Michalis Bolakis "50 Years of Photography"

On Saturday, January 24, Warehouse No. 1 at the port of Alexandroupolis was filled with people, warm energy, and that rare sense of community that photography creates when it becomes a reason to get together.

The presentation of Michalis Bolakis' anniversary photo album, "50 Years of Photography (1976–2025)," turned into an evening of substance: images that carry time, a lively conversation with the audience, questions, memories, and emotion—as if we were all leafing through a shared archive together.

Michalis Bolakis' work is a long, consistent contribution to the art of photography: a decisive gaze that for decades has recorded people, places, and moments without "stealing" anything—with respect, precision, and truth.

His images serve as a visual archive of memory, while his attitude—his persistence, discipline, and ethical gaze—has influenced and inspired younger photographers, leaving a mark beyond the frame: on the very photographic culture of Thrace.

We warmly thank those who attended and supported this evening with their presence.

We thank the Vatamidis bookstore and Topos Publications for co-organizing the event.

And, above all, we thank Michalis Bolakis for his long journey and his generosity in sharing it with us. 

The images remain. And the discussions they spark.