A steward wearing a plastic visor stands in front of a Greek Orthodox priest as spectators take their seats at the ancient theater of Epidaurus in southern Greece, July 17, 2020.
AP Photo / Petros Giannakouris
Athens staff photographer Petros Giannakouris and reporter Derek Gatopoulos delivered a visually stunning photo gallery and accompanying story on the reopening of ancient Greek amphitheaters for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown. Initially this was an assignment intended to produce a couple of stand-alone feature photos, but Giannakouris was so taken by the visual potential that he decided to cover the reopening of another ancient theater, joined by Gatopoulos. The combination of striking images and complementary text elevated the package, which received prominent global play online.
A steward wearing a plastic visor stands at a gate of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, July 15, 2020, as Greece’s culture ministry allowed the ancient theaters of Epidaurus in southern Greece and Herodes Atticus in Athens to reopen following lockdown.
AP Photo / Petros Giannakouris