Sotiris Bougas Brings Attention to the Hidden Artistry of Simplicity
Sotiris Bougas Brings Attention to the Hidden Artistry of Simplicity
Searching for Beauty Beyond the Everyday
Name:
Sotiris Bougas
Photography:
Sotiris Bougas
Words:
Marissa Stempien
Finding beauty in the everyday can be a hard-pressed task, even for the most positive of us. We’re living in uncertain times, and it’s more important now than ever that we find the allure and stories in even the most commonplace of things. Photographer, content creator, and storyteller Sotiris Bougas refocuses his eye on those everyday objects where a shade of colors, a flash of light, or an unusual shape can be all the inspiration he needs to pick up his lens. If you’re looking for images hidden with deeper meaning and a tight-packed narrative, you won’t find it in Sotiris’ photos. Instead, he invites you to take a step back, and appreciate the beauty of the everyday things around you, in those things you may not even notice until he draws your eyes to it. Here, Sotiris talks about his inspiration, his attention to detail, and his love for all the little unnoticed objects that fuel his art.
Visual Pleasure Magainze:
Can you tell me a bit about how you got started in photography? Was this something you always wanted to do or did it start as an artistic outlet?
Sotiris Bougas:
I’ve always been interested in arts. I guess it was a need to express my feelings, to be creative. Photography came into my life more as a hobby at first but then it evolved into something deeper.
What inspires your photography? What is it you’re trying to convey to your audience through your work?
Dedicated to minimalism, the core of my creative inspiration is definitely arts, architecture, people, and light. Finding simplicity in any aspect and object of everyday life, I aim to create work where clarity meets storytelling. Through my work, I direct my audience to realize how simple things can be so unique and beautiful at the same time.
Your images focus on bodies, architecture, and landscape, almost structurally so—what is it that draws you to these subjects?
Geometry, colors, and natural lights are the main factors that influence my photographic vision around these subjects.
Of these subjects, which do you most prefer to capture in your photography? Is it a viewpoint, an angle, etc, that makes you capture specific shots?
If I had to choose one, I would probably focus on bodies. Each human figure is absolutely unique, capable of creating eye-catching angles and forms. I see each body as a sculpture. The more textures there are, the more interesting it is to observe.
Your shots are minimalistic and simple—what is it that draws you to the simplistic beauty of a staircase or some fruit?
Details for sure. Simple things have a weird way to be extremely attractive. I want to show those beautiful moments and details we don’t usually notice in regular life.
You play with the element of light in many of your images—do you see this as another layer of your artistry?
Definitely! Light and shadows change everything. They are capable of elevating a picture. I prefer to shoot with natural light because it makes each scene more natural, interesting, and at the same time more mysterious.
What are some subjects or elements you’ve yet to photograph that you’d like to work with in the future?
Travel and nature photography. I would love to manage to travel around the world and capture with my own perspective all the destinations I have on my never-ending list. Hopefully, in the near future, I will have more time to experiment deeper with analog photography, which is something that really fascinates me.
