Dimitris Soulas
Encyclopedia
Dimitris Soulas (born 1938), is a former Greek photojournalist. He worked as an independent photojournalist in Germany between 1967 and 1974.
Soulas was born in 1938 in Thessaloniki
from a family originated from Soufli
. For the years 1960 to 1965, he studied Economics at the Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt and Sociology at the Institute for Social Research
. After his studies he began working in the marketing department of the fruit import company "Atlanta Handelsgesellschaft Harder & Co.", in Munich
. On April 1967, Soulas co-founded with other Greek people living in Munich
, the "Panhellenic Anti-junta Association" against the 1967-1974 military regime of Greece
. Because of his participation to the anti-junta movement, he had his Greek passport withdrawn and was denied entry to the country. Also, the Greek Junta authorities exerted pressure to the company Soulas was working, which asked Soulas to quit the Anti-junta Association. After his denial to quit he was fired from his position in the company.
After his dismissal, he began working as a freelance photojournalist selling his photos to newspapers. Soon, he became an accociate of the Associated Press
, while newspapers of Munich assigned projects to him. During his career as a photojournalist he worked for notable magazines of Germany, such as Stern
, Quick, Neue Revue, and worked with Magnum agency
.
In 1974, after the Greek Junta collapse he returned in Greece. Estimating that photojournalism had still not matured in Greece, he decided to quit working as a professional photographer and he turned toward business and trade. In 1977 he established an import business for children’s toys and subsequently worked as a marketing consultant. Now, he lives in Garmisch and Thessaloniki
and works in film documentary.
In 2004, Soulas donated his archive to the Fotomuseum of the Munich Stadtmuseum
. In 2008, the Museum organized a retrospective exhibition on the work of Dimitris Soulas which was shown in many European cities.
Soulas was born in 1938 in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
from a family originated from Soufli
Soufli
Soufli is a city in the Evros peripheral unit, Greece, notable for the silk industry that flourished there in the 19th century. The town stands on the eastern slope of the twin hill of Prophet Elias, one of the easternmost spurs on the Rhodope Mountains...
. For the years 1960 to 1965, he studied Economics at the Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt and Sociology at the Institute for Social Research
Institute for Social Research
The Institute for Social Research is a research organization for sociology and continental philosophy, best known as the institutional home of the Frankfurt School and critical theory....
. After his studies he began working in the marketing department of the fruit import company "Atlanta Handelsgesellschaft Harder & Co.", in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. On April 1967, Soulas co-founded with other Greek people living in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, the "Panhellenic Anti-junta Association" against the 1967-1974 military regime of Greece
Greek military junta of 1967-1974
The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
. Because of his participation to the anti-junta movement, he had his Greek passport withdrawn and was denied entry to the country. Also, the Greek Junta authorities exerted pressure to the company Soulas was working, which asked Soulas to quit the Anti-junta Association. After his denial to quit he was fired from his position in the company.
After his dismissal, he began working as a freelance photojournalist selling his photos to newspapers. Soon, he became an accociate of the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, while newspapers of Munich assigned projects to him. During his career as a photojournalist he worked for notable magazines of Germany, such as Stern
Stern (magazine)
Stern is a weekly news magazine published in Germany. It was founded in 1948 by Henri Nannen, and is currently published by Gruner + Jahr, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann. In the first quarter of 2006, its print run was 1.019 million copies and it reached 7.84 million readers according to...
, Quick, Neue Revue, and worked with Magnum agency
Magnum Photos
Magnum Photos is an international photographic cooperative owned by its photographer-members, with offices located in New York, Paris, London and Tokyo...
.
In 1974, after the Greek Junta collapse he returned in Greece. Estimating that photojournalism had still not matured in Greece, he decided to quit working as a professional photographer and he turned toward business and trade. In 1977 he established an import business for children’s toys and subsequently worked as a marketing consultant. Now, he lives in Garmisch and Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
and works in film documentary.
In 2004, Soulas donated his archive to the Fotomuseum of the Munich Stadtmuseum
Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches and is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late Gothic period.-Permanent exhibitions:...
. In 2008, the Museum organized a retrospective exhibition on the work of Dimitris Soulas which was shown in many European cities.
External links
- Dimitris Soula's interview ( Photographos MagazinePhotographosPhotographos is a Greek photography and imaging magazine, published monthly by Press Photo Publications and distributed with the Greek newspaper, Kathimerini and autonomously, the penultimate Saturday of each month....
, 2006-03-21 (in Greek) ) - "Tür zu" Article for the persecuted, by the Greek military junta of 1967-1974Greek military junta of 1967-1974The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
, Pavlos BakoyannisPavlos BakoyannisPavlos Bakoyannis was a liberal Greek politician who was well known for his broadcasts against the Greek military dictatorship of 1967-1974 on Deutsche Welle radio...
and Dimitris Soulas ( Der SpiegelDer SpiegelDer Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, 1968-09-23 (in German) )