BIO:
Ginger Goekjian was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1954. She and her family moved to Athens, Georgia when she was eight years old. She attended the University of Georgia where she completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in biochemistry. Ms. Goekjian then worked for over thirty years in research in the Plant Biology Department and at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. She also worked for one year in Naples, Italy and ten weeks on a project at Kruger National Park in South Africa. She and her husband, Karekin, have one son and two grandsons. Ginger and Karekin have lived on Sapelo Island, Georgia since 2014.
Ginger took her first photograph at the age of 55 one night in January 2009 at Providence Canyon, Georgia at the urging of her husband photographer Karekin. A whole new world opened to her. She began with taking pictures at night using, as light sources, flashlights for interiors and flashlights and the full moon for exteriors. She picked up tips on how to do night work from Karekin but when he gave her his old Nikon D70 he told her to “go figure it out”. Ginger fell in love with taking pictures and started taking pictures during the day as well, always drawn by curiosity and awe of how light transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. It has become a means of connection for her and of being present in the moment.
Statement:
I have lived on Sapelo Island, GA for 14 years but lived almost all my life in Athens, GA. I often make trips to my old hometown to see family and friends. It is about a five hour drive and when my husband does the driving, I pass the time by taking photos through the car window. Since we forego the interstate, we travel through a lot of small towns and past farms. On one trip we were passing through Sandersville, GA. The sky had dark clouds, and I could see it was storming somewhere nearby. A beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky and who can resist taking pictures of this wonder of nature? Rainbows don’t always last long so I thought I have to take the picture while I can, and I can’t be choosy about the location and power lines and signs that blocked my view. I also smiled inside when I saw the rainbow come down over The Waffle House as it seemed humorous to me. The Waffle House is iconic and is place where many gather all times of day and night and there is often a story that goes with eating at the Waffle House.
Ginger Goekjian
706-540-9865
PO Box 95
Sapelo Island, GA 31327
