Photography is my way of engaging with the world. It is what motivates me to leave the house, to step outside and discover what is there—whether in my hometown of Cologne or while travelling.

Whenever I hold a camera, I begin to pay attention. The world starts to make sense, and so do I. Photography teaches me what I respond to, what draws me in, what I resist. It encourages me to ask questions.

A formative experience was a six-month journey through Greece, the Balkans, Israel, and Japan. My camera helped transform the unfamiliarity and solitude of travelling alone into something meaningful. It brought me into contact with people while making me more aware of my own cultural and social conditioning.

Over time, my practice has shifted from the speed and instinct of street photography toward a slower engagement with people and places. What makes us who we believe ourselves to be? What role does memory play in shaping us? And how does photography relate to it?

These questions have led me to photographic explorations along the Rhine, the river that also flows through my hometown of Cologne. They continue to bring me back to Greece, my father’s homeland—a place that feels at once familiar and mysterious, and that continues to shape my sense of identity.

lf you want to license a photo or request about working with me on a photography project please contact me:

basil.nikitakis@t-online.de