London: A Photo Essay By Photographer & Publisher Chris Kontos

Photographer and publisher Chris Kontos currently lives and works between Athens, London and Paris. A prolific image-maker, his work has featured in fashion publications including Purple Magazine, Oyster Magazine and Popeye, to name a few. Shooting primarily in film, using his Contax camera, Kontos has collaborated with a number of fashion brands, such as Our Legacy and Several, among others. Currently, the photographer is involved with producing his own magazine called Kennedy, a biannual journal of curiosities profiling creatives and a range of urban environs. Kontos shared a photo essay with Something Curated from back in June, documenting his time in London during the run up to the EU Referendum.

These pictures were taken over the course of a two-week trip to London somewhere around the middle of June. At the time the Union Flag was hanging proudly from the windows, while others displayed  “Remain” posters, now sad reminders of an optimism and failed expectations of a nation in divide. In Covent Garden, just above our heads a set of bombers is flying in low altitude, followed by the Red Arrows celebrating the Queens Birthday. Somewhere in Pimlico I’m distracted by a stentorian voice that seems to be coming from a short-haired blonde lady who is shouting “Eggs and bacon on toast!” while I wait in vain for Martin Parr to show up. The early morning clientele consists mainly of workers in blue and orange uniforms eating black pudding and discussing football.

In Soho the sun is out and people are flooding the streets. Max [a friend] arrives late and we chat about fishing. I cannot stop staring at his arm, and the bright red scar spread like a ring of blood around it, a painful reminder of an encounter with a medusa in Mallorca’s warm waters a while back. England is losing the game and people outside pubs are moving their drunk feet reluctantly, with grim faces. I’m headed east again. In Shoreditch a man wearing a silk shirt with a Chinese dragon print is talking on a mobile phone which seems like its not working. Back in Leytonstone. Alfred Hitchcock’s movies on mosaics decorating the tube’s tiles. A pair of boots is left outside the door soaking in the rain. The lights are down. We watch a film with Varg Vikerenes, talking about murder while lazily sipping on some tea. It’s getting darker and the clouds are getting pink. I lie down on my bed and think of summer in another place.

 

Words and Photography by Chris Kontos