ABOUT
Agorastos is a nature photographer specializing in mushroom photography. He was born in 1977 in Deskati, a small village in the Grevena region surrounded by various forests in northern Greece. He is married and the father of two wonderful girls, living in Litochoro, Pieria, nestled in the embrace of the mythical Mt. Olympus, where he works as a photographer.
His first contact with nature photography was in 1999. He recorded and identified mushrooms until 2008 when he began photographing them artistically. Agorastos has won numerous awards in some of the world’s biggest competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2013, 2016, and as a winner for two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023. He has also triumphed in European Nature Photographer of the Year, Siena, MML, Asferico, Big Picture, and MontPhoto competitions.
Agorastos has contributed to many magazines with numerous articles. A significant highlight of his photographic career was the selection of his photo by National Geographic Magazine (America) for the cover of the April 2024 issue. This marked the first mushroom-themed cover in the magazine’s 136-year history, featuring a rich 10-page article on mushrooms adorned with his photos.
He has won numerous awards in the world’s biggest competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 and 2016, and as winner two years in a row, 2022 and 2023!
His versatility is further demonstrated by his wins at a variety of prestigious competitions, including the Siena, Big Picture, MML, Asferico, and MontPhoto, where he was crowned ‘European Nature Photographer of the Year’.
One of the top moments in his photographic career was National Geographic Magazine (America) ‘s selection of his photo for the cover of the April 2024 issue!
Agorastos has explored every corner of Europe and travelled to South Korea three times in search of unique mushrooms like Dictyophora indusiata. He views mushrooms as symbols of imagination, saying, “They embody everything I seek: a fairy tale, an idea, and a mystery together, full of form, colour, and strong personality.” For Agorastos, nature photography is a means to highlight the beauty, importance, and urgent need for environmental protection. His work captures the intricate wonders of nature, inspiring viewers to appreciate and preserve its splendour.
