Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1959 to Greek Cypriot parents, George's childhood was marked by the challenges many migrants face: racism, the struggle to fit in, and a search for identity and belonging. His journey into photography began at the age of 25, when a simple gift — a 35mm Olympus Trip camera and a roll of black and white film transformed the course of his life. Driven by a childlike curiosity, George set out to capture the world around him.
With a deep fascination for human behaviour and character, and a background in Sociology, people became the natural subject of his lens. His artistic evolution was sparked when two close friends invited him to a course on black-and-white photography and darkroom technique. This marked the beginning of a seven-year odyssey abroad, where George captured the fleeting beauty of the world, each photograph a moment suspended in time, telling its own unique story.
Through his travels, George felt a sense of belonging in certain countries. Some locations, like certain people, made him feel instantly at home. Photography became the medium through which he connected to these places and their people, even though his journey was not without its difficulties.
Largely self-taught, George quickly realised that the true magic of photography for him extended beyond just taking a picture.
It was in the darkroom where inspiration and alchemy coexisted, allowing him to experiment and explore. He delved into the delicate balance between simplicity and complexity, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Photograph by; Jacob Olszewski
This journey led him to embrace a Zen philosophy that "true beauty is neither perfect nor imperfect, but exists in the realm where such distinctions cease to exist." This idea has guided his exploration of non-duality in photography, finding his own singular presence in both the act of shooting and the process of printing each image.
Of all the places George has visited, Japan holds a special place in his heart, as it is the birthplace of the cameras he uses. Observing how his eye and his lens captured the world there was an experience that deepened his connection to the art.
Today, as technology continues to shape his creative process, George’s bond with the darkroom remains unbroken. With each passing year, his understanding deepens, enabling him to push the boundaries of his art. George’s body of work spans images developed using classical darkroom techniques, camera-less images arising from alchemical experiments, and everything else he encountered on the roads in between.
Through photography, particularly black and white, George has undergone a personal metamorphosis, continuously learning about himself and the world through the lens. Photography has provided him with meaning, and belonging, guiding him in his ever-evolving journey of self-discovery.