Tweet
GCC TRUSTEE PUBLISHES PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY OF ARMENIA
Glendale News Press, CA
July 12 2014
By Brittany Levine, [email protected]
July 11, 2014 | 4:50 p.m.
Although Vahe Peroomian was born in California, he has always felt a
connection to the landscape of his ancestral homeland: Armenia. That
link, and his many visits to the country, inspired him to publish
"A Photographic Journey of My Homeland, Armenia," which includes
hundreds of photographs the space scientist and Glendale Community
College trustee took during 90 days in Armenia between 2004 to 2011.
Peroomian is scheduled to discuss his 226-page book at Abril Bookstore,
415 E. Broadway, on July 17 at 8 p.m.
Q: What did you learn about Armenia through photographing the people
and places within the country that you didn't know before?
People love to tell stories in Armenia, and this is what I feel
enriched [me] the most. I've retold some of the stories and sayings
in my book, as even a simple joke often gave more insight into the
psyche of my compatriots as any photograph I took.
During most of my trips I was accompanied and guided by [a friend],
Stepan Nalbandian, who is not only knowledgeable about the countryside,
but is also passionate about protecting its ancient monuments. Together
we visited many locations off the beaten path and of the radar of tour
companies. More than once, he picked me up in the morning, and the
first words out of his mouth were, "you'll see wonders today..." He
was right every single time. The idyllic church in Ardvi, the valley
in which Hnevank Monastery is nestled, the alpine highlands of Selim
pass and the old road to Jermuk, lined with crystalline basalt cliffs
rivaling Devil's Postpile National Monument [in Mammoth Lakes], are
just a few. What I came to realize, though, was that photographing
Armenia is going to be a lifelong journey.
Q: Did you learn anything new about yourself in the process?
I've had cameras since I was very young, and photography has always
been a hobby for me. But what my trips to Armenia in 2003 and the
connection I felt with the landscape did were to ignite a passion for
photography in me, one that has not only led to this book, but also
to numerous exhibitions of my work. I also realized how necessary
it was for me, as a physicist, to balance the scientific side of my
life with the artistic side that photography provides. Years ago, I
promised myself to take time to view the sunrise or sunset at least
once a month, and doing this while capturing the shifting light on
the landscape is even more satisfying than I ever thought.
Q: In the book, you include photos of ancient sites, churches,
monuments, presidential elections, commemorations of the Armenian
Genocide, and the unveiling of a millennial church discovered in the
forests of Karabakh, what was your favorite moment you were able to
capture with your lens?
I'd have to say that the entire trip to unveil the millennial church
in Nagorno-Karabakh was one of the most incredible experiences of
my life: The incredibly arduous roads that took us to the remote
village of Haytagh, the trek in the stifling summer heat to the
church, the discovery of an ancient cemetery strewn with khatchkars
(stones carved with crosses), my first glimpse of the church, and the
stories told by my companions on the expedition and by the denizens
of Haytagh during the trip.
The most photographically satisfying moment came in 2006, when I
visited Haghartsin at 5 a.m. in the morning and waited for the first
light of day to illuminate the monastery. The golden light I captured
lasted less than 30 seconds, but it left an indelible impression.
Q: Lastly, anything else you wanted to add that I didn't ask you about?
One of the photography techniques that I've used extensively in Armenia
and featured in my book is black-and-white infrared photography. I've
had a camera converted specifically for this purpose, and all of
the black-and-white photos in the last several chapters of the book
are from my infrared camera....Leaves and grass appear snow white,
and there is a lot more contrast in these photos....
Infrared photography is one of the ways that I express my vision of
the Armenian landscape, a vision that is driven by the juxtaposition
of ancient structures with the landscape, and the oft-forgotten
importance of light and its texture in photography.
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/tn-gnp-me-0712-gcc-trustee-publishes-photographic-journey-of-armenia-20140711,0,7972942.story
Glendale News Press, CA
July 12 2014
By Brittany Levine, [email protected]
July 11, 2014 | 4:50 p.m.
Although Vahe Peroomian was born in California, he has always felt a
connection to the landscape of his ancestral homeland: Armenia. That
link, and his many visits to the country, inspired him to publish
"A Photographic Journey of My Homeland, Armenia," which includes
hundreds of photographs the space scientist and Glendale Community
College trustee took during 90 days in Armenia between 2004 to 2011.
Peroomian is scheduled to discuss his 226-page book at Abril Bookstore,
415 E. Broadway, on July 17 at 8 p.m.
Q: What did you learn about Armenia through photographing the people
and places within the country that you didn't know before?
People love to tell stories in Armenia, and this is what I feel
enriched [me] the most. I've retold some of the stories and sayings
in my book, as even a simple joke often gave more insight into the
psyche of my compatriots as any photograph I took.
During most of my trips I was accompanied and guided by [a friend],
Stepan Nalbandian, who is not only knowledgeable about the countryside,
but is also passionate about protecting its ancient monuments. Together
we visited many locations off the beaten path and of the radar of tour
companies. More than once, he picked me up in the morning, and the
first words out of his mouth were, "you'll see wonders today..." He
was right every single time. The idyllic church in Ardvi, the valley
in which Hnevank Monastery is nestled, the alpine highlands of Selim
pass and the old road to Jermuk, lined with crystalline basalt cliffs
rivaling Devil's Postpile National Monument [in Mammoth Lakes], are
just a few. What I came to realize, though, was that photographing
Armenia is going to be a lifelong journey.
Q: Did you learn anything new about yourself in the process?
I've had cameras since I was very young, and photography has always
been a hobby for me. But what my trips to Armenia in 2003 and the
connection I felt with the landscape did were to ignite a passion for
photography in me, one that has not only led to this book, but also
to numerous exhibitions of my work. I also realized how necessary
it was for me, as a physicist, to balance the scientific side of my
life with the artistic side that photography provides. Years ago, I
promised myself to take time to view the sunrise or sunset at least
once a month, and doing this while capturing the shifting light on
the landscape is even more satisfying than I ever thought.
Q: In the book, you include photos of ancient sites, churches,
monuments, presidential elections, commemorations of the Armenian
Genocide, and the unveiling of a millennial church discovered in the
forests of Karabakh, what was your favorite moment you were able to
capture with your lens?
I'd have to say that the entire trip to unveil the millennial church
in Nagorno-Karabakh was one of the most incredible experiences of
my life: The incredibly arduous roads that took us to the remote
village of Haytagh, the trek in the stifling summer heat to the
church, the discovery of an ancient cemetery strewn with khatchkars
(stones carved with crosses), my first glimpse of the church, and the
stories told by my companions on the expedition and by the denizens
of Haytagh during the trip.
The most photographically satisfying moment came in 2006, when I
visited Haghartsin at 5 a.m. in the morning and waited for the first
light of day to illuminate the monastery. The golden light I captured
lasted less than 30 seconds, but it left an indelible impression.
Q: Lastly, anything else you wanted to add that I didn't ask you about?
One of the photography techniques that I've used extensively in Armenia
and featured in my book is black-and-white infrared photography. I've
had a camera converted specifically for this purpose, and all of
the black-and-white photos in the last several chapters of the book
are from my infrared camera....Leaves and grass appear snow white,
and there is a lot more contrast in these photos....
Infrared photography is one of the ways that I express my vision of
the Armenian landscape, a vision that is driven by the juxtaposition
of ancient structures with the landscape, and the oft-forgotten
importance of light and its texture in photography.
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/tn-gnp-me-0712-gcc-trustee-publishes-photographic-journey-of-armenia-20140711,0,7972942.story