Special_Olympics_Athens_2011: "I'm in"

OR how to become a better person in 8 days!

"Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries. Alternating between summer and winter, the Special Olympics World Games are held every two years. Often the Games are the largest sporting event to take place in the World that year. There are also local, national and regional competitions in over 175 countries worldwide."

Undoubtedly, it was the greatest experience in my -23 years old- life! Not only i feel a better person, but i also met great people, great athletes and experienced really strong feelings. In the beginning, i had my doubts as i couldn't imagine how big those games would be, but in the end i realized why they call them "special olympics"; because when these athletes smile at you, they make you feel so "special"!!! 

The Sailing Academy at Schinia beach was a magnificent place that made us all feel like a big family on vacation! Moreover, i have to say a great "thank you" to Mr. Antonis & Mr. Yiannis Kefallonitis who were our supervisors and treated us impeccably. 


I feel as i have to say a lot, but, this time, i prefer to leave the photos talk by themselves! 

*An amazing spontaneous photo taken by Nikos Alevromytis_me & the Special Olympic Hellas athlete Paraskeui Bekiaridou who managed, along with her escort Rania Parousi, to win the gold medal! 

*Rania Parousi & Parakseui Bekiaridou (Level 1, 4.20).

*The most cute athlete Tasos Georgiou (Level 3, Laser Bahia) & his escort Makis Asvestaris.

*Me & the amazing "lover-boy"- athlete Hercules!!! (Level 3, Laser Bahia).

*The Markouizou sisters OR "the three volunteers" OR the most beautiful eyes in the whole venue!

*Giannis Kefallonitis._

*Special Olympic Hellas athlete Georgia Gkevezou (Level 1, 4.20) & her escort Stavroula.

*The Russian Special Olympic athlete with the great strength made us all talk about him!!! (Level 5, Laser).

*Olympic medalist Sofia Bekatorou & the "words are not enough to describe him" magnificent volunteer Nikolas! 

*Australian Special Olympics athlete and gold medal winner Belinda Hill (Level 3, Laser Bahia) & the volunteer Maria Papagrigoraki.

*Special Olympic Hellas athlete Giannis Misirlakis (Level 1, 4.20).

*Special Olympics team USA, "the dancers".

*Special Olympics Spain athlete Alfredo (Level 3, Laser Bahia) & the volunteer Maria Kataki.

*Nikolas, "the carrot-holder"!

*Volunteer and fashion persona MadDy MaddaLaki, wearing Lego earrings made by Marina_i bought a pair of orange Lego earrings too!_For those who are interested Marina promised me to create a facebook page for her creations and she is going to name it "chili" or "tsilli"_for more stay tuned!

*Special Olympic Hellas athlete Georgia Gkevezou (Level 1, 4.20) & my boyfriend and Sports Presentation Supervisor Aris Romaios.

*and last but not least: "the family", Eva_the mother, Nikolas_the father & the child_Bookie Vourlaki!!!

Guys it was a great opportunity and experience for me to meet you all and i hope to see you again!!!

Karma_Chameleon

"Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a prehensile tail, crests or horns on their distinctively shaped heads, and the ability of some to change color. Uniquely adapted for climbing and visual hunting, the approximately 160 species of chameleon range from Africa, Madagascar,Spain and Portugal, across south Asia, to Sri Lanka, have been introduced to Hawaii, California and Florida, and are found in warm habitats that vary from rain forest to desert conditions.


Some chameleon species are able to change their skin colors. The primary purpose of color change has been found to be due to social signalling, as opposed to camouflage, although both social signalling color change, and color change for purposes of camouflage do occur in most chameleons, to some extent. Color change is also used as an expression of the physiological condition of the lizard, and as a social indicator to other chameleons. Chameleons tend to show darker colors when angered, or attempting to scare or intimidate others, and males show lighter, multi-colored patterns when courting females."


My headpieces proved more than enough for the "I_Love_Macaroons" concept! So we decided to separate the shooting into two different editorials. We still have the same components, but a total different approach, where our "chameleon" changes skin in order to attract his "naked beauty desire".

Procedure: mutation

*The English word chameleon (also chamaeleon) derives from Latin chamaeleō, a borrowing of the Ancient Greek χαμαιλέων (khamailéōn), a compound of χαμαί (khamaí) "on the ground" and λέων (léōn) "lion"_the Greek word is a calque translating the Akkadian nēš qaqqari, "ground lion"_this particular headpiece was literally a last minute inspitation_the leggings are h&m and inside i put toilet paper tubes_gorgeous result, don't you agree? 

Changing_colours

*Different chameleon species are able to change different colors which can include pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise and purple. 

Ground_lion

*Kirsten's fabulous red hair were enough to cover her body and express her strong female character_the need for clothes was absent!

The_rose_queen

*In this part i have to say a great "thank you" to the amazing hairstylist Stella Tziolli, whose abilities and talent were and still are endless_Stella, it was a great opportunity to work with you and i hope to meet you again! 

credits:

styling & headpieces construction: maro_palamara

make-up: Define_make-up_team (DMUT)

hairstylist: stella_tziolli

models: spyros_droussiotis & kirsten_ciel_lauder @ vivianc

clothes: void_mode

photography: nykolas_andreou

I_Love_Macaroons

"A macaroon  is a type of light, baked confection, described as either small cakes or meringue-like cookies depending on their consistency. The original macaroon was a "small sweet cake consisting largely of ground almonds" similar to Italian or Moroccan amaretti.

The English word macaroon and French macaron come from the Italian maccarone or maccherone. This word is itself derived from ammaccare, meaning crush or beat, used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient.

Most recipes call for egg whites (usually whipped to stiff peaks), with ground or powdered nuts, generally almonds. Alternatively, coconuts can be used. Almost all call for sugar. Macaroons are sometimes baked on edible rice paper placed on a baking tray."

*In my opinion this is a brilliant way to use macaroons as a styling detail or exaggeration_but i do not think that the word "exaggeration" is something new to Lady Gaga, who perfectly suits and supports the whole concept on the above shooting for Harpeer's Bazaar magazine_personally, i am not a loyal Gaga fan, but i have to admit her in more than one ways (no reason to analyze that!)_moreover, i believe that the above photograph introduces perfectly our attempt to do something beyond the usual!

Corpse_bride

*I am a macaroon lover too_look how hormonally that particular headpiece suits to Spyros_here i have to say that Spyros Droussiotis is an amazing model-character-personality-photographer (i can say more!)_the actual inspration wasn't Lady Gaga; Bazaar's issue released after our shooting_the initial idea came from a music video which Nycolas Andreou found and proved enough to persuade all of us!

Plump_bisquit

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKR-iTrnw30

B_boy_be_my_baby!

*a matching couple, don't you think so?_i wish in my wedding to be able to wear a headpiece like these ones!_Define make up team (DMUT) supported perfectly the whole concept and created geometric shapes in vibrant colours!_it was my first time working with Stathis Kostikonas & Evi Anthrakidou and i have to say a great "thank you guys!"

Pure_white_plumps

*Instead of black & white, here we have blue & white_without loosing its balance this particular photograph gives the impression of purity along with a touch of clarity_if Jesus Christ was indeed a super-star in our days, he would be like this!

credits:

styling & headpieces construction: maro_palamara

make-up: Define_make-up_team (DMUT)

hairstylist: stella_tziolli

models: kirsten_ciel_lauder @ vivianc & spyros_droussiotis

photography: nykolas_andreou

clothes: void_mode