Santorini: Modern Day Reality

To live on the island of Santorini photographing the people who make it one of the world's top travel destinations and an icon of Greece.

Some call it the dream island. Other say the eruption of its volcano may have given rise to the myth of the lost civilization of Atlantis. And critics usually name it one of the top 10 global spots for pristine beaches and romantic destinations.

Of Greece's 6,000 islands, Santorini is by far the most iconic. Chances are you've seen this tiny little piece of Earth in postcards, on television documentaries and in Hollywood blockbusters. (Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.)

But what makes this speck of earth that juts out of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea so special? And who's behind it all?

My dream assignment is to live on Santorini for four months documenting the lives of the locals. I want to capture the stories of the different types of people who preserve the island, its natural beauty and resources. There are the fishermen, archeologists, shop owners, farmers, soil exporters, wine makers, water-plant operators, hoteliers, and bus/taxi drivers just to name a few. How do these people each contribute to the success as a whole to this tiny island?

This island is essentially what remains after a devastating volcanic eruption 3,600 years ago of Thera, the most famous single event in the Aegean Sea before the fall of Troy. Some say this may have been one of the biggest volcanic eruptions on Earth in the last few thousand years. And some believe that erruption was what destroyed the fabled lost city of Atlantis. Now, the island's main cities are perched on the remaining cliffs and offer visitors breathtaking views of the volcano and neighboring islands. The island's winding staircases, white buildings and blue-domed churches still speak to the Gods. All this despite its size. Santorini's s population is about 13,000 - about as many people who live in Spencer, Iowa - and it's slightly smaller than the size of Manhattan.

Here are just a handful of ideas I'd include in my photography:

- Archeologists that work excavating the ancient site of Akrotiri;
- Geologists that work to understand about the ancient history of the island, including Santorini's famed Red Beach;
- Wine makers that harvest and use special grapes, Assyrtiko, which can only be found on the island;
- Farmers who grow the produce which supports the island's restaurants and locals;
- Wedding planners who cater to clients from across the world to be married;
- And even American citizens who moved to Santorini to open hotels;

My inspiration for this project comes from a trip I took to Santorini in 2007. I immediately saw the potential for telling the stories of the locals, who often get overlooked by tourist brochures and travel guides. As a first-generation Greek-American, I also long for an opportunity to document the stories of my father's land. It's important to me that I tell stories of everyday Greeks, so they may have a voice and tell us what the real Santorini is about.

During my time on Santorini, I will create a dynamic web site, where I will maintain a blog, incorporate video and audio slideshows, and use GPS-enabled devices to provide interactive maps of the island and show where each story takes place. My final goal of the project would be to create this photo-driven website as destination for all things Santorini.

I want an opportunity to tell the stories of these fascinating, often-overlooked people who have kept Santorini Greece's jewel.

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