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| Costa's |
One of my favourite places for photography is the island of Cyprus. I have visited the vicinity of Paphos several times in recent years and always find something new to shoot. Besides being an ideal location for infra-red photography, due to the strong sunlight, it's a country with a rich history and beautiful architecture.
Certain parts of the city, away from the tourist areas, are economically depressed and quite run down. Its also a well known fact that if a new building remains unfinished - ie. if the roof are still need finishing, then the owner will not have to pay certain taxes, so many of the buildings look run down, even though they are perfectly habitable. Tourism being such a mercurial beast, businesses appear and disappear rapidly, leaving shops and houses empty and abandoned, as money and interest moves quickly.
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| Don't Tell the Bees |
Immediately outside the city, in the old town, the more rustic way of life is still very prevalent and flourishing in the same way it has for centuries, with farms and agricultural settlements dotted about the dusty land.
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| Sea You Next Year |
The beautiful beaches and blue Mediterranean Sea are always a big draw for holidaymakers and the catering and drinks trade are always keen to capitalise on any opportunity, resulting in pop up bars, restaurants and cafes appearing in the most unlikely places.
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| Catacomb |
Ancient history rubs shoulders with the most modern malls and tiny villages in the mountains or nestling on a remote beach can have the most amazing restaurants and bars.
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| Down, Tiger |
Everywhere, the culture is relaxed and easygoing and the almost constant good weather means that everyone has the chance to relax, even during work hours.
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| Backgammon Boys |
Backgammon is a popular pastime and is enjoyed by many people, both in public spaces and in cafes.
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Bookends
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The classical style of Mediterranean architecture includes many ornamental features and even if the property is closed and dilapidated, it still retains a certain charm.
I often try and visit the same areas when I return, so see if the property has changed, or what the effects of weathering or age have wrought.
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| Alfresco |
Many properties are abandoned and in such a state of disrepair, that they must be earmarked for demolition, but seem to remain year after year, largely unchanged.
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| Microcosm |
The nooks and crannies of the old stone are a haven for wildlife, with swallows nesting in eaves, geckos hiding in shady cracks and wasps patrolling the sunlit walls for water and food.
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| All I Survey |
Building methods are standardised across the city, with each property using solar power wherever possible and favouring local stone and stucco finishes. Its always interesting to see the interface between the ancient and the modern.
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| Colonel Sander's Summer Retreat |
The beach areas really come alive at night with avenues of neon and bright lights.
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| Sunset Strip |
In many places the super modern meets the archaic, as the area finds more and more popularity as a tourist destination and older buildings vanish in favour of the new.
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| Needs Work |
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| Captain Nemo's Day Off |
As tourism brings in many millions of euro's a year, local businessmen find novel ways to attract custom.
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| Papped |
