YEREVAN, 13 MARCH, ARMENPRESS: Photography is a daily exercise; you should always be in good shape. By chasing a shot, you can be in the role of person who is in front of you. “Armenpress” represents “the story of a photographer” of Nazik Armenakyan, who is paved way for the women photographers."

Being woman helped, but also additional difficulties were created in the beginning of photographer's career

“The photography unexpectedly has become a profession for me, because I was learning designing clothes, and I wanted a lot to become a fashion designer, and till today I am very interested in fashion. Then my father presented to me a camera, I was doing portraits of neighbors, friends, every day I was capturing photos. At that time I was picturing by film and it was interesting for me how the photo was coming out from that uncertainty. Then it became a turning point.”

I was married. First we lived in Tbilisi but later we returned to Yerevan. One of my neighbors told me, “You know I have heard an announcement that a studio is seeking for a female photographer”. I decided to go and try mu luck. There were 10-15 girls there, but the photographer chose me. I started to work at the studio, where I spent nearly one year. Later Zaven Khachikyan visited “Armenpress” (I had taken a photographer’s course at him before) and offered me to work there. I hesitated but finally agreed. It was a very hard period and at the same time very active. It was a real school from any perspective.

I felt that I am a news and studio photographer

At the same time I felt that I want something else. Photography is very diverse and has numerous categories and I was thinking what I can say in photography. The Caucasus Institute organized photojournalism courses and I was among the graduates of the first pilot course. We were assigned to do some works during the classes and it happened so that I encountered an Armenian Genocide survival, a hundred-year old woman. I went to her house. My task was to demonstrate relations and I displayed her relations with time and her past through a photo. The photo was published in many places and was quite a success. I could feel that it had an impact on people. I do not know why, but it came to my mind to look for such people and take their photos.

I have much to discover in my country

Everything must be photographed and documented. The problem is how, why, when and where? I am interested in Armenia itself, with its problems, people and everything. I feel that I have much to discover in my country. I always avoid becoming a social worker. As soon as you extend your hand, try to help people and become an activist, you lose your potential of being a photographer, as people no longer take you for someone whose job is to photograph you. But anyway, the power of photography is to bring change and I get very happy when my works result in a change.

Nazik Armenakyan’s golden rule while photographing

No matter how interesting situation I encounter, I never photograph it unless the person does not want it. It’s a golden rule for me, as I can appear in the place of that person. It is a different thing when you reach an agreement with that person. There are situations when you have to mourn with that person, cry and not think of photographing. I have lived such moments in my life with other people that are more valuable for me than just taking a photo from some corners.

I love when the moment of photographing matures

I can remember very well how we once went to Tbilisi with “Yerevan” monthly to take an interview from painter Gayane Khachatryan. We went to her house and she agreed to give an interview and I told that I am a photographer. She said “no, never, no photography”. And I was thinking what to do, how to photograph her, we have covered such a long distance. It was getting darker and she said “I have no one to have my light bulb changed”, and I said that I can do it. I did it and asked her to show us her family album. I saw her photo with Parajanov. We talked a little. The conversation was very friendly. She looked at me and said, “You remind me of someone”. She left the room and returned dressed in other clothes. She stopped near a canvas and said, “You can do it”. I understood what she meant. It was a signal for me. I was not ready at that moment, but instantly prepared myself and took 2 or three photos because she did not give me more time. But you can find so much in those few photos. Nothing is impossible if you do a consistent and right work. I live with my work and photos.

Ani Nazaryan