phil bebbington photography

portfolio

cretan interiors

Many of the villages in Crete are gradually emptying. As the old die so the houses seem to get locked up and left to slowly decay. I'm sure that the reasons are varied. The young seem to see no worth in such houses and I guess have to go where the work is. The towns and cities have the employment, the fun and the modern life that so many crave.

motel xenia

Motel Xenia, Amnisos, Crete - derelict and beautiful. I have since found out it was designed by the architect Aris Konstandinidis (ΑΡΗΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΙΔΗΣ) (1913-1993). He worked for E.O.T (Greek Tourism Board) between 1957-1967. Today the motel just seems to sit and decay beautifully.

cretan windmills

The Cretan landscape is littered with windmills (Ανεμόμυλοι). In more recent times for drawing water but the landscape is also littered with the remnants of huge stone windmills used for grinding grain. These are the most impressive and a constant reminder of the past and the wind that often blows on Crete.


people

Photographs of people carry the most power and yet are the most difficult to achieve, perhaps a lack of respect for a persons privacy is required though that's not my style. These shots are mostly consented to, some are shot from the hip; none received a no!

minoan prince

The Minoan Prince Hotel near Ierapetra, Crete. Quite a resort in its time. With easy access to the sea and in a prosperous area you wonder why it closed. See it in its former glory. Long empty and fading gently, you can almost hear the voices!

churches shrines

The Cretan landscape is littered with churches, roadside shrines and all manner of saints. They all have their day and their importance. It is impossible to wander Crete without appreciating the influence that the Greek Orthodox Church has on the island and its people.