TUCKED away in a corner of Nicosia’s Ledra Street, barely noticeable, is a shop. A photography shop at the beginning of the pedestrian street that hides a fascinating story dating back more than a century.
A few days ago, a former colleague came by to say goodbye as he was leaving Cyprus for the UK. As he was describing the general chaos of his life, he mentioned the tiny shop where he had obtained his passport photographs.
This is the story of a family of photographers that started four generations ago and has been going for more than a hundred years from father to son.
The photography shop, called Photo Pambos, is currently being run by the fourth in the line, son, grandson and great-grandson Charalambos A. Mavromatis, with the regular help of his father.
Very friendly and proud of his heritage, Charalambos was keen to relay the story of his ancestors. Saddened by the recent death of his granddad, also called Charalambos, the warmth and love he felt for him was evident in every word he said. And as he spoke it became clear why.
Heracles Mavromatis, born in 1890, had a passion for photography. He used to travel from Nicosia, on his bicycle, to as far as Larnaca taking photographs and selling them at fairs and festivals. He mainly specialised in wedding photos and parties.
When his son, Charalambos H. Mavromatis, was born in 1924. It was evident from a young age that he too shared his father’s passion for photography. Absorbing as much information as possible from his father, Charalambos H. started at the age of 22 working at a photography shop called Photo Athinaiko, also situated on Ledra Street.
After working there for a few years he realised he had the necessary knowledge and experience to start his own business and so in 1950 Photo Pambos was born.
Ledra Street was very different then. Apart from the obvious change in buildings and roads, the people were very different as well. Charalambos H. would tell his grandson stories of how much simpler life had been back then.
“My granddad would tell me about how people were so much more relaxed back then. There was none of the oddity and confusion that exists today.”
Apart from weddings and other events, Charalambos H. was a talented studio photographer and many people and couples would have their portraits taken by him.
Feeling the need to add colour and life to his photos, he started painting black and white images with paintbrushes and pencils. And this is something he carried on doing until recently, before he died. His grandson Charalambos A. says people were always coming to the shop looking for his grandfather.
“People with old photographs, taken by him decades ago, would come into the shop and ask him to add colour to them. He was still working at the age of 80 because he loved photography. People have great admiration for him and I’m very proud to be his grandson.”
Antonis C. Mavromatis, born in 1953, followed in his father’s footsteps and went on to become one of the most well-known studio photographers of the 80s in Cyprus. Working with his father, they used to specialise in weddings and christenings.
Charalambos H. guided his son and taught him how he should be within his work in order to carry on the family tradition. Most important was the personal relationship that should be had with the customers. Something he also taught his grandson.
Finally, fourth in generation, Charalambos A. Mavromatis, 26, took over the family business after studying at the Leica Academy in Greece for a year. Obtaining the theoretical and practical knowledge he needed and with the guidance of his father and grandfather, Charalambos felt ready to carry on his family legacy.
There were moments, as he was growing up, when he felt he wanted to become something else and he says there was no pressure on him.
“I went through phases of wanting to become a lawyer or an architect but photography was always my great love. Wherever I went I would carry a camera with me. One photograph says a thousand words.”
As he sees his work progressing, Charalambos is proud that he has followed in the talented footsteps of his ancestors.
“Photography has taught me so much,” he says with genuine enthusiasm before adding with a grin: “and I believe there will definitely be a fifth generation! Though I’m not the kind of person who would tell my children to become photographers. I’ll leave it up to them, if they have the same love for photography that I have.”
