It’s very hard working on a big story in your home country ... the emotional pressure is enormous when you see your friends and family suffer" ~ Yannis Behrakis
After looking through some of Yannis Behrakis’ photos, I am amazed he is able to accomplish what he does. Not only does he place himself in harms way, but he witnesses unspeakable things every day. Seeing the world's negative has taken its toll on his craft. Not only does Behrakis admit this in his blogs and interviews, but the negative side of the world is easily seen in all his photography.
I (like many Americans) prefer to have a positivity bias. I try to see the positive in everything. Behrakis’ photos keep everything in a saddened perspective. Even images that could bring hope are framed to show the struggle people endure. One of the photos is that of a man trying to help another man out of the water. All that was visible of the man helping was his arm. This image shows the distance of how far away true help really is; keeping the focal point on the refugee. It takes the “Good Samaritan” away from becoming the focal point and highlights the person who is struggling to survive. Another image of the men protecting the women was also very dark. While I am assuming it took place at night, the image felt more depressing than anything else. The darkness all around displayed the feeling of hopelessness the refugees are facing.
"Alexis Tsipras shares a joke with Parliament Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou right before a ruling Syriza party parliamentary group session in Athens. In July, Tsipras battled to win the lawmakers' approval for a bailout deal which would keep Greece in the Euro." ~ Yannis Behrakis
This image taken during the Greek crisis does not show the lighter side of politics but rather makes one feel they are in a bad dream. I actually get dizzy looking at the photo. I feel like I am spiraling down into the nightmare with Greece. What makes this photo so successful at telling a story is while the people are out of focus, the viewer can tell who each person is; allowing the viewer to understand the context of the image. This lack of focus technique hurts my eyes. As I try to find something to focus on, I begin to feel a great sense of hopeless. This visual technique exaggerates what the common people may have been feeling at the time of the photo; while protesting in the streets, the politicians sit around cracking jokes.
The second thing that evokes my physical response is the red aisle seen in two focal points. My eyes are automatically drawn to it. Red is the color the eyes see the quickest and with the red aisle being in two focal points, my eyes are drawn to the floor. But, my eyes are also drawn to the people not quite in focus. As I stare it the image, my eyes jump around looking for something to focus on; unfortunately, nothing satisfies my need for a focal point. This must have also symbolized the emotions of the people of Greece. Their intense longing for something or someone to connect with and focus on, but in the end there is nothing; sending one deeper into despair - as everything is slightly out of focus.
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