Chris Athanasiadis

We All Need The Trash Guy

Who is doing the dirty work? We can’t all be full of ideas without producing anything. The world exists because of trash collectors, electricians, plumbers, etc… Our world as we know it depends on it. Our art is a great privilege and to expect people to unduly respect our art is naive, foolish and bougie.

Expectations For The Media

Our expectations are probably not low enough. Start basement level and be surprised if it reaches the kitchen.

What’s The Alternative To Lack Of Production?

I think it’s a sad world where your life means nothing and leads to depression, despair and crime.

Leica Shooters Are Online Buskers

Specifically the YouTube Leica shooters who all say the same thing to please their god (the algorithm). It’s about THE EXPERIENCE! Just a ploy to get more people to watch their regurgitated video. I’ve owned nearly every Leica camera so I can speak from experience that THE EXPERIENCE matters significantly less when the photos suck. Leica cameras are unique and fun to use, but you can take good photos with any camera. Priorities are way off. You can take photos for fun or THE EXPERIENCE which is the lie I told myself for years. My destiny isn’t to have fun or be happy. It’s to be productive. Happiness and fun is the result. If you can be more productive with a Leica camera, that’s the only justification in my mind to buy one. The experience is merely a bonus.

Experience Vs Output

Who cares about the experience if the end result sucks. The only experience I care about is a good photo, not the way a camera makes me feel.

Mamba Mentality In Street Photography

Comedians As Truth Tellers

Are they the only ones in the public sphere?

My Inspirations And Identity

I take a lot of direction from athletes (no matter the sport). I think competition and worth ethic is what drives athletes to the top and the same applies for my photography (whatever the top for me is). Or any person who has risen against all odds. I find a lot artists/street photographers to be a bit too politically driven, conceptual and lazy. Society rewards people for what they stand for, their identify, but not the work produced. I could care less about pushing my world view. I get a long with people of all political walks of life and identities. I’m a grunt, not an activist.

I watched the movie Nyad last night. It’s about the swimmer Diana Nyad who at the age of 64 completed a swim from Cuba to Key West on her fifth try. That’s who inspires me. She is gay woman but the movie didn’t make her identify the center of her universe.