Grelicks

Heidelberg Speedmaster on the move... Athens, Greece, October 2018.

... but we can still talk on the phone...

For old times sake

Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Ilford HP5+ | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

Mercedes 170 at the old Athens Gasworks. | Nikon F2A & Ilford HP5+ | Gazi, Athens, Greece, October 2018.

Desolation. Piper PA-23-250 Aztec B, c/n 27-2310, SX-APC | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Nikkor 2.5/105mm & HP5+ | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

On a personal note: I’ve been taking nude photos, almost exclusively on b&w film, since 1995. As much as I could – and as long as there were friends willing to pose. People who know me in “real life” are aware of how passionate I am about this. Despite this, after 5.5 years on Tumblr and some 1,000+ original photo posts, I’ve posted so far only about 10 such photos, that’s less than 1%. One significant reason is that I’m simply not good enough at it. By all accounts, I’m better at taking photos of old planes, rusty cars, funny threewheelers and derelict houses. But, hell, since there is an ultimatum, I might just post a couple more… After that… I don’t know. We’ll see.

Tail end. Olympic Airways Boeing 727-284B c/n 20003 SX-CBA “Mount Olympus” | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Ilford HP5+ | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

Variation on a previous theme. | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Kodak TMax 100 | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

Btm (NOT Grelicks): A newspaper clipping from the Grelicks archives showing the above SX-AAZ while still operational – back when Ellinikon airport was still buzzing with activity, probably in the late 1990s.

The all-metal 36m-high water tower (yet another landmark in the Ellinikon airport area) was built in 1953-54. The plans were made by the Knappen Tippetts Abbett Engineering Co on behalf of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, although the work was executed by local Greek contractors. For its time, this was a complex work, involving innovative techniques – compared to the simpler and more widespread concrete water towers. The Urban Environment Lab of the National Technical University of Athens, in its 2016 Report on the historical, architectural and technical significance of buildings and facilities of Ellinikon Airport (with an English summary, if anyone’s interested) has highlighted the structure’s historical and technological importance, suggesting that the water tower should be listed for preservation. Such a demand was of course almost ridiculed by the usual fanatic supporters of Ellinikon airport’s “redevelopment” (you know: shopping malls, casino etc.) – who gives a fuck about a 1950s water tower or a 1930s aviation hangar anyway…

1-11 | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Ilford HP5+ | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

Regard oblique.

Shanyang (it’s that Chinese job again). | The Athens threewheelers series | Snapshot (Yashica MF-2 Super + TMax 100). | Neapoli, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

Leviathan. Olympic Airways Boeing 747-284B c/n 20825 SX-OAB “Olympic Eagle” | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Ilford HP5+ | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

A ghost sign in the truest sense: both the original Olympic Airways and Ellinikon Airport (the passengers of which having been the sign’s target group) are now part of history. Nevertheless, the 26m, 11.5t sign erected in 1973 still constitutes a local landmark at the corner of Vouliagmenis & Alimou avenues. | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Kodak TMax 100 | Argyroupoli, Athens, Greece, August 2018.

Retired Dodge Power Ram fire engines of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). | Death of an airport series. | Nikon F2A & Kodak TMax 100 | Ellinikon, Athens, Greece, August 2018.