Gouves, Laconia, Greece, Nov. 2024

The sun shines warmly on the concrete square. I’m not sure whether I can get into this olive press with my camera. My friend gets out of the car and tells me to follow him. Nobody seems particularly interested in me, which I think is ideal for a reportage. The first employee walks by with a cigarette in his mouth and greets us with a casual “Gia.” We enter the building and receive a warm welcome from the owner, who patiently explains each station and gives me plenty of time to absorb all the impressions. I switch to my 50 mm lens and start shooting. The sounds, the people, the scents — within seconds, I’m fully immersed. I can hardly believe where my job has taken me once again and the exciting experiences I’ve been able to have…