Pavlos Kozalidis — Classical Street Photographer & Leica Lecturer

For more than four decades, Pavlos Kozalidis has roamed the world with a camera and a boundless curiosity, documenting humanity with humility and grace. A self-taught photographer from Piraeus, Greece, he has travelled through more than eighty countries, quietly amassing an extraordinary archive of over half a million images — a visual diary of ordinary people living with dignity, humour, and heart.

His first major exhibition, The Black Sea People (Benaki Museum, 2008), captured the everyday lives of ethnic Greeks and neighbouring communities around the Black Sea. The work revealed a rare sensitivity — lyrical, unposed, and deeply humanistic — earning Kozalidis recognition as one of Greece’s most authentic documentary voices. Fourteen years later, he returned to the same museum with House of Butterflies (2022), a hauntingly beautiful reflection on his decades-long travels through China and Asia. The show was both an artistic rebirth and a meditation on loss, memory, and the persistence of wonder.

Known for his invisible presence behind the lens, Pavlos’s photographs celebrate spontaneity and the absurd poetry of daily life. His images, often likened to those of Marc Riboud and Henri Cartier-Bresson, extend the lineage of classical street photography while remaining unmistakably his own. A Leica Lecturer and member of the NoGa Cooperative, he continues to teach the discipline of seeing without disturbing — waiting for the moment when light, timing, and emotion align.

For Pavlos, photography is not art but a kind of medicine — a way to stay alive, attentive, and connected to the world. His workshops invite participants to rediscover that state of awareness: to look beyond technique and learn, once again, how to truly see.

The Workshop Overview

Guided by renowned Leica lecturer and lifelong traveler Pavlos Kozalidis, this immersive 3.5-day workshop explores the philosophy and craft of classical street photography — capturing life’s spontaneous moments with authenticity and grace.

Over these days, participants will dive into the why, the how, and the soul of photography — blending storytelling, practical fieldwork, and deep reflection. Each day weaves together discussion, critique, and live shooting to help you cultivate presence, timing, and vision in your work.

Day 1 — The Why

An introduction to Pavlos’s philosophy, journey, and way of seeing.
We explore why we photograph — the inner impulse, intuition, and curiosity that drive a lifetime behind the lens.
Includes portfolio introductions, safety and ethics in street photography, travel preparation, and inspiration from Pavlos’s influences and archive.

Day 2 — The Story

Focusing on editing, sequencing, and visual storytelling.
Through critique and shared viewing, participants learn to recognise rhythm, pattern, and meaning within their images — transforming single photographs into coherent stories.

Day 3 — The Walk

A full-day field session where philosophy meets practice.
Participants walk and shoot alongside Pavlos, learning to capture spontaneous life moments with precision, empathy, and respect.
We focus on timing, composition, and working naturally with light and people.

Day 4 — The Meaning

A reflective day of review and refinement.
Together we examine what photographs are — not just as images, but as expressions of experience.
Feedback, sequencing, mock-exhibition set up, portfolio direction for ongoing growth

What You’ll Gain

• Direct mentorship from Pavlos Kozalidis, Leica lecturer & master of humanistic street photography

• Hands-on field experience in vibrant locations

• Personalised critique and portfolio guidance

• Techniques for unobtrusive, authentic street photography

• A deeper understanding of visual storytelling and photographic purpose

• Limited to 8 participants for individual attention

Investment

AUD 2,990 — includes tuition, film stock (if shooting analogue), developing & scanning of selected rolls, a series of 6 x 4 inch prints for curation practice and two archival A4 print, and follow-up portfolio feedback.

Please select the appropriate weekend.

Cancellation Policy:

We require all cancellations to be made at least 4 weeks prior to your booked class. 

Classes need a minimum number of bookings to run. Please note that they might be subject to change or cancellation though we will provide ample notice.