History of Kerkini Photo Tours – From Wild Wetland to Photographic Icon

1. Introduction – From Birding Refuge to Photography Magnet

Long before photographers arrived, Lake Kerkini was already a legend among birdwatchers. The lake, a large artificial reservoir created in 1932 and expanded in the 1980s, lies along a major migratory flyway, hosting more than 300 bird species and becoming a paradise for anyone who loves birds.

For decades, birdwatchers came to admire species rarely seen elsewhere, but few envisioned that this quiet winter haunt would become one of the world’s premier photographic destinations for the iconic Dalmatian Pelican.

2. The First Photographers and Opportunistic Beginnings

In the early 2000s, a few photographers began visiting Kerkini as birdwatchers with cameras. The birds themselves played a role in this shift.

Local fishermen used to come to their huts with nets and take the fish out of the nets. They used to throw smaller, commercial-worthless fish back into the water, and pelicans, clever and opportunistic, gather around the boats to feed. Occasionally, visiting birdwatchers with cameras position themselves near these fishing huts, waiting for fish to be thrown so they could photograph the action under less-than-ideal conditions (often at the “wrong” time of day because the fishermen kept their own schedule).

One of the earliest photographers to bring attention to pelicans at Kerkini was Jari Peltomäki, whose striking images, including award recognition, showed pelicans in dramatic winter light and helped catch the eye of the international photography community.

Around the same time, photographers like Simone Sbaraglia documented the unusual bond between local fishermen and pelicans, noting how supplemental feeding contributed to pelicans’ apparent lack of fear around humans, a visual relationship that appealed to photographers seeking intimate shots.

3. The First Emerging Photo Tours — A Turning Point

By the late 2000s, photographers and guides began to realize that Kerkini’s potential went far beyond accidental shore shots. Organized trips centered on shooting from boats began to take shape.

One of the pivotal figures in this transition was Emil Enchev, a Bulgarian photographer and tour leader, who in 2008 brought groups to Kerkini, with his colleague Miroslav Slavchev, in collaboration with well-known photographers like Yves Adams. On one of these early excursions, they enlisted the help of local fishermen to take them onto the lake for better angles, but not without some adventure. The first fisherman they approached didn’t understand photographers’ obsession with morning light and sent them away. The next fisherman, Tomas, was enthusiastic and took them out in his wooden boat, which was so rudimentary that it leaked at the seams and had to be bailed continuously, yet Tomas never stopped smiling.

This kind of field improvisation became the foundation for what would evolve into true photographic expeditions.

4. The Birth of the Professional Photo Tour

Through these early collaborations, Tomas introduced the photographers to Nick Gallios, a local tour operator already running birdwatching trips at Kerkini . Nick had a more stable, spacious boat that could carry up to 7–8 photographers, a game changer.

Together, Nick and Tomas ran some of the first organized, purpose-built photo tours on Kerkini Lake. These trips were not just about watching birds; they were about photographing them from the right perspective, at the right time, with the right conditions.

Eventually, Tomas decided to return to fishing full-time. Nick, however, saw the opportunity clearly. Passionate about both photography and nature, he began refining the tours, balancing the need to ensure pelicans’ welfare with the creative needs of photographers. Over the years, Nick and his team pioneered what today is widely recognized as the structure of professional pelican photography tours at Kerkini.

5. Photographers, Recognition & Expansion

As photo tours became more regular, images from Kerkini began appearing in international competitions and publications. Some photographers captured pelicans in beautifully soft winter light; others produced award-winning frames that spread through social media and photography communities.

Around the same time (2016), photographers like Simone Sbaraglia documented the unusual bond between local fishermen and pelicans, noting how supplemental feeding contributed to pelicans’ apparent lack of fear around humans, a visual relationship that appealed to photographers seeking intimate shots.

This attention encouraged more operators to offer photography-focused tours, but Nick’s name remained prominent, not because he marketed aggressively, but because decades of consistent experience, local expertise, and respectful wildlife guiding built a reputation that others followed.

Today, Kerkini is regularly featured in wildlife photography circles as one of Europe’s most accessible and productive destinations for Dalmatian Pelicans in winter, with many photographers returning year after year.

6. Legacy and What It Means Today

What began with fishermen throwing fish and birdwatchers with cameras became a structured, respected photographic destination. The cooperative relationship between local communities, guides, and visiting photographers has helped preserve wildlife while offering unique visual storytelling opportunities.

Lake Kerkini is now not just a birding Mecca, but a testament to how passion, collaboration, and respect for nature can transform a place into something photographers around the world dream of visiting.