Born in Columbia, South Carolina, of Greek immigrant parents, Constantine Manos’ photographic career began in the school camera club at the age of thirteen. Within several years he was a working professional. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in English Literature. At the age of nineteen, he was hired as the official photographer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and published a book on the subject.

Later, having spent 2 years in Greece, Manos published the book A Greek Portfolio, which won him awards at Arles and the Leipzig Book Fair.

Returning from Greece, Manos settled in Boston and completed many assignments for Time-Life books. He was principal photographer for their book on Athens. Manos joined Magnum in 1963.

Work from Manos’ ongoing color project first appeared in his book American Color, published in 1995. He is currently working on a new edition of this book, with additional new images. A new edition of his book A Greek Portfolio was published in 1999, accompanied by a major exhibition at the Benaki Museum in Athens. Manos was awarded the Leica Medal of Excellence in 2003 for his new colour work in his continuing American Color series.

See Constantine Manos’ photographs looking at climate change and economy.