Photography as an everyday psychotherapy
Hello to everyone. My name is Mary, and I live in Alimos, a small town south of Athens. I am an amateur and self-taught photographer. I work as an occupational therapist at the psychiatric clinic of a general hospital in Athens.
As my work is quite stressful and for many years I was working in two jobs, I rather prefer dealing with activities which help me to “escape” psychologically. Such as photography, long walks by the sea, listening to fine music, painting rocks or other surfaces, solving puzzles or brain games, reading books.
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @40mm . F/8 . 1/80” . ISO 80 – Antiporas island
I started travelling a lot in Greece and Europe in 2000, so I bought my first camera – an Olympus film compact camera – to keep as many memories as I could from the places I visited.
Then I took the Olympus SP-57OUZ in 2008, but I didn’t have enough time to deal with photography as I wanted. So when I stopped my second job, I actually found the time and the opportunity to explore the big world of photography.
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @31mm . F/4.0 . 1/200” . ISO 200 – Sifnos island
I bought Olympus PEN-F because of its vintage design, the small size, the light weight and the big capabilities, even though I didn’t understand much from the beginning.
I take shots in Jpeg and Raw and edit them with a freeware program for Mac called Photoscape X.
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @29mm . F/4.5 . 1/500” . ISO 80 – Hydra island
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @22mm . F/10 . 1/320” . ISO 80 – Paros island
With the Olympus PEN-F body, I bought the 17mm F1.8, 14-42mm, 70-300mm, and 40-150mm. These were my first lenses, and I’m still using the 40-150mm F4.0~5.6 until I buy the PRO version.
Now, I use the 12-40mm F.28 PRO lens for my travels and most of my shots, the macro lens for nature and lately, the 7-14mm F2.8 PRO.
For the last 4 years, my camera is the extension of my arm. I take it wherever I go.
I love exploring nature’s moments. Whether it is the sunset, the reflections after rain, the waves or the calm of the sea, a ladybug, a butterfly or a dragonfly on a flower, a bird that flies.
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 17mmF1.8 . F/8 . 1/125” . ISO 250 – Glyfada beach
Street photography is one of my interests too. I usually take long walks in Athens, searching for lines, shadows, light combined with human figures. Greece’s beauties made me deal a lot with travel photography. I travel for taking photos, and I take photos so I can travel a lot.
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @34mm . F/8 . 1/100” . ISO 200 – Loannina
Photographing doors, windows, alleys of every place, I learn more about the culture, the habits, the everyday life of the people live in. I spend hours walking, searching and trying to discover something new, something different, something unique.
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mmF3.5-5.6 @14mm . F/6.3 . 1/100” . ISO 80 – Syros island
The Greek islands are mostly visited by Greeks and foreigners in summer. Mykonos and Santorini are the most well-known islands, but Sifnos, Paros, Hydra, Skiathos, Crete, Tinos, Rhodes, Symi, Syros, and so many others, have extreme beauty and are offered for exploration. I still explore my country and visit places for a second and third time.
In the end, photography is my psychotherapy, my escape from problems and everyday reality. I feel peace, calm, freedom… It is my moment… me, and the world!
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @21mm . F/4.0 . 1/500” . ISO 200 – Niarxos Foundation Cultural Center
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @12mm . F/8 . 1/60” . ISO 80 – Tinos island
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @27mm . F/2.8 . 1/160” . ISO 200 – Mykonos island
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mmF2.8 @31mm . F/5.6 . 1/400” . ISO 800 – Dilos island
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mmF4.0-5.6 @53mm . F/6.3 . 1/80” . ISO 250 – Symi island
RIGHT: Olympus Pen-F . Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mmF4.0-5.6 @53mm . F/8 . 1/250” . ISO 200 – Kastoria lake
“My name is Mary and I live in Alimos, a small town south of Athens. I work as an occupational therapist at the psychiatric clinic of a general hospital in Athens.
You can find me on facebook, instagram, flickr and 500px”
Freddy Van Erp
February 2, 2022 @ 16:07
My name is Freddy,
I saw your pictures of the Greek islands which brought me back a lot of memories. I have visited almost all the islands you photographed.
I am also an avid Olympus camera user.
I work with the OM-E5 Mark III and own several Olympus lenses. See that the 12-40 mm f/2.8 is your beloved lens after all.
I recently bought the new 12-45 mm f/4 because I find the 12-40 mm is too heavy. Only one stop less than de 12-40mm f/2.8
The 14-150 mm f/4-5.6 is also one of my preferred lenses.
It was definitely worth looking at your beautiful pictures that gave me many memories of the beautiful islands of Greece.
Greetings from Belgium
An Olympus hobbyist
Freddy
Mary Theodoropoulou
February 2, 2022 @ 17:34
Thank you so much Freddy for your nice comment
Hope you are doing well and safe
Keep on photographing my friend
Greetings from Athens
Glyn Jones
February 2, 2022 @ 22:22
I’ve had a similar photographic journey. I left a 30 year career in 2012, returned to photography for my business website in travel. Began with the Pen and progressed through the models and settled on OMD E-M1. You’ve promoted me to comment as I’d planned to be in Alimos in 2020 and had to cancel my plans. Your images are captivating.
Mary Theodoropoulou
February 4, 2022 @ 19:25
I am surprised you know my hometown Alimos. Many of my photos are from beach and marina of Alimos, in addition to my travel photos
Thank you so much for your kind comment
Nicholas Anderson
February 3, 2022 @ 20:19
Wonderful photos, I have visited not nearly enough of those islands. This sort of
photography is perfectly suited to Olympus. I too am a user and looking forward to travelling again post Covid.
Thank you
Mary Theodoropoulou
February 4, 2022 @ 19:30
Thank you so much Nickolas for your nice words.
I am too looking forward to travelling
Hope we can all do it soon
Derek Darbyshire
February 4, 2022 @ 13:53
lovely set of images. I am a great lover of Greece and the Islands, although now due to age and health we are unable to travel any more. I still use and love my Olympus em10 mk2 and my main lenses are the 14-150 and a lumix 12-32.
Mary Theodoropoulou
February 4, 2022 @ 19:32
I am so glad you like my country!!
Thank you for your kind comment
Wish you can, someday, travel again wherever you like
Mike Buhagiar
February 4, 2022 @ 15:00
Μαρια, τι φανταστική ιστορία. Σας ευχαριστώ που μου υπενθυμίσατε γιατί αγαπώ την Ελλάδα και τη φωτογραφία. Έχετε καταγράψει μερικές όμορφες εικόνες. Η δουλειά σου αποτελεί έμπνευση για όλους μας. Μιχαλισ
Mary Theodoropoulou
February 4, 2022 @ 19:35
Σε ευχαριστώ πολύ Μιχάλη για τα καλά σου λόγια
Μου δίνει μεγάλη χαρά να βλέπω ότι πολλοί αγαπούν την όμορφη Ελλάδα μας
Καλές λήψεις φίλε μου
Richard Bachrach
February 17, 2022 @ 11:15
I love the photo of the table and the two chairs in the shadows,,,it is subtle and peaceful….Thanks for sharing it!