The Karabagh conflict and its consequences
Armineh Johannes | Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia
Photographer: Armineh Johannes
Exhibit Title: The Karabagh conflict and its consequences
Location: Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia
My photography work on Armenia and N. Karabagh represents 30 years of work.
In 1989, one year after the devastating earthquake in Armenia, I traveled to the land of my ancestors for the first time. That visit was deeply emotional and marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to documenting Armenian life and culture.
Later that same year, I traveled to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and covered the first Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I was among the few photojournalists to reach the village of Getashen and other parts of the Shahoumyan region shortly before Operation Ring in 1991.
I was born in Tehran, Iran, to Armenian parents. After completing my high school education, I moved to England, where I obtained a Journalism Diploma. I later continued my studies at the University of Aix-Marseille in France, earning a B.A. in History and a B.A. in English.
During the Iranian Revolution (1979–1980), I worked as a reporter in Tehran, collaborating with CBS Television, ABC Television, the Daily Telegraph, Die Zeit, and UPITN. At the same time, together with four colleagues, I co-founded the Tehran Times daily newspaper, where I worked as a journalist until the authorities took over the paper in late 1980.
My career in photography began in 1986 with an assignment in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. Since then, my work has focused largely on the Middle East and former Soviet Union countries. In 1989, one year after the devastating earthquake in Armenia, I traveled to the land of my ancestors for the first time. That visit was deeply emotional and marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to documenting Armenian life and culture.
Later that same year, I traveled to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and covered the first Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I was among the few photojournalists to reach the village of Getashen and other parts of the Shahoumyan region shortly before Operation Ring in 1991. For decades since, I have returned regularly to Armenia and Artsakh, chronicling the resilience, traditions, and daily lives of Armenians.
My documentary photo stories have been widely published in international outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Le Monde, Libération, L’Express, UN Multimedia, Marie Claire, Asahi Graph, and many others. In February 1990, Le Monde dedicated a full page to my work.
In 1997, I decided to live in Armenia for a year in order to immerse myself in its culture, traditions, and way of life. That year remains one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Over the past three decades, I have continued to document Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh, the Middle East, and across the diaspora, as well as working on feature stories in countries such as Iran, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, the UAE, France, the UK, the U.S., Italy, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia.
I believe the most powerful photographs come from a genuine connection with the subject. That connection allows emotions to surface in the images, making them more authentic and human. I love people and find great joy in capturing the essence of everyday life. Three times in my career, I was so moved while photographing that I cried—and each of those moments happened in Armenia.
My work in Armenia and Artsakh remains the most profound and heartfelt of my career.
Photography Book on Armenia and Artsakh: https://foureyeseditions.shop/products/we-are-our-mountains?variant=51855287648599
I have won the following prizes:
-1st Prize of the Galerie d’Essai (International Meetings of Photography) in Arles, France;
-1st Prize of CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Organization) photo competition- USA
-1st Prize, of AFFMA (ARPA Foundation for Film, Music & Art) USA.
-2nd Grand Prix Care International of humanitarian reporting: for my work on the Orphanages of Armenia.
-One of the winners of “All About Photo.com” 2024 competition – “Karabagh/Artsakh – conflict
-A winner of EPEX 2024- Black & White Photography- Jury Special Prize: Shepherd in Armenia. https://www.competaphotodays.com/blog/black-amp-white-epex-winners
-1st place winner in ND Awards 2024- 1st Place in Editorial Photo Essay / Story category: N.Karabagh - https://ndawards.net/winners-gallery/nd-awards-2024/professional/photo-essay-story/1111/gold-award/
-PX3 Curator Selection Winner -state of the World 2024: The Karabakh conflict
-3d place winner in Monochrome awards
-Winner of 6th Chelsea International Photography competition in New York (with an exhibition in 2025) https://agora-gallery.com/ag-exhibitions/the-6th-chelsea-international-photography-competition-february-18-february-25-2025/artist/armineh-johannes/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1K6e9K9PH7FVIEYHxLYj7P4b_DHHnoqGGS5izwJlIYDiTM_X3x_mit6q0_aem_SmD2ijkfp5ED8NTN_FQuPA
-1st winner (gold medal) WMPO Awards – photojournalism -2025
https://www.photography-masters.org/winners-photojournalismus
My exhibitions:
1987- Rencontres Int.’l de la photographie – Arles, group exhibition
1988- Associacao Cultural de Fotographia e Cinema de Braga, Portugal, group exhibition
1990 Armenian Cultural Center in Paris- solo exhibition on Armenia
1991 At the newspaper "Le Monde" in Paris – solo exhibition on Armenia
1991 Sahag Mesrop Cultural Center in Marseille, solo exhibition on Armenia
1992 FNAC - "Snapshots" - new trends in reporting - Paris
2006 Terjenian Gallery - Armenian Library & Museum of America – USA
2017 Armenian Parliament office- Armenia
2025- Agora Gallery in New York- USA
https://massispost.com/2025/10/new-publication-we-are-our-mountains-by-armineh-johannes/
Armineh Johannes
1018 E. Windsor road,
Glendale, CA 91205 USA
arminehjo@hotmail.com
Make Comment/View Comments
