The Mytilene Photographic Society (ΦΕΜ) founded in 1980, is one of the oldest cultural associations on Lesbos. Its purpose is to develop the art of photography on the island. With members from various professions who share a love for amateur photography, F.E.M. organizes classes, seminars, exhibitions, and photographic excursions.
Over its 45-year history, it has hosted eminent photographers such as N. Panagiotopoulos and L. Vasilikos. In 2015, it presented an exhibition with original photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson, while in 2016, it organized the successful "Refugees" exhibition, which toured many European cities and the European Parliament.
ΦΕΜ has developed strong bonds of friendship and cooperation with photographic associations in Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, promoting peace and friendship through art. It is housed in an exhibition space at the Lower Castle of Mytilene, granted by the Ministry of Culture.
By offering seminars for beginners and advanced photographers, the Society aims to cultivate vision and spread photographic knowledge to young people. Anyone with a common interest in developing their photography skills can become a member
«Presences» The human presence, whether silent or deafening, solitary or collective,
momentary or timeless, is the main thread that unites the images in this
exhibition. The members of the Mytilene Photographic Society turn their lenses
on people—not necessarily as portraits, but as traces, as feelings, as silent
testimony within space and time. The "Presences" exhibition is an invitation to see those around
us, those next to us, and—why not—ourselves, through the eyes and sensitivity
of the photographers. Each image is a moment of recognition, an invitation to
empathy. In a world that is changing fast, where the pace of life distances us from
one another, photography comes to unite, to stop time, to highlight the detail,
to honor the human element. With this particular photography exhibition, the Mytilene Photographic
Society offers its own perspective, insisting that art always begins with
observation—and ends with emotion. Participating photographers: Nagia Vaklatzi, Christina Varkaraki, Eirini
Verri, Giota Georgelli, Anna Delinikola, Maria Zagoraiou, Dimitris Ilias, Sofia
Kazamia, Giannis Karatzas, Giorgis Laskaris, Stella Lioliou, Venetia Lymperi,
Alexandros Mamounis, Stelios Mestousis, Michalis Bakas, Maria Bourou, Simos
Bourous, Terpos Papatheodorou, Spyros Pavlis, Giorgos Polychronis, Vasilis
Raistellis, Mariam Rekhviashvili, Babis Stylianidis, Kiki Tsakalaki, Christoforos
Chatzivasileiou, Stelios Chatzigiannis.