic, simple and majestic world, where forms, gestures and signs of time acquire new meaning through light, is opened for all of us by the well-known photographer and mathematician Manolis Metzakis, who since 2012 has been wandering the magical Asterousia to meet people and memories of his childhood.
The fruit of this journey is an album about one of the most special and authentic places in Crete, entitled “Eternal Forms of Asterousia”, which will be presented tomorrow.
“For me,” he says, speaking to “P”, Asterousia was not something foreign.
Having memories from my childhood, from a nearby village where I spent my summers, I had familiar images of faces, voices, habits, smells, indoor and outdoor spaces. With the difference that now I could photograph and immortalize all that is slowly being lost in time!
Through the album, the reader meets people who preserve memories and stories, professions that are being lost, but also a cultural identity that remains eternal, as the title suggests.
Noting the contribution of Eva Linardaki, who is a social worker in Pyrgos, made his work with the people of the area easier, while emphasizing that he did not stand before them as a photographer, but as a listener.
“It is – underlines Mr. Metzakis – a harsh place, which requires respect in order to approach it and open up to you. Its people are simple, proud, tied to their land, their customs and traditions. They keep the tradition and soul of their place alive, calling us not to forget our roots but to honor them with respect, recognition and emotion.”
– What prompted you to get involved with the Asterousia Mountains and their people?
“It all started in early 2012, when Eva Linardaki asked me if I would be interested in photographing the people of the area where she worked as a social worker. Without even thinking about it, I said yes.
For me, the Asterousia Mountains were not something foreign.
Having memories from my childhood, from a nearby village where I spent my summers, I had familiar images of faces, voices, habits, smells, indoor and outdoor spaces. With the difference that now I could photograph and immortalize all that is slowly being lost in time!
I am very happy that I was given the opportunity to photograph a world that I carry inside me.
That’s how this journey began.”
– How did the idea for the album “Eternal Forms of Asterousia” come about?
“I started taking photos with the need to record the area, to see again, to stop, to listen and to capture all that I had experienced as a child, but I had only in my mind and heart.
So year after year, the work grew silently and the photographs multiplied.
And at some point it became clear that this material needed to take a permanent form. So we decided to proceed with the publication of the album.”
– How did you approach the people you photographed?
“As I mentioned before, the suggestion to photograph was made to me by Linardaki Eva, who is a social worker in Pyrgos. By knowing all the people in the area, she was able to arrange all the photo shoots and make my work much easier!
Eva’s presence inspired them with trust and that is why they were always willing and relaxed to pose for my lens!
And I did not stand in front of them as a photographer.
I stood next to them as a listener.”
– Asterousia is a completely special area. “Name and thing,” one would say. What is your impression?
“Different places, different people! A completely special area of Crete. A harsh place, which requires respect to approach and open up to you. Its people are simple, proud, tied to their land, their customs and traditions. They keep the tradition and soul of their place alive, calling us not to forget our roots but to honor them with respect, recognition and emotion.”
– Is there a figure or story that particularly moved you?
“Each person and a figure, each person and a story! What moved me was that each of these people had a saying, a quote to tell us! But something that particularly impressed me is the grandmother who is also on the cover of the invitation, who was walking up from the plain to Ithia and whom we met halfway!”.
– If someone asked you to describe moments in Asterousia that you experienced and did not photograph, what would they be?
“Everything I saw and everything I wanted to photograph, I photographed! Surely there is still much that is there and is waiting to be recorded!”.
– What were the biggest difficulties during the photo shoots?
“The only difficulty I faced was sometimes with the light. We were often indoors, with not good lighting conditions.”
– Does the mathematician influence the photographer or vice versa?
“I think the mathematician influences the photographer! I think someone has the mathematical thinking and approach since childhood! And this then comes out in the photography. I think it comes out strongly in me!”.
Tomorrow the presentation of the album
The photo album “Eternal Forms of Asterousia” will be presented on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM, in the “Manolis Karelis” Hall (Androgeo Street).
The presentation will be accompanied by a photo exhibition in the foyer.
The following will speak:
– Voula G. Epitropaki, lawyer – mediator
– Vangelis Tzoukas, Dr. Sociology
– Polychronis Nikiforakis, veterinarian, GPU GRAND MASTER, EFIAP/b, ESFIAP president of the Hellenic Photographic Society of Heraklion
– Evanthia I. A. Linardaki, social worker and moral instigator for the creation of the album
– Manolis Metzakis, professor of Mathematics-Photography, GPU GRAND MASTER, GPU CR5, EFIAP/p, ESFIAP, QPSA, APSA president of GPU (Global Photographic Union)
The presentation of the book is coordinated by: Georgia Karvounaki, cultural scientist – editor
The event is open to everyone and admission is free. After the event, the album will be distributed free of charge to attendees.
The album was made with the generous support of the Region of Crete and especially the Governor of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis, who always stands by such efforts.
Source: patris.gr