A Common Story A photography project by Kostas Kapsianis

“A common story” is a contemplation of heritage and ancestral ties in the ancient country of Greece.

In Greece, the commonly asked question, “Where are you from?” reaches into a far deeper and more resonant space than in other cultures. If uninitiated, you might answer in the standard way: by telling the other person where you live currently or maybe where you grew up. But by doing so, you invite the inevitable follow-up question, “No, no, where are you from? Where is your village?” In other words, “What are your roots?”

“A common story” is a journey of return to the Greek countryside, a revival of images that walked out from a simple narration, the narration of the father. Internal migration, images, memories, and escape. Where do we come from? To what extent do we really remember a place we left behind? What finally makes a man from the countryside escape elsewhere or stay?

– Discover more of Kostas’s work here

Call for entries

black and white street photo of man being shaved on the street in China by Jian Wang
© Jian Wang
2025 Street Photography AWARD

Win $2700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

This September, we’re challenging you to capture powerful and inspiring urban stories. Acclaimed Magnum photographer Bruce Gilden will be judging the entries, and we’re excited to see your most compelling images.

 

  • Win $2700 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +920k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio

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