Biographic Note:
Peter Figetakis has been a freelance photographer for more than 35 years. His work has taken him to Europe, Japan and has traveled extensively in the United States.
Born in Greece, Peter came to New York City with his parents at the age of 7, in October 1960. The family moved into an apartment in the west side of Manhattan, an area called now as Hell’s Kitchen. Time Square, with its giant billboards and the bright lights lit up Peter’s imagination, as much as the fast city lifestyle.
When he was 12 years old, Peter took over a camera his father brought over from Australia. That first camera, a 1956 Leica, was to give Peter his first experiences with film, light and the city of New York.
In the 1970’s Peter exhibited great devotion to his studies and earned internships, providing him the possibility to work with many outstanding photographers such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and Robert Frank. During his internships, he became highly connected with the art world, and got involved with the moments of the era, including Andy Warhol.
It was about the same time Peter began to get involved with the fashion world and met Antonio Lopez, the well renowned fashion illustrator. It was to be Peter’s decisive more towards fashion photography, which would be his pursuit during the next 20 years of his career.
In the 1980’s fashion photography paid quite well, but Peter was once more growing quite restless. His curious nature was craving for new discoveries and he was eager now to create art with a point of view, nothing just grasp ephemeral captions of fashion.
In 1988 he started the documentary photography. As a teenager, he had read the book “Burn my heart in wounded knee”, which inspired him to study more about Native Americans life. He headed west to Arizona Saint Carlos Apache Reservation. Peter always was leaded by his senses and his experience. From the fascinating world of the Apache tribe in Arizona, the grace of the rice growers in Vietnam, to the hope in the faces of the young kids playing among the rabble and the teenagers posing with their guns in the South Bronx , he captured with the originality of the first time viewer and with the confidence of the insider.
Peter has been working in New York City and he has created a volume of photojournalist images that reflect both his photographic as well as his humanistic sensitivity.
Peter Figetakis has been a freelance photographer for more than 35 years. His work has taken him to Europe, Japan and has traveled extensively in the United States.
Born in Greece, Peter came to New York City with his parents at the age of 7, in October 1960. The family moved into an apartment in the west side of Manhattan, an area called now as Hell’s Kitchen. Time Square, with its giant billboards and the bright lights lit up Peter’s imagination, as much as the fast city lifestyle.
When he was 12 years old, Peter took over a camera his father brought over from Australia. That first camera, a 1956 Leica, was to give Peter his first experiences with film, light and the city of New York.
In the 1970’s Peter exhibited great devotion to his studies and earned internships, providing him the possibility to work with many outstanding photographers such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and Robert Frank. During his internships, he became highly connected with the art world, and got involved with the moments of the era, including Andy Warhol.
It was about the same time Peter began to get involved with the fashion world and met Antonio Lopez, the well renowned fashion illustrator. It was to be Peter’s decisive more towards fashion photography, which would be his pursuit during the next 20 years of his career.
In the 1980’s fashion photography paid quite well, but Peter was once more growing quite restless. His curious nature was craving for new discoveries and he was eager now to create art with a point of view, nothing just grasp ephemeral captions of fashion.
In 1988 he started the documentary photography. As a teenager, he had read the book “Burn my heart in wounded knee”, which inspired him to study more about Native Americans life. He headed west to Arizona Saint Carlos Apache Reservation. Peter always was leaded by his senses and his experience. From the fascinating world of the Apache tribe in Arizona, the grace of the rice growers in Vietnam, to the hope in the faces of the young kids playing among the rabble and the teenagers posing with their guns in the South Bronx , he captured with the originality of the first time viewer and with the confidence of the insider.
Peter has been working in New York City and he has created a volume of photojournalist images that reflect both his photographic as well as his humanistic sensitivity.
Robert De Nero
I first met Robert De Niro at the set of Taxi Driver, which was being filmed around the block from the Pratt Institute in New York where I was studying. I got the chance to work with him later in Goodfellas, and later in Casino. In between movie sets though, we kept in touch and through him I met Harvey Keitel and Martin Scorsese, who I worked with on various sets later on.
The photograph with De Niro was from the set of the movie Bronx Tale, in 1992, De Niro's directorial debut.
I first met Robert De Niro at the set of Taxi Driver, which was being filmed around the block from the Pratt Institute in New York where I was studying. I got the chance to work with him later in Goodfellas, and later in Casino. In between movie sets though, we kept in touch and through him I met Harvey Keitel and Martin Scorsese, who I worked with on various sets later on.
The photograph with De Niro was from the set of the movie Bronx Tale, in 1992, De Niro's directorial debut.
Andy Warhol
In the early 70's, while working with Halston on a fashion show, I had the opportunity to meet Andy Warhol through world renowned fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez. After that introduction I was able to become Andy's intern part-time from 1973 - 1975. After my internship ended, I continued to stay in touch with Andy up until his untimely death on February 22nd, 1987.
In the early 70's, while working with Halston on a fashion show, I had the opportunity to meet Andy Warhol through world renowned fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez. After that introduction I was able to become Andy's intern part-time from 1973 - 1975. After my internship ended, I continued to stay in touch with Andy up until his untimely death on February 22nd, 1987.
Figgi Films, a blog by Peter Figetakis, is a journal of the photographer's "journey" throughout the years. Please check regularly for updates since we are still a work-in-progress. Thank you for visiting.
COPYRIGHT PETER FIGETAKIS
All photographs posted on the blog are under copyright by the photographer and cannot be used without his consent.
All photographs posted on the blog are under copyright by the photographer and cannot be used without his consent.