Manos was born on October 12, 1934 in Columbia, South Carolina, where his Greek parents ran a restaurant. He discovered photography at an early age. After earning a BA in English Literature from the University of South Carolina (1955) and completing his military service, he moved to New York to work as a photographer. He spent two years in Greece (1961–1963) before settling in Boston. In 1963, he became a member of the Magnum Agency. His work has been recognised with multiple exhibitions and awards, including the Leica Medal of Excellence in 2003. Manos lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts, with his husband, the architect and painter Michael Prodanou.
