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| A fall day in Yeghegnadzor, Armenia |
As I started packing for my two plus years in Armenia, I looked down at the mess on the floor and wondered how I was going to carry enough for my stay. Something had to go. Many things had to go. The mammoth Minolta camera I bought more than twenty years ago and its accompanying lenses were primed for the list of things to leave behind. But how could I go to Armenia for 2 years without a camera? Just as the decision making process was beginning to seem overwhelming, a friend stopped by and placed in my hand a small digital camera. I was so glad to have it, but I doubted that I would be able to produce photographs of anywhere near the same quality as I would have with my ancient film camera. Well, I was wrong.
Encouraged by my friends at home and inspired by the amazing Armenian landscape and seemingly never-ending light show, I have taken hundreds of photos. I must admit that many of my best pictures were taken from my balcony or kitchen window. Sometimes, I am almost embarrassed that the pictures that I share with my friends and family were taken when I happened to wander out on my balcony. But in the end, why should I be? These views from my little studio apartment have made my stay here unforgettable. The Armenian landscape never disappoints, no matter what the season or time of day. I hope you will forgive my amateur enthusiasm and enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed watching them unfold.
The following pictures were taken from my balcony which faces north east:
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I happened on this double rainbow quite by accident. I got up to go into the kitchen and was dazzled by the extremely bright light coming in through the balcony door. When I stepped outside to investigate, I saw in front of me a complete double rainbow, surrounded by dark clouds on either side and an intensely bright light in the center. It lasted just a few minutes, but it was enough time for me to get camera. |
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The unusually snowy winter kept me indoors much of the time, but it gave me plenty of opportunities to conduct a seasonal study of the view from balcony. |
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After weeks of snow, this was my first sunrise. It was worth the wait.  The following pictures were taken from my kitchen window which faces south east.  This is my mountain, I have taken too many pictures of it to share. These are a few of my favorites. This one was taken at sunrise.  This picture was taken during a wicked storm. I've always loved storms, but the play of light is unlike anything I've seen anywhere else.     There is pleasure in ordinary things too. On a sunny morning, the neighbors hung out their laundry to dry. The clothes promptly froze solid. Rebecca is an American Peace Corps volunteer who lives and works in Vayots Dzor marz. The views and opinions expressed are hers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Peace Corps. Read more posts from Rebecca: |
