Description

Constantine Manos’ series, American Color, captures the vitality and bravado of the United States during the mid 1980s and early 1990s. But while they were taken in a particular country in a particular time, the photos also exist in their own timeless universe. Pictured here, Daytona Beach, Florida. 1997.

By choosing a precise intersection between subject and time, he may transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and the real into the surreal.

Constantine Manos
© Constantine Manos | Magnum Photos

Constantine Manos was born in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A., of Greek immigrant parents. His photographic career began in the school camera club at the age of thirteen, and within several years, he was a working professional. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in English Literature.

Upon completion of his military service, he moved to New York, where he worked for Esquire, LIFE, and Look. These projects were all shot in black and white and led toward his career-defining work in the isolated villages of Greece. And then it all changed, as Manos wilfully switched to colour, which resulted in two books – American Color and American Color 2.

© Constantine Manos | Magnum Photos

Get Magnum news and updates directly to your inbox

Stay in touch
Learn about online and offline exhibitions, photography fairs, gallery events, plus fine print news and activities, on a monthly basis.
Get fortnightly tips and advice articles, find out about the latest workshops, free online events and on-demand courses.
Stay up to date every Thursday with Magnum photographers’ activities, new work, stories published on the Magnum website, and the latest offerings from our shop.