Photojournalist for the world-famous National Geographic magazine, John Stanmeyer, delivered an informative lecture at the Armenian General Benevolent Union, on March 18. Stanmeyer who has started his career of already more than 20 years at the high school by compiling a yearbook of photographs told about his travelling in detail, what he has seen, felt and experienced, which he tells the viewers with the help of his photographic device. With his friend Paul, he has made a seven-year journey trying to find the cradle of mankind and taking photos of the history of mankind and its traces behind. Paul who has also attended the lecture is continuing the journey now.
Telling about this initiative, John also noted that his mother was imposed to deportation, a Holocaust survivor, which made him closer to the Armenian nation, in his words, he understands the pain that our people have and are experiencing. “Interestingly, earlier, we were leaving footprints, things and sometimes corpses on the way. But today, our traces are plastic bags,” said Stanmeyer, pointing to one of his photographs which depicted a dried up tree covered all over with bags. The renowned photographer, as an exception, showed yet unpublished photographs from the series of “Out of Eden” where you can see Armenia and Turkey. He told that he is very excited about the history of our peoples.
On working on the series of this theme, he was greatly impressed by a ruined bridge connecting Armenia to Turkey and a warehouse near the railroad that had served to transport cargo between the two countries. On of the two pigeons posted on its gate was detached. “I dream seeing this bridge repaired and the detached pigeon in its place again,” said the artist with excitement. John Stanmeyer is in Armenia for the second time. He said that he is fascinated by our nature and the city of Gyumri. “Gyumri is one of the unique treasures of Armenia. There are so many things here to photograph, the culture of this town is so rich and the people have interesting stories different from each other to tell. All this wealth is yours. Show the world what you have.
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No expensive photographing devices are necessary for this, I often take a photo or record short films by my phone” says the American photographer. Thousands of people suffering from malaria, a widespread famine expressed in many countries, people “hunting” for a connection on mobile under the full moon, who want to speak to their relatives living in another continent, 5000-population living on the slopes of the hottest volcanic mountains in Indonesia, wealthy Muslims who live like Bedouins for several weeks as a vow: he has learned a lot from the multi-color world found in his photos.
He said that every time he appears in a new desperation, but a stranger’s smile or the beauty of nature again inspires him and calls to life again. “It does not matter where we were born, where we live, and where our roots are stretched. We all once have been in one locality and no matter which corner we are, we are inhabitants of the same planet and taking care of each other, we have to care for the planet,” with these words he wrapped up his lecture, welcomed the young people who initiative this and urged them never to give up because, according to him, not giving up is the greatest challenge on the way to create something massive, permanent and doing good.
Shushan GALSTYAN
