Weathered faces of 'Wolves of the Sea': Incredible portraits of the last fishermen on Greek island.

[Surya Gayatri]

Clinging on to traditional way of life

Silent: Yannis Perantinos was entirely silent when he was photographed. Now 77, he has spent most of his life going out to sea in his boat Popi. Yannis was one of the Paros Wolves, whose portraits were taken by Austrian photographer Christian Stemper

Their weather-beaten skin, bright eyes and greying hair have crossed more water, sailed into more wind and sat under more sun than almost anyone else on earth, all on tiny wooden boats named after their wives and daughters.

But could these so-called 'Wolves of the Sea' be the last for the small Greek island of Paros?

Their way of life - and the way of life of their fathers, grandfathers and generations of men before them - is under threat, from big business, the EU, and their children's desire to search out something beyond the shores of their Mediterranean idyll.

These wolves are now an endangered species, and the fishermen know it.


Tradition: Thanasis Tantanis learned his skills from his father and grandfather. He said his life is at sea. 'If I go on land, I'm useless,' the 75-year-old explained


Dismayed: Petros Aliprantis, a boat builder on the island, says the traditional ways of fishing when he began are 'over' as fisherman today are ditching their wooden boats in favour of plastic vessels


Devotion: Parousis, with his boat Meropi Aliki, says he would not survive 24 hours in Athens, away from his beloved sea

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3148749/If-not-sea-not-live-Incredible-portraits-craggy-faced-Wolves-Sea-fishermen-Greek-island-clinging-romantic-way-life.html

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What those eyes have seen...what battles with the elements are etched in those creases.

Amazing and moving portrait of humanity.

[raouldukelives]

1. K&R

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

2. Thank you for the post, some great pictures.

A way of life is being lost...

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. great photos