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Vissaria Skoulida

Greece in Reverse

play this essay

 

Well this is panos (tamale)… I need to be honest with everyone about everything…She (Vissaria) photographs everything with a little kodak $100 camera…(maybe couple photos used my old D50 to shoot my “middle finger” photo, (yes that ugly middle finger is mine:), no fancy stuff..no photoshop, no photo mechanic, no aperture, no fancy canons, nikons, leicas, smeicas…blah blah blah… I need to make it VERY VERY CLEAR… i NEVER ever MENTORED HER in any way…I never even tried to teach her how to turn the camera on (maybe because i didn’t want another venice beach homeless photographer in the making…laughing). If i influenced her in any way is because she would always see me with a camera around my neck, or my computer screen would permanently “stuck” on the BURN MAGAZINE webpage…Maybe we watched couple of burn essays here and there, if that….Not that i know for sure but i believe that she was conceived in Venice Beach….she is a little bit of an outlaw and very stubborn, smiling… So anyway, once again she practically lived half of her life in the plastic, fake , glamorous California and the rest half of her life (REMEMBER AGAIN, SHE IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD little girl) in tortured Greece, in the small town called Arta…How funny? (ART)a… a little town that believe me that was nothing to do with art… but a lot to do with recession….I believe that after Vissaria moved from the Golden State to the Broken State, that definitely affected her…you will see that in her photos…Two things (i believe) “drive” her… Love and compassion…Im sure her heart breaks when she watches little starving homeless kids in her little town…Greece that ended up being something like our Detroit or Venice Beach…
ok, enough…i definitely failed to “describe” her personality but its all good..look at her essay/photos and the music she chosen is from a school choir…i will translate the song lyrics later..ok…done talking…
Ladies and gentlemen please enjoy the YOUNGEST and most TALENTED photog i ever met…My little niece Vissaria
(btw, her work is work in progress of course…so be patient there must be more coming up..Im thinking to use my next unemployment check and buy her a real Leica…laughing)

 

Bio

10 years old, little girl
Born in Santa Monica, LA, California, currently living in Greece… She loves ballet and music (flute)… Never worked a day in her life…laughing… only because the law forbids/prevents 10 year olds from working … In reality she is a HARD WORKER just like her mom… Vissaria started photographing and painting at age 5… currently recording the recession in Greece…

 

103 thoughts on “vissaria skoulida – greece in reverse”

  2. Patricia Lay-Dorsey

    Refreshingly honest and unself-conscious. A fine eye that picks up on the uniqueness of the ordinary. A chip off the old block (of her Uncle Panos). The real deal! Congratulations, Vissaria. Keep going, going, going…

  4. Frostfrog

    I am mind-blown. Wonderful! How many photographers spend years studying in the best of schools, apprenticing with pros – and never achieve what Vissaria has achieved here?

  6. Thomas Bregulla

    I wished I had an eye like yours. Great pictures.
    However the mixture of b/w and color in the same picture makes me think you should not let Panos come close to your pictures ;-)

    Keep it up. Congratulations to being published on burn.

  7. panos skoulidas

    Thomas…:)..i had no idea…
    She sent me a youtube link a week ago…i started crying like a baby…then i instantly submitted to burn,,,
    next thing you know, DAH sends me a message: THAT IS AMAZING….the rest is history…she worked on picasa…she edit herself and just created a youtube link from the automated button…and boom…
    the only thing David asked me to do is take out two photos of VISSARIA’S original movie…i (we) didnt do anything else …even the sequence and choice of song is all VISSARIA…
    and a big thank you to Anna-Maria, Haik and Anton that helped convert the youtube mp4 to quicktime (stuff that Vissaria wouldnt know how to deal with anyway…technical stuff)
    other than that, photos, sequence, edit : its all VISSARIA 100%…THANK YOU ALL…
    tonight im the proudest unvle in this universe…
    :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

  10. audrey bardou

    Simply beautiful… Congratulations Vissaria!!! You are a beauty and an artist !! Panos, Maria, your parents, you can be proud :)

    Big hugs from France, audrey

  11. a civilian-mass audience

    “To be nobody but yourself in a world that’s doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting.”
    E. E. Cummings (American poet 1894-1962)
    BUT
    kido…just a suggestion from an old Greek civilian…
    Be humble,listen and respect what others have to say,do your best,“learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can “…

    VIVA VISSARIA…we might live in broken Grecolandia,”greece in Reverse” But with a spirit like yours…we can go only forward…
    thank you and we love you!!!

    P.S …sometimes… All we need is someone to believe in Us…

  13. david bowen

    thinking on this again – 10 years old or 100 is irrelevant i think.
    some struggle to reflect their lives.. perhaps even work too hard.. results can be contrived.. forced..
    not so here.

    if it’s good i think it ends up looking effortless – because the photographer takes to it like a duck to water. vissaria has achieved something of an “effortless” look.. eeeeeasy for some :o)

    little moments of magic here, now, uncle P has to sort out print sales ..

    warmest congratulations to vissaria !
    keep on photographing.

  14. eva

    What amazes me most here are not the picture themselves, but the sequencing.. and what a ten year old kid sees around herself.. mostly scary if you really think of it.. tell about taking a deeper look and not just floating on the surface..

    Civi is right, with kids like lil Vissaria around, there’s hope.. :)

  15. pAtrIcIO m.

    @PANOS: Yes, the proudest uncle! That’s is! 10 years old WOW!!
    There is a melange of greats photographers… I see DAH, Antoine D’Agata, Alessandra Sanguinetti (the one of the kids in the bench). And agree with FostFrog, not necessary to go to a photographic school!!
    Geez, forget about CIRCUS Magazine, we are ALL in the same group.

    Cheers,
    P.

  16. Kyunghee Lee

    Oh, Lovely lovely … !
    Her heart is clear like crystal… :))

    She makes me happy smiling…
    Thank you, Vissaria.

  18. Jeff Hladun

    Vissaria:

    I’m quite charmed by your work, and was wondering if you will be putting on any workshops in North America in the near future? I’d love to attend.

    At first I found your essay to be derivative of – but then departed from – Carmen Soth’s work for the Brighton Biennial. Maybe it has to do with your somewhat unique four foot tall perceptive that the two of you share.

    I especially like the goose’s head shot…and the boat. Good luck with your future work, congratulations on being published here…and make sure Unzle Panos makes good on his promise to quit smoking!!!

    Kind regards,
    Jeff

  19. bob black

    congrats Vissaria :))

    love it, very much…especially the sequence….and a couple of the pictures just stopped me dead cold: the extraordinary duck/swan shot!!!! :)))…

    …..love the bike shot, all the shadow shots, the shots of your sneakers and then of toes, the yellow puppy shot, the 2 kids shot in color on bench (CIVI’S GRANDCHILDREN AT HIS WINERY??)..and all the pics of YOU :)))

    as a father of an equally talented young photographer, i don’t have to remind you: DO NOT GROW UP!…and don’t listen to grownups…especially when it comes to photography!

    stay the person (and photographer) you are….

    maybe you and Carmen Soth indeed can meet, i have her book, now awaiting yours :)))

    big congrats :))

    bob

    p.s. Panos, can i return you book now for Vissaria?? ;))))

  20. Paul

    Vissaria…
    What a beautiful name! What an overwhelmingly beautiful set of images. Funny, how we boring grown-ups forget to see that way!
    Although you seem to see a little more than most kids!
    Don´t you dare ever grow up ! And if a kid in green tights comes along and tries to snatch you away off to Neverland, don´t you dare go with him… Tell him you are part of BURN!! …don´t let it even cross your mind… you´ll break your uncle´s heart. Although I´m sure your uncle will make Captain Hook proud!

    Anyway back to the images! WOW, WOW, AND WOW!! They are so special I am sure Mr Jim Powers is also going fall in love with them…Smiling.
    You are so good you want to make me give up photography…Grinning.
    BTW my seven year old son says “Thank you!!” Today I am not little grumpy that once again my (his?)G10 sitting beside me has all it´s screws missing except for one… everyday he manages to convince to let him shoot his walk to school and sometimes I “forget” to ask for it back when he goes into classroom. I think I am going take his photography much more seriously than mine!!
    Brilliant and marvellous PLEASE don´t change!

  21. david alan harvey

    FROSTFROG…

    it is no secret that if everyone could tap into their childhood, they would realize their highest artistic dreams…i say this to photographers at every opportunity….growing up and taking on responsibilities of adulthood usually decreases the artistic side of most…learning the rules is necessary for melding into society , but does zero for artistic sensibilities…my role often as a mentor is to get photographers to unlearn first…little Vissaria is the perfect example of what would happen if we created CIRCUS for the real emerging photographers under 16..or maybe Patricio is right…we just let the very young land here whenever it is appropriate…my original feeling was that CIRCUS would be way better than BURN…

    cheers, david

  22. a civilian-mass audience

    Dear Mr.David A.Harvey,uncle Πανος and Burn photographers,

    Thank you for everything.I like your pictures.I can not see them all because there is a parental control button.

    Uncle P.,you messed it up.It’s okey.I work with Picasa 3.I think my parents and my grandparents will be happy and I hope they will buy me a good camera.Now,I have to study.

    UncleP and Kim,mommy says to call home when you will be in Venice.

    Κυριε HARVEY ευχαριστω πολυ.I will try my best.

    Sincerely,
    With Love
    Vissaria

    Again,thank you,thank you,thank you,thank you.
    I have lot’s of pictures.I started taking pictures since I was a little kid.I am happy, I will be 10 in June.(I had many mistakes but my mom helped me with this letter).

  23. a civilian-mass audience

    this is the letter from the Little VISSARIA…

    Thank you ALLL…their family have not access in the internet…right now

  26. a civilian-mass audience

    I just received another e-mail from the family…
    Please…admnin…maybe it’s not a good idea to have e-mail out there…
    hmm…my apologies…don’t shoot the messenger…

  27. a civilian-mass audience

    ok,they will try to make her an account…
    she can register…I hope so the SKOULIDAS can talk…direct…

    where is MR.PANOSSSSS…???
    He can help them out…I am not good with tech.

  28. wendy

    This is beautiful….
    and for some reason has brought tears….
    maybe its seeing myself at 10 with my camera,
    maybe its the unfiltered vision of a 10 year old…
    maybe its the sweet music…..
    maybe its having a daughter….
    It doesn’t matter
    cause
    it touched me…
    in a beautiful way……

    thank you to BuRN for publishing this…..
    age does NOT matter
    with
    vision
    and
    heart…..

    and Panos is her uncle…….
    mmmmmmmm…
    :)

  29. david alan harvey

    VISSARIA…

    thank you for sharing your pictures with us…while many here are calling you a very young photographer, i just see you as a photographer….you are obviously discovering your world in the most interesting way…pretty funny how the world looks somehow a bit different when studying it through a viewfinder…i have often been very curious why this is so…

    i can see that you have already noticed that when you pick the camera up, everything seems just more intense, maybe even magical…i would wish for you that life always seems like this because of you and your relationship to photography….because it is not about the camera at all, but about how you live your life and choose to document..

    no matter which way the wind blows or which roads you choose to travel, you will always have this knowledge with you…you can turn any day, any place, any time , into something so special…now that is magic!!

    i am also wishing we may meet someday Vissaria…you can show me around your neighborhood…and where the best pictures are of course….please

    cheers, hugs, david

  32. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.Harvey,

    you are famous now in my school. My friends want to meet you and the other photographers and of course
    my uncle. You are not going to like my neighborhood. It’s not very nice. I hope I will learn a lot from
    you and your friends.
    Thank you again.

    Sincerely,
    Vissaria

    If you can read this, Mr.civi thank you for your help.

  34. tonyhayesimages

    Re DAH’s comment on children/creativity etc, check out Ken Robinson’s Feb 2006 TED lecture on education and creativity. Very appropriate. Well done Vissaria. I wish I’d started at your age;-).

    Cheers,
    Tony

  35. Vissaria Skoulida

    Panagioti,uncleP do not try tonight.
    we will not have internet.Bad weather.You can call tomorrow.
    Thank you .I love you.
    your greek friend helped us.

    Burn magazine:

    Thank you again for everything. I will try my best.

  39. david alan harvey

    VISSARIA..

    i forgot to say something in my previous note to you…the most important thing…i love love the picture of the two kids sitting on the bench in what appears to be a park or orchard…i want this picture for my wall at home…

    for a print of your photograph i will trade with you for one of my own…your choice…signed of course as i would expect yours to be for me…

    many thanks in advance

    hugs, david

  40. Paul

    Vissaria…
    Are you enjoying all this fun tonight on Burn? Because I am and I bet your uncle is! :))
    Sparks and flashes of magic this is what the best dreams are made of.

  41. john gladdy

    Vissaria. good work. If you get your parents to send me an email with an address I think I have a nice little camera that should be perfect for you. I will send it to the land of moustaches for you.
    john

  44. panos skoulidas

    Just landed to the land of the “silicon” beauty:(….
    You guys made my little niece the happiest kid in Greece ..
    Thank you all..
    Humbled! Speechless

  45. Gordon Lafleur

    This is so utterly amazing and utterly moving.

    Vissaria, congratulations.

    I have two questions for you.
    1. Is that you singing? (awaiting Panos’ translation of the lyrics)
    2. The theme of locks and locked gates plays a big part in your essay. I also see a shadow self portrait, and feet, yours I assume. I would love to hear what you have to say about this.

    This is very beautiful personal story-telling. Bravo

  47. Jason_Houge

    Well, first of all, WOW.
    Vissaria,
    To have a something published at the age of ten is amazing. Congratulations.
    by looking at your work I see there are a lot of barriers, sadness, and poverty in Greece. There are also many beautiful things. history with beauty… perhaps, Greece has always been sad but like wine, gets better with age – the older things get better…

    Vissaria, you have a gift. you have the ability to see and a communicate your feelings and thoughts… Something many of us has to unlearn as David mentioned.

    Congratulations!

    Panos – Will you and Vissaria work on a collaborative project?

  48. Jason_Houge

    I missed an entire sentence!
    Vissaria, you have a gift. you have the ability to see and a communicate your feelings and thoughts…

    – That is something that many adults unconsciously learn to push aside to get through their busy schedules. –

    Something many of us has to unlearn as David mentioned.

  49. Gordon Lafleur

    There is purity and naivety in childhood.
    However, the complexity and gravity of what goes on in the heads of children is no different from adults.
    As parents, we cultivate the illusion that childhood is a care-free time of innocence and joy. Remmembering back, childhood was not all innocence and joy.
    There are fears, depression, self-worth issues, fears about the invironment, in short, the same as us adults. Vissaria is making that abundantly clear here. She has bared her soul.
    Jason, thankyou for your reading here. Poverty, barriers, sadness, beauty.

  50. panos skoulidas

    was wondering about the locks myself , but was afraid to ask…
    —————————————————-

    there is a particular photo with a golden lock and a red sign translating: “we are closing our business before -they- shut us down”

    All the above depression started so suddenly last xmas…domino effect…pretty soon IMF “moved in”, took over, and rapidly the country started falling apart..business closing as fast as a blink of an eye..
    Greek news and tv is a lot different than the Fox channel over here..when Fox was declaring “victory” in greece-europe you could only see photos from guantanamo and abu grahib jails…
    I dont know how someone thinks (especially when that “someone” is only 10) after exposed to the violent side of the “truth” but im sure it must be traumatic…

  51. panos skoulidas

    IMF impact
    (in greece and other countries)

    Impact on public health
    In 2008, a study by analysts from Cambridge and Yale universities published on the open-access Public Library of Science concluded that strict conditions on the international loans by the IMF resulted in thousands of deaths in Eastern Europe by tuberculosis as public health care had to be weakened. In the 21 countries to which the IMF had given loans, tuberculosis deaths rose by 16.6%.
    In 2009, a book by Rick Rowden titled, The Deadly Ideas of Neoliberalism: How the IMF has Undermined Public Health and the Fight Against Aids, claimed that the IMF’s monetarist approach towards prioritizing price stability (low inflation) and fiscal restraint (low budget deficits) was unnecessarily restrictive and has prevented developing countries from being able to scale up long-term public investment as a percent of GDP in the underlying public health infrastructure. The book claimed the consequences have been chronically underfunded public health systems, leading to dilapidated health infrastructure, inadequate numbers of health personnel, and demoralizing working conditions that have fueled the “push factors” driving the brain drain of nurses migrating from poor countries to rich ones, all of which has undermined public health systems and the fight against HIV/AIDS in developing countries…

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund

  52. panos skoulidas

    p.s. Panos, can i return you book now for Vissaria?? ;))))
    ———————————
    Bobus yes, no questions asked ;)

    be gently proud my friend, and visit the old country again soon. :o)
    ———————————-
    DavidB…after i saw the above essay…im really really scared to return…im much safer in venice beach… Mediterranean is boiling right now..im a wimp… im not Nachtwey nor i am Vissaria….:)

    with kids like lil Vissaria around, there’s hope.. :)
    ———————————
    Eva,truth to be told!

    Vissaria. Keep going, going, going…
    ————————————
    Patricia , thank you, thats my hope too:)

    I am mind-blown. Wonderful! How many photographers spend years studying in the best of schools, apprenticing with pros – and never achieve what Vissaria has achieved here?
    ————————————-
    Bill, you said it all..:)

    Her heart is clear like crystal… :))
    ————————————
    K.Lee :))))))))))))))))), Vissaria’s swan photo reminds me of your work..Your essay and Patricia’s was the first two i made sure vissaria would study last year when i was in greece… smiling, yes i did try to “hide” antoine when we visited the magnum website and i will always remember how shocked she was when she accidentally watched JUKKA’s essay…smiling

    Vissaria:

    I’m quite charmed by your work, and was wondering if you will be putting on any workshops in North America in the near future? I’d love to attend.
    —————————————
    Jeff..me too, me too!!!!!!

    I will send it to the land of moustaches for you.
    —————————————-
    John, u have a heart of gold! man, a heart of gold, same goes to DavidB…

    Don´t you dare ever grow up ! And if a kid in green tights comes along and tries to snatch you away off to Neverland, don´t you dare go with him… Tell him you are part of BURN!! …
    ——————————————–
    Paul, thank you for being YOU…big hug and absolute respect to you..

    Vissaria, you have a gift. you have the ability to see and a communicate your feelings and thoughts… Something many of us has to unlearn as David mentioned….Panos – Will you and Vissaria work on a collaborative project?
    ——————————————–
    Jason, i dont think she likes my work too much:(… i think she prefers Harvey or K.Lee and loves Nikos Economopoulos too much too…i wont ask her unless she asks me…:(
    my ego is hurt…(tongue in cheek)

  54. panos skoulidas

    GORDON

    you are an astute man…was wondering about the locks myself , but was afraid to ask…
    ————————————————

    now, that im thinking and thinking and thinking about it, im kind of afraid to ask too….hmmmm
    (locks regarding)

  55. panos skoulidas

    THE SONG: “the Light Boat”
    (my “free” translation attempt)

    Κινείται πλοίο ελαφρό ,
    (there it is moving . that light boat)
    Καράβι μέσα στο γιαλο,
    (that light little boat into the sea)
    Σε μέρη τρέχει μακρινά ,
    (it roams and goes in faraway places)
    Βουνά και θάλασσες περνα.
    (unknown mountains and oceans it crosses and roams, but)
    Γυρίζει πίσω στο γιαλο,
    (it -always- comes “back”)
    Φορτίο έφερε καλό ,
    (bringing us goods and treasures and fruits and spices)
    Καρύδια κάστανα πολλα ,
    Και πορτοκάλια στρογγυλά ,
    (and beautiful oranges)
    Κινείται πλοίο ελαφρό ,
    (the little boat keeps roaming..)
    καράβι μέσα στο γυαλο,
    Σε μέρη τρέχει μακρινά ,
    (it’s a light boat but not afraid to enter the unknown the uncertain  …)
    Βουνά και θάλασσες περνά…..
    (….and crosses mountains and oceans…)

  56. Herve

    ….the IMF resulted in thousands of deaths…..
    —————
    (downloading Vissaria’s essay with low speed internet. another 90 minutes….)

    Ok, but did they calculate how many deaths if telling the IMF to fuck off? Enquiring minds…

  57. Herve

    my original feeling was that CIRCUS would be way better than BURN…
    —————–
    (35 minutes left to see V’s work)

    Can’t wait to read Jimmy Powers’s (9 YO from Texas) comments in CIRCUS…. :-)

  58. Vissaria Skoulida

    Hello everyone.My name is Maria and I am Vissaria’s mom.
    I would like to thank you all for your amazing words, your support and your kidness.I strongly believe that BURN is one of the best communities in the online world.

    Mr.Harvey thank you for believing in her work.
    Regarding the “print exchange” ,Vissaria is so happy to sign the print but she has to go through your whole body of work before she decides of which print of yours.Talking about giving choices.

    Mr.Johny Gladdy,
    thank you for your offer.It is really amazing to witness that there is still love,compassion, empathy in our society.To be a parent it was and it is a challenge, so I am trying to keep things in prespective.Thank you again.

    Mr.Gordon Lafleur,
    1.Vissaria participates in a choir at her school.The song is an old kids song,something like the Old MacDonald.This piece is from 2002 recording from a kid’s choir and the boy that sings is an adult now.If he reads this, I would love to find him to thank him personally.I am a teacher and I have made numerous attempts to record my students and I want to believe that I am holding a treasure.You can understand because I see so many treasures over here.
    2.The locks and the gates: This is heartbreaking.I want to believe that it’s all about aesthetics.She said:” Back in LA we have no gigantic locks,here they are everywhere.I found them grotesque.”
    yes, this is her new “thing”.”grotesque,grotesque…laughing.

    Well,she loves the States and she loves Greece too( at least I am hoping).Unfortunately, she tasted the California recession and now she experiences the turmoil in Greece, fear, despair,helpleness.”Greece in reverse” is a reality.Deep in my heart I was hoping that the title would be “Greece and the Light”.Her work is a work in progress,so there is hope.

    I have to say a big “THANK YOU” to my brother Panos for everything.Vissaria loves him so much.Thank you all very much.This community,this warm, real “hug”is a rare thing.You might not be able to see it now to appreciate it(yes, it is always like this). Please,Keep this flame burning and keep taking pictures because you have a real thing here.

    Mr.Harvey, no words can express my gratitude. I humbly thank you and your family.

    Vissaria is at school.I will check the copmuter and try to sneak a peak of her new pictures.Does anyone know or can you guess her password?
    please, help!

  59. Herve

    MARIA: ….copmuter….
    —————–
    Love the typo! ;-)

    PS: regretfully, clip seemed downloaded, but has no timing recorded and won’t playback. later….

  60. panos skoulidas

    copmuter… cop-muter

    excellent “typo”….:)))))))))))
    ps: yes yes…lets “mute” all cops…yup…you definitely sound like my sister ;)
    Defend Venice
    Defend Greece
    Mute All Cops :)

  61. Vissaria Skoulida

    Mr.Herve, thank you for noticing this. I call the computer COP-MUTTER. vissaria complains all the time for the parental control button.
    Have a great day.

    Panos,you can call at home.

  63. Paul

    I am missing Imant´s qualified and professional view on this essay. After all as a teacher I am sure his view and opinion will be very interesting.

  64. marcin luczkowski

    Love It! Brilliant! One of the very best on Burn.
    a little bit of Martin Parr a little bit of Alec Soth. Sensitive and fresh. true vision of photography!
    Bravo Vissaria!

  65. pAtrIcIO m.

    @ all the burnian women:

    First of all, happy day to you!! 100th international women’s day.

    @Vissaria S. : don’t know if you can apply due to your age… but Magnum is accepting submissions ’til May 15th, http://agency.magnumphotos.com/about/submission.
    If not, PATIENCE… That is the most important skill of all of us. You’re in the road, keep shooting.

    Cheers,
    Patricio
    PS: Portrait of my sister (contemporary painter) http://www.patricio-michelin.com/
    she is always looking high waiting with patience (an awesome natural skill of her):

  66. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.David A.Harvey

    I am so happy we will exchange pictures.
    I like the old picture with the puppies a lot.Feeding time.
    I had a puppy too,Flora.My dad gave it to me but she is dead now.
    She ate poison.Here in greece they put poison.
    You can see her in my photo with the feet.
    okey,I don’t know yet.
    i am happy because everyone likes my pictures.I want to hear
    what you don’t like.
    I am going to school now.Weekend is coming.

    Sincrely,
    Vissaria

  67. david alan harvey

    VISSARIA

    Ok, the puppies at feeding time it is…I will make this print in my darkroom for you….The first time I made that print I was just a little bit older than you are now….Hopefully i can make a better print this time…The original one is not so good….Those were the cutest puppies and the focus of family attention for weeks as you may imagine…I was so sad when they all had to leave for new homes….We did get to keep one however, so the mother and one of the puppies stayed in our family for many years…

    So sorry to hear about Flora…The poison sounds like a very cruel thing to do if done intentionally….I would normally say you need a new puppy, but is it likely poison would be used again on a new puppy or is this accidental poisoning for rats or something else? Anyway, at least you have the picture to remember….

    Maybe you will want to take some pictures of your best friend at school…We all here would love to see a picture of your mom….However, just enjoy taking pictures of whatever is around you…Explore your own world and the rest of the rest of us will be anxious to see what you see…

    I have never been to Greece…So if i go, perhaps you can show me around….In the meantime, maybe we can skype one of these days and talk about your pictures..Please let me know if this sounds like a good idea…

    Cheers, David

  68. Paul

    The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
    Albert Einstein

    The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop.
    Mark Twain

    All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
    Pablo Picasso

  69. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.David A. Harvey

    thank you for the puppies.This is very kind.
    My mom says you are a very busy person so you can send me
    any picture you like.I like most of your pictures.
    I don not have another puppy for now because I think here
    in my town the people don not like them so much.

    I do not like to take pictures with faces.If I take i delete them.Uncle P. said don’t delet them anymore.So.I have a trick
    I shake my camera and you cannot see them or I play with Picasa3.

    I do not like to much the phones and the skype.My mom says
    you can come here and have fun.summer is the best.no school.
    of course u can come any time.we are happy to meet you.
    okey.you are very busy and I am busy.

    Thank you so much.

    Sincerely
    Vissaria

  70. david alan harvey

    PAUL…

    i had not seen the Picasso quote prior, but i say some version of that all the time as wel to those i mentor…..it is the obvious thing of course…fortunately Pablito stayed a little boy….figured it out….that is definitely “the trick” as he says…if you around me , you will quickly see i never grew up either…never saw the advantage…..used to think it a handicap , now see it as my greatest treasure…

    VISSARIA…

    hmmm, you do not like faces…i wonder why…just curious…the picture of yours that i like the most does show two faces…those kids on the bench in the park…but they are far away of course….anyway, i do really love that picture of yours….

    now, let’s both get busy…bye for now

    cheers, david

  71. Paul

    David…

    I was always sure Peter Pan really did exist!! I suppose Jim Powers is Captain Hook!! :)

    It´s a pity I think we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of Vissaria´s essay… there is a lot to be discerned by adults from the whole concept of child art…
    Just the example of the photo she has chosen is truly and honest… I don’t think an adult here on Burn would of ever thought of that photo…
    What I have learnt from Vissaria´s essay is not to try so hard just flow and have fun… something we adults forget so easily.

  72. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.David Alan harvey

    i do not like to take pictures with faces because there is nothing new for me to see.the same,laug,smile,cry,like babies do faces.
    when I see dirty feet ,I do not know.why they are dirty?
    I see a big lock.why is it big? Why the lady died young?
    whwere is my other footprint on the ground? who out the bottle in the wall?

    I make a story in my mind.people can talk and I know the story.
    okey, I will go to find storys.

    Do you like stories?. I will met you and we take pictures and we see new stories.
    Thank you.

    Sincerely,
    Vissaria

  73. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.Paul

    I like to take pictures because i have many qustions.
    Yes,I have fun.I have a small camera with me in my pocket.My UncleP has a big one.
    I am happy you like my pictures.Thank you.

    Sincerely
    Vissaria

  74. Jeff Hladun

    Hi Vissari,

    Your Uncle Panos often posts Youtube music videos for us to watch. They are sometimes entertaining, sometimes educational, and sometimes both. It is interesting that so many photographers are so passionate about music, and here on Burn Magazine it takes up a good deal of our time!

    I have found a video I wish to share with you; it is of Maxim Vengerov – a very, very good violinist – teaching. I think you will find it interesting because I know you like music, and because much of what Mr. Vengerov says can be used in other types of art, including photography. He talks about intelligence, conversation, searching, and the moment of truth. The music is beautiful, too:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24ynZaxNTS8&feature=related

    I hope very much that you enjoy it!

    Kind regards,
    Jeff

  75. Paul

    Dear Vissaria…

    That’s very interesting, our reasons in taking photos are different… you have questions which need answering and I go out to take photos trying to capturethe ephemeral moments which whiz by and never come back.

  76. Herve

    Vissaria, you are a very sensitive person, and you make me wondering more about what I have thought for some time.

    That photography belongs primarily to “amateurs”, to the millions of us out there, breathing air as much with our camera as with our lungs, while having little concern knowing that inhaling (taking) and exhaling (giving) life is no way to sell, publish or have a career.

    Despite what all the big glossy photo history would have us believe, photography is not an history of P., not a collection of great and adulated photographers, but more simply: Photography is simply happening, in known and lesser known corners, from even lesser known individuals, and that is where is the glory of the medium. Taking history out of the books and museums, in many ways denying there is such a thing as a history of photography, when somebody like you shows us there is no past in, no future of photography, but forever happening only Now (a myriad of “Now!”s, evrywhere around the world)!

    Your essay and sensibility can be no better example of that, which will ever remain essential in taking pictures.

    PS: Picasso is right. But what if Vissaria grows up? ;-)

  77. Paul

    “Some children retain a particularly rich memory of the passage from extreme infancy, when the identity of the baby is merged with that of the mother, to the arrival of the first awareness of separate identity and the simultaneous first dawn of what will become the adult sense of reality – that is, they are deeply marked by the passage from the unified magical world to a discrete “realist one”. What seemingly stamps itself indelibly on this kind of infant psyche is a pleasure in the fluid, polymorphic nature of the sensuous impression, visual, tactile, auditory, and the rest, that he/she receives ; and so profoundly that she/he cannot, even when the detail of this intensely auto-erotic experience has retreated into the unconscious, refrain from tampering with reality – from trying to recover, in other words, the early oneness with her/his mother that granted this ability to make the world mysteriously and deliciously change meaning and appearance. He/she was once a magician with a wand; and given the right over predisposing and environmental factors, she/he will one day devote his/her life to trying to regain the unity and the power by re-creating adult versions of the experience: he/she will be an artist. Moreover , since every child goes through some variation of the same experience, this also explains one major attraction of art for the audience. The artist is simply someone who does the journey back on behalf of the less technically endowed.”
    Professor Gilbert Rose, clinical psychiatrist Yale university.

  82. Akaky

    Vissaria, I just wanted to say how much I liked your photographs, especially the photos of the men playing backgammon and the boy sitting on the floor. I did not like the picture of the bald man so much, but I think that’s because I am losing the hair on the top of my head and pictures like that remind me that I’m losing the hair on the top of my head. I prefer not to think about it at all. You should keep taking pictures; you’re very good at it.

  83. Paul

    Panos…

    Vissaria and most kids of her age don’t have to correct all the misconceptions and peel all the layers of stereotypes we as adults have absorbed. She is free! She has nothing to gain and nothing to lose… she takes photos for her own pleasure. Her images are totally intuitive and aren’t spoilt by the logical side of her brain. She is spontaneous, childish and disarming. On the other hand we are full of blocks and if we as adults manage to breakthrough those blocks and return to the spontaneity we knew as kid we call it illumination, a change of heart or Satori as it is known in Zen literature.

  85. david alan harvey

    VISSARIA

    you asked me if i like stories…i like some stories…but not every story….i liked to hear why you photograph what it is that you photograph and why not certain things also…i always like to hear that story from every photographer…i also love to hear the stories of how people meet…either husbands and wives or just even old friends..it is always interesting to me what brings people together in a relationship outside of being born into a particular family…i do not like sad stories, like the one about your dog….and i do not like stories of people being really unkind to each other….i prefer the more uplifting part of human nature…i am now trying to tell the story of the people in Brazil…just like Greece, there are mostly good people and a few bad people…and even the bad people usually have some good in them….i am sure this is something you already know…well, i hope we do meet someday…i am counting on it..

    cheers, david

  86. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear photographers

    thank you again. In my school we try to help the people of Japan.I tell to my friends what to do when there is an eartquake because I learnt many things from my Los Angeles teachers.This earthquake was the big one.

    I like the pictures here.You are all so good.

    Mr.David Alan Harvey thank you for the oportunity and thank you for taking time to respond .Here people are busy and they do not have time to talk about my pictures.
    Uncle P. I miss you and the in and out burgers.

    Sincerely
    Vissaria

  87. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.David A. Harvey

    I have many questions.I want to know why the kid on my photo who is asking for money did not come in the classroom today?
    Why people hide the empty bottle in the hole of the wall when there is a trash can near.Whu they push me when I wait for my turn and nobody says I am sorry.

    I like to photograpg stuff because they talk to me.All the stuff are talking .The old boat is talking to me.The fake dack is talking.

    I like good stories too.When I am in Los Angeles I see many good stories.Here in Greece,I like my school,I have many many friends but no good stories.People here are not happy.They are all very good people but they do not smile too much.

    I am so happy that I have two countries.I am comfused because they are so diferent.I like to travel.My mom says I am the best traveler and I am sure I will travel around the world.
    so,I will meet you for sure.

    Now,time to help mom .i will find a happy story.I have so many stuff to learn.

    I like the carnival picture.Is this a happy story?
    they don not look that happy.

    Sincerely
    Vissaria

  88. Vissaria Skoulida

    Mistake. I wanted to say here in my country people are busy and they do not have time to talk about my pictures.

  90. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear Mr.Paul

    Mistake.Here you are all very nice people. thank you for your very nice words.Of course my mommy strugles with the words from the profesor.She always says she will explain later.
    Thank you.

    Sincerely
    Vissaria

  91. Herve

    Here people are busy and they do not have time to talk about my pictures.
    —————————
    This is the story of our photographic passion (any passion), Vissaria, all of us amateurs, and you will find out that even in circumstances where many who seem to share in that passion are together and meet in one place, one city (one internet site too), we often feel alone, not quite understood (David points exactly at that that he sees one single mentor/person the best that can happen to one emerging photographer, rather than too many barging in).

    BUT!: this loneliness, welcome it, as in response to it, this is why we and you will take pictures, look at them, write books, read them, make music, listen to it, as if the next picture, the next page, the next melody, etc… will make us more of who we really are….

    So, the minute you start wanting to be merely a joiner, fear the solitude, that’s when you abdicate that throne, that Kingdom (that was only destined to you and no one else), take a chair in a row of millions other chairs and becomes…. an adult.

  92. eva

    Ciao Vissaria.. you say the pictures, or better, the things in the pictures talk to you. I think that is so for many of us here who look at the pictures, yours and those of the others. They talk. They might say different things to each one of us. The important thing is to keep on listening.. sometimes, when growing up, we become deaf and blind. Sometimes it is because we must think about too many things. That is also a reason why many grown-ups stop smiling and laughing. They forget.

    I very much like the song you have chosen to accompany your pictures. I do not understand what it says, I know your uncle P has translated the words for us who don’t speak Greek.. but it is like with the photographs to me, I want to imagine MY story, so I don’t read the translation..

    Un abbraccio, Eva

  94. Eric Espinosa

    VISSARIA,

    Very late comment to say that, like all the others here, I really enjoyed your work…. I have an 8 years old son and 6 years old daughter who are both starting to take pictures as they keep seeing Dad taking pictures…. I showed them your essay this week-end and then they went on the whole of Sunday shooting…. You have inspired the whole family :):)… Keep nurturing the relationship you have with this crazy Panos!!!!! He is mad but we all like him and he has at least done one good thing :):) if he somehow has inspired you to get yourself hooked on to photohgraphy…. Well done Vissaria and hope to see many more essays from you in the years to come!

    Eric

  95. Vissaria Skoulida

    Dear photographers

    You are very nice people.
    I am happy for your beutiful words.

    My uncleP. is very nice person and crazy too.
    Mr.Eric your kids will find many stories .

    Mr.D.A.Harvey I found a happy story to share.
    the poor kid ,the one in my picture is going back to school.

    Have a great day.Thank you again.

    Sincerely
    Vissaria

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