Chris Shaghal (real name Christos Tsakalos) was born in Patras (Greece).

 

​Photography, cinematography, film direction, Japanese bondage performing are his major paths of artistic expression.

 

As a kid he showed interest in Visual Arts, especially drawing.

 

He studied painting (1999-2002) and 3D animation (2002-3) in A.K.T.O. (Athens, Greece).

 

One year earlier (1998) he started experimenting with photography, using traditional analog methods. He turned fully digital in 2008.

 

In 2004, after having his studies completed, he moved back to his hometown and started working as a freelancer (graphic designer, illustrator and photographer) for various local companies.

 

That same year he held his first solo photo-exhibition.

 

In mid 2008, he shot his first short digital film. He allready had a brief experience with Super 8 film format back in 1993.

 

In early 2009, his second solo photo-exhibition was held, again in his native town.

 

During that Summer, he establishes the film label Last Moment Productions and moves to Athens by the end of the year.

 

​From mid 2010, until know, he works as a freelancer (photographer, cinematographer, assistant director) in various artistic projects (personal or others). 

 

In late 2011, together with his fetish-muse girlfriend Alice, he forms the Kinbaku / Shibari performance duo Rope Studies.

 

That same year, he establishes the fetish event label Harlekink. These are his side semi-professional projects.

 

Even though he has a variety of themes, a huge amount of his photographic work focuses on fetishism and Japanese style bondage (Kinbaku / Shibari) - note down the fact that he is an active member of the Greek BDSM community.

 

He frequently uses multiple aliases in his projects:

Chris Shaghal as a photographer, Rope Shadow as a rigger and his real name as a filmaker (director / cinematographer).

 

He considers Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki among his major influences.

 

This site is mainly focused on the artist's most recent photographic work.