Sifnos

Sifnos

Greece
Aegean Sea
Cyklades
Sifnos island

Sifnos is an island of medium size belonging to the Cyklades complex in the mid-Agean Sea. Itis very much advertized and loved because of its many and beautiful shores and, during the last years, many foreigners have become either permanent or temporary residents there bying local houses.
The island has a very long history dating back in the first Cykladean civilizations and has always been target of conflict between the ancient greek cities especially Athens because of the rich gold and silver mines there.The Sifnian authorities built an imposing tresor in the famous Delphi oracle, in ordet to gain the favour of God Apollo, which can still be seen there.. The island was also famous for its local craftsmen in angioplasty.
Sifnos followed the common fate of nearly all the greek islands having passed through many occupations, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans, all of them leaving traces of their civilization that can be still visited there with the old greek orthodox byzantine churches gathering most of the interest with their mosaics and frescoes. The island was finally united to the greek territory with the Greek War of Independance (1821-1828) It has 2.500 inhabitants with Apollonia the capital.

In the photo, Kastro, one of the most famous medieval settlements in Sifnos, perched on top of a rock almost in the sea. The photo was taken from the heights of an old byzantine monastery on the way to Kastro driving along a long valley under a heat of more than 40 oC.
(All the photos in the series were taken using ILFORD HP5 film 120(6,5x4,5 negative) and using red and ND filters in order to minimize the strong light and bring as much detail as possible in the highligts. The negatives were then scanned to digitals The large mid-format negative, 6,5x4,5 being always my favourite.!)..