The world of photography mourns the loss of Constantine “Costa” Manos, a legendary Magnum photographer whose work shaped the documentary genre. Manos passed away on January 2, 2025, at the age of 90, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Born in 1934 in Columbia, South Carolina, to Greek immigrant parents, Manos discovered photography at the age of 13. By his late teens, he was already working as a professional photographer for a local newspaper, marking the beginning of a career that would span over seven decades.
Manos’s early work was deeply influenced by his Southern upbringing and a passion for social justice. As a student at the University of South Carolina, he captured the lives of the Gullah Geechee community on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, producing poignant images that highlighted their unique culture and resilience. Alongside these photographs, Manos wrote anti-segregation editorials, making an early mark as both an artist and an advocate for equity.
His Greek heritage profoundly influenced his perspective and work. In the 1960s, a grant allowed him to spend three years in Greece, documenting rural life with stunning sensitivity. The result was A Greek Portfolio, published in 1972, which earned international acclaim and won awards at the Arles and Leipzig book fairs. The images were later exhibited in renowned institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
Manos became a member of Magnum Photos in 1963 and a full member two years later. Throughout his career, his photographs conveyed an extraordinary ability to capture the poetry of everyday life. His book American Color (1995) and its sequel, American Color 2 (2010), showcased vibrant, often whimsical moments of American culture, earning him the Leica Medal of Excellence in 2003.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Manos was a trailblazer in representation. As Magnum’s first openly gay photographer, he documented pivotal LGBTQ+ milestones, including the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights in 1993 and the first legal same-sex marriages in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in 2004.
Manos’s work is preserved in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Library of Congress, and other prestigious institutions. In 2022, he was honored with Greece’s Knight of the Order of the Phoenix, recognizing his contributions to both the arts and the international prestige of Greek culture.
Manos is survived by his husband of 61 years, Michael Prodanou, as well as his siblings and extended family. His photographs, marked by humanity, lyricism, and an unerring eye for detail, remain a testament to his unparalleled vision and commitment to storytelling.
