The Best of the Greek Isles

Strewn like a brilliant constellation across a sea of deepest blue, the Greek Isles capture the essence of light and place. Crete, Santorini and Mykonos—three of the most iconic Aegean islands—are renowned for the beauty of their expansive seascapes, labyrinthine whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches and soaring windmills and glorious sunsets. For over 7,000 years, mythology and history have shaped these islands—along their beautiful shores the legendary Odysseus once sailed.

Nestled between the Greek and Turkish mainland, the Greek Isles are a crossroads of empires; a maritime nexus between Europe and Asia promoting a broad exchange of goods, religion, art, science and music. For photographers, these sun-drenched jewels provide an endless burst of visual inspiration.

On Crete, the southernmost island, we explore history-rich Chania on foot as we catch the changing light that accentuates the architecture of charming watercolor-hued Venetian and Turkish buildings and the celebrated Old Harbor—considered the most photogenic harbor in all of Greece. Here, colorful doorways and windows, shops and restaurants, and a dramatically-sited lighthouse feature among our photography subjects.

We explore the port city of Rethimnon, a rival to Chania in its historic beauty. Venetian and Turkish houses line a labyrinth of alleys while ancient minarets punctuate the sky. A well-preserved Venetian fortress protected the harbor from pirate raids of long ago.

In the Cyclades archipelago, the sea cliff villages and sweeping vistas of volcanic Santorini beckon. Here, the shining city of Fira is renowned for its whitewashed buildings clinging tenaciously to the sheer cliffs on the caldera edge. Further north, Oia, the most picturesque location on the island, is situated on the highest point of the 1,000-foot caldera. Oia captures light in all directions—from the golden early morning sun highlighting textures of buildings and stone to the last rays of sunset, the clear bold light and wide horizons provoke dramatic images.

As we approach the island of Mykonos, we are greeted by a prominent string of white circular windmills, topped by peaked thatched roofs, high on a plateau rising out of the sea. Mykonos Town is a photographer’s theme park. Dazzlingly white classic cubist-like houses are set amid a tangled maze of narrow lanes paved with cobblestone. Photogenic wooden doors and railings painted in vibrant primary colors highlight the architecture. Colorful fishing boats are reflected in the mirrored water of its sparkling harbor. In Little Venice, a graceful curve of buildings rises seemingly from the sea, while their colorfully-painted wooden balconies perilously overhang the water.

There is time to discover a broad sampling of tasty Greek dishes and enjoy our conveniently-located accommodations situated within relatively easy walking distance of many of the diverse photo subjects that we enjoy each day. Join Darrell Gulin and Adam Jones “on location” in the Greek Isles—a place teeming with engaging and highly photogenic inhabitants—where rich saturated colors, striking architectural details and endless blue horizons are bathed in the warm light of the infinite Mediterranean sky.