Video Captures the Beauty of Crete

The Russian cinematographer who took his gear on holiday in Crete just in case, and found a wealth of inspiration.


No monuments, no tourist attractions, no emblematic landscapes; nothing evoking a sense of place. And yet this is Rethymnon in Crete, as seen through the lens of Alex Soloviev, a 38-year-old photographer and cinematographer from Russia. Earlier this year, Soloviev was on the island on holiday without formal plans to do any filming. As always, he had his gear with him, “just in case,” but he was only looking to unwind and enjoy the sea and sun. The scenery, however was so evocative it kept begging for attention; “There was something cinematographic about it, but also reminiscent of home,” says Soloviev. “I could not resist capturing it for eternity.”

He filmed for about four days with a Canon 6D and a recorder Zoom H1, capturing images and sounds of everyday life; whatever caught his attention and moved him in some way: the faces of locals, a goat munching, the sound of the sea, the cicadas, a motorbike, a cat’s meow. “Capturing everyday life is more significant to me than monuments and impressive time lapses.” After spending two weeks in the editing room selecting his sequences, color grading and creating the sound design, Frames of Crete was ready. Like an entry of a video-diary written in the stream of consciousness technique, its shots fragmented, fleeting and subjective like memories, this is a visual narrative that defies any touristic beautification and instead portrays the beauty of a creator’s subjective truth.

“There was something cinematographic about it, but also reminiscent of home.”


Read More

Aegean Islands

Limnos: Discovering a Windswept Wonder

Fishing villages and fertile plains give way to vineyards and...


Dodecanese

Symi’s Style: The Story Behind the Island’s Graceful Architecture

The remote island of Symi has a grandeur that belies...


Greece Is Blog Posts

An Ode to Local Products

BY Yiouli Eptakili

No more avocado toast and croque-madames. From Thessaloniki to Crete...

read more >

How Can Greece Become a Gastro-Tourism Destination?

BY Yiouli Eptakili

It’s about more than just taking a trip...

read more >

Leaving Room in Greece for Everyone

BY Greece Is

Labor Day, this year September 5, marks the...

read more >