"...this is what stigmes —moments— mean to me... every tear, every laugh, a trip with your friends, the kitchen in the village, the children at the port, the lady crossing the street hand in hand with her husband, coffee at 6 a.m., the wrinkles on a face from laughter, a glance, a hug with your mother, and if you lost her early, the neighbor might also know that feeling."
In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the small moments that make our days unique—a shared laugh, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, or the quiet stillness of a sunset. These fleeting instances, though seemingly ordinary, hold a special kind of magic. They ground us, connect us, and remind us of the beauty in the mundane.
Everyday moments often pass unnoticed, yet they are the threads that weave together the fabric of our lives. By pausing to appreciate these small, seemingly insignificant details, we open ourselves to a deeper sense of joy and gratitude. It’s in these moments—simple, unpolished, and genuine—that we often find life’s truest treasures.
During the quiet days of the second lockdown, Despina Petri turned to photography as a way to process her emotions and connect with the world around her. What started as a personal project evolved into the community of @stigmes_mas, a social media page dedicated to capturing and sharing the simple moments that make life meaningful.
Rooted in her love for Greece, Despina’s work highlights the beauty of everyday life—from the laughter-filled wrinkles on a familiar face, to the charm of a drink in a seaside village.
Through her lens and sharing the photos of the community she has built, Despina collects the essence of Greek life and culture, creating visual stories that resonate deeply with her followers. Her photos are not just snapshots but reflections of shared human experiences—joy, nostalgia, and connection. For Despina, these moments are an invitation to see the world through her eyes and celebrate the beauty of life’s small, meaningful details.
"My passion for photography defines and fulfills me. It’s not just about capturing an image... it’s about capturing moments that tell stories, express emotions, and share experiences that unite us all, even if we don’t realize it."
What does the Stigmes Mas collection mean to you, and how has it shaped your personal journey?
This page is and always will be the most significant step I’ve taken in my life without even realizing it. It’s not just about my professional path, but mostly about my growth as a person. My passion for photography defines and fulfills me. It’s not just about capturing an image... it’s about capturing moments that tell stories, express emotions, and share experiences that unite us all, even if we don’t realize it.
For me, this page is a way to collect life’s moments, capture them, and share them with others—friends and strangers alike. I believe that all people share common experiences and emotions, even if they live them at different times or in different ways. Our lives are filled with moments worth capturing and communicating because, in the end, it is these moments that bring us together.
"I have a deep love for Athens and Greece, a place that constantly inspires me with its rich culture and vibrant energy. The people of Greece, with their warmth, passion, and resilience, motivate me every day. Greek traditions, history, and the arts fuel my creativity."
What inspired you to share this collection of moments with the world trough social media?
It all started during the second lockdown. At that time, I felt like my life was on pause. Everything around me seemed to move slowly, as if time had stopped. I had so many emotions within me, such intensity, that I didn’t know how to express them.I fell in love during the pandemic, and as you can imagine, I was experiencing something unprecedented—both incredibly magical and terrifying at the same time. The need to share those moments and feelings became even stronger.
All this ultimately led me to create a page, a space where I could share my thoughts and emotions with the world. At first, it was just a pastime that relaxed and pleased me—it was just for me, as I only had my friends as followers. It was my way of expressing myself and communicating when everything else around me seemed to have stopped. It became a way to share what pleased me and what hurt me during that time, sitting in a living room by the fireplace with a little dog at my feet.
From that day to today, every photo I upload is connected to how I feel. They are not just pictures... they are pieces of my soul, moments I capture and hope, in some way, will resonate with others. Photography, poetry, and reading are my ways of expressing my inner state, showing joy, sadness, disappointment, and hope. I go through periods of melancholy or intense happiness, and those who know me can immediately understand this from the photos I post and the captions I write.
"Stigmes...moments... are everything... observing life through your own eyes and sharing it with those around you, allowing yourself to see a moment through someone else’s eyes."
What do you enjoy the most about collecting and sharing everyday moments through Stigmes Mas?
What fulfills me the most is receiving messages from people who tell me they feel exactly the same as I do.When I read that something I’ve posted made them feel less alone, or that a photo or excerpt I’ve shared brought them joy or a sense of recognition, I understand that what I’m doing has value. It’s a form of connection—a small moment of solidarity through an image—which I believe is precious, especially in today’s world.
Isn’t this a form of happiness? To give someone a smile, validation, or a sense that they’re not alone? To know that what they feel—whether sadness or joy—has been felt by others too? For me, this is the meaning of moments. Every photo is a gift to the world, an invitation to share experiences, to relate, to find common ground through our differences.
This is what "stigmes," moments mean to me—every tear, every laugh, a trip with your friends, the kitchen in the village, the children at the port, the lady crossing the street hand in hand with her husband, coffee at 6 a.m., the wrinkles on a face from laughter, a glance, a hug with your mother, and if you lost her early, the neighbor might also know that feeling.
That second that will never exist again exactly as it was—except in the photo I take—knowing that the feeling I’ll have every time I see or think of it will never change. Moments are everything... observing life through your own eyes and sharing it with those around you, allowing yourself to see a moment through someone else’s eyes.
"Moments are about sharing, and believe me, it’s wonderful to share! "
How does living in the city of Athens inspire your creativity?
I have a deep love for Athens and Greece, a place that constantly inspires me with its rich culture and vibrant energy. The people of Greece, with their warmth, passion, and resilience, motivate me every day. Greek traditions, history, and the arts fuel my creativity, and I find myself drawn to write about the beauty of this land and its people. Writing and reading poetry are some of my greatest passions, as they allow me to capture fleeting emotions and thoughts in words. I’ve also written three children’s books, each one a reflection of my love for storytelling and my desire to inspire young minds.
Traveling allows me to share my stories, discovering new places. One of my greatest joys is enjoying Greek food, comforting home-cooked meals that remind me of my grandmother. Another important part I want to share is that Serifos holds a special place in my heart, as my best friends come from this magical island, and it always feels like home when I visit... and that I owe everything to my lovely parents.
WORDS | Portes Magazine
IMAGES | Despina Petri