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   Melissa Ann Argay with Comedian Joshua Brian Sperber
 "The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter" 
  - Mark Twain
             

I was born on December 8,  in the small Russian-American community of Maplewood, New York.   I am descended from a diverse cultural heritage and was raised in a loving household filled with Old-World Armenian traditions.  My known ancestors came from Armenia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland.  I learned Russian at a private primary school I attended in Maplewood.

I have always been interested in international affairs, religion and cultures.  I welcome  opportunities to meet and learn from people from around the world.  I believe that a formal education should be an important part of one’s life experience.  I chose to attend the University at Albany and major in political science to prepare me for a career where I could address issues which affect us individually, as a community, and as a nation.   Some of the issues that are very important to me include education, human rights, opportunities for the economically disadvantaged, and animal rights.  I am also passionate about children and promoting religious tolerance as a means of achieving peaceful resolution to conflicts.

Since adulthood, I had dreamed of writing for children.  That became a reality when I used the skills I learned as a graphic designer and amateur photographer to create and self-publish “A Day in the Life of Francis,” a photo book designed & animated CD-ROM to teach children healthy habits, sharing and respect for others.  The project featured my first dog, Francis, who inspired me with his childlike qualities and his joyful disposition.  Francis and I visited elementary schools, bookstores and telethons to spread the positive message for kids contained in the book and CD.

I started working professionally as a photographer in 2005 when my work appeared on the cover of a national law journal for college students.  Since then, I have photographed covers for various national publications, for local newspapers, and documented events for various organizations.

Through the years I have encountered many people, children and families. Meeting and getting to know them has played a vital role in my life. It has taught me the need for preserving the innocence of children the meaning and importance of a strong family, friendship and community. This need is universal.  A picture, as the saying goes, is worth a thousand words. For this reason I wish to use photography to demonstrate the communal bonds we all share through our humanity.