Old couple in Poros, 2023, shot on iPhone XR. Photograph: Amit Lennon View image in fullscreen Old couple in Poros, 2023, shot on iPhone XR. Photograph: Amit Lennon Smart shot Photography ‘It felt like an eternal moment of silent tranquillity’: Amit Lennon’s best phone picture On holiday in Greece the photographer came across two elderly people bathed in the beautiful evening light
Prefer the Guardian on Google A mit Lennon describes his approach to portrait photography as “always respectful and collaborative”. Originally from Israel but now living in London, Lennon was holidaying in Greece in 2023 when he took this image of an elderly couple.
Read more “I’d been for a swim in the sea, then ambled through the outskirts of Poros town, looking for a restaurant for dinner that evening,” Lennon says. It was late afternoon when he happened upon the couple. He tried to strike up a conversation, but they only spoke Greek. As Lennon did not, “the interaction became entirely nonverbal”, he says. “I play-acted that I wanted to take their photo and whether that would be OK. I’m not interested in taking a photo without someone noticing. I prefer to make a connection, however fleeting,” he says.
The pair nodded and sat up more proudly in their chairs, looking towards Lennon’s iPhone XR. “It felt like an eternal moment, as if this was their regular routine. I liked the moment of silent tranquillity, the beauty of the light and colours. It also echoed something that my own older relatives in Israel might do. I thanked them with hand gestures and went on my way.”
“Maybe I left them feeling confused that someone had wanted to take their photo,” Lennon adds. “Or maybe they were happy someone had noticed their peace.”