Socrates Baltagiannis
Socrates Baltagiannis, born in 1979 and based in Athens, Greece, is a documentary photojournalist whose work spans commissioned assignments in news, humanitarian crises, and current affairs, as well as deeply considered personal projects. His imagery explores how people and environments influence each other, bringing marginalized narratives into compassionate focus with emotional clarity and quiet strength.
Originally trained in graphic design, Baltagiannis turned to photography in 2009 and cultivated his practice through workshops and self-directed learning. Since then, he has contributed to distinguished international publications including The Wall Street Journal, Der Spiegel, MSNBC, The Guardian, Courrier International, Internazionale, Le Point, Le Temps, Stern, La Croix, Die Zeit and FAZ.
From 2015, he has documented the refugee crisis in Greece in collaboration with the UNHCR and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and he also freelances for the German Press Agency. He is a member of the Foreign Press Association of Greece, the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece and the Frontline Freelance Register. He completed hostile environment and first aid training in 2018.
Baltagiannis’s personal projects delve into resilience, social injustice, and environmental change, offering intimate perspectives on overlooked realities. His series and reportage emphasise trust, vulnerability, and the quiet truths of lived experience.
His work has been recognized with second place in the News category at the dpa Pictures of the Year 2020; finalist status in the LensCulture Portrait Awards 2019 and Istanbul Photo Awards 2016; second mention and a special Migration theme award at the Bursa Photo Festival 2015; a nomination for the Prix Pictet in 2015 for The Austerity Effect; first place in Street Photography in the Athens Southern District in 2013; finalist in the UK Professional Photographer of the Year News category in 2012; and third place People’s Choice in Street Life at the Photometria Photo Festival in 2011.
He has exhibited widely, including TOLERANCE(S) in Athens in 2021; The Athenians at Vamvakou Revival in 2020 and at Athens Photo World in 2019; Eyes of Light in Athens in 2019; In Limbo at Addis Foto Fest in Ethiopia in 2018; No Direction Home, The Book at Box Gallery in Athens in 2017; Crossings at Medphoto Festival in Crete in 2016; Bursa Photo Festival in 2015; and group exhibitions at Athens International Airport, Photometria Photo Festival, and the annual Black and White Film Group Exhibitions from 2010 to 2013.
Exhibitions:
2021. TOLERANCE(S). Athens, Greece.
2020. The Athenians. Vamvakou Revival, Vamavkou, Greece.
2019. The Athenians. Athens Photo World, Athens, Greece.
2019. Eyes of light, Athens, Greece.
2018. In Limbo. Addis Foto Fest, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2017. No Direction Home, Athens, Greece.
2016. Medphoto Festival: “Crossings”, Crete island, Greece.
Awards:
2020. dpa Pictures of the Year 2020
2019. Lens Culture Portrait Awards
2016. Istanbul Photo Awards, Turkey
2015. Bursa Photo Festival, Turkey
2015. Prix Pictet Awards – Disorder theme | Nominated.
2015. Bursa Photo Festival, Turkey.