After a tragic 1988 earthquake in Armenia, I discovered the importance of photography as an art form and method of documentation. I had recently returned to Moscow after a tour through Armenia, were I fell in love with the history, craftsmanship, art, gorgeous cities and landscapes of this ancient land. During the tour, I was too busy and excited to explore and too young to understand the importance of documenting the places and events I saw. After that earthquake, I comprehended that I would never be able to tell the story of that trip in pictures because the historical masterpieces were lost forever. Since then, I always carry my camera, which I call “my third hand.”
The photo “A Kiss of Sunshine” won Third Place at the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) Annual Photography Contest 2013, Maryland. In the photo is my daughter Victoria. I took this photo in Milton M. Kaufmann Park on April 10, 2013.
“A Kiss of Sunshine” photograph and artist statement were published on page 25 in Digital Art and Photography 2014 Special Online issue of Art & Beyond Magazine. http://www.artandbeyondpublications.com/online_mag/2014/04/2014-special-issues/
“Local artist takes winning photograph in county contest”, Montgomery Village News; Friday, November 1, 2013, page 22.
http://www.montgomeryvillage.com/ResourceCenter/DocViewer/11912?doc_filename=mvn+11-1-13+web.pdf&doc_id=1291120&print=1
Artists Speak. Natalya B. Parris: 'A Kiss of Sunshine' http://arttistsspeak.blogspot.com/2013/10/natalya-b-parris-kiss-of-sunshine.html
Artist Statement by Natalya B. Parris
This park is my favorite place for walk and run. I took a walk there and saw magnificent blooming trees. I went home to take my camera and my daughter Victoria wanted to go with me for a photo shoot. She asked me to teach her how to be a fashion model. I explained to her that being a model requires a lot of hard work before you see a beautiful photo. While we were working on taking her photos with Saucer Magnolia blooms, I noticed how beautifully the bark of the tree matches the color of her hair. The ray of sunset sun touched her face and here it was that magical moment when the sunshine kissed her eye in a shape of a heart and changed color of her green eye to golden. It was like a sun whisper, “Good night sweet girl. I will shine for you tomorrow.” I am happy I captured that moment. It will forever remind me about my special bond with my daughter.
It is not my first award at the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) Annual Photography Contest. My photograph “Butterfly Named Victoria” won Second Place in category Montgomery County, Her People – Color at 12th Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) Annual Photography Contest 2003. In that photograph was also my daughter Victoria then three years old. So this 2013 KMCB award is kind of 10th Anniversary award also.