“I did not know if I had captured the photo until many days later. In 1982 one never knew what the pictures would look like.  We brought the roll of film to the drug store for processing. The film was sent to a processor, then returned to the store where the finished pictures and negatives were paid for by the customer.  If you were lucky you got your shot.

The photo was captured in a second, took a week to see what I had, and entered in a local newspaper photo contest a few days later. After winning the local contest, the photo was forwarded to the Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards (KINZA) in Rochester, NY. Of the 385,000 entries from around the world, ten received the top awards. The pictures were displayed at the National Geographic Explorers Hall in Washington D.C., The Equitable in New York City, and then on a ten-city tour of the United States. “MY CHILD MY COUNTRY” was one of these.

Judges likened the image to a Norman Rockwell illustration. The photo won plaudits during the international judging for its values as well as its visual strength. I had requests by the public to purchase a copy of the photo in 1982, but did nothing.  I have always imagined this photo hanging in people’s homes and coaxing a warm smile from them. I have been fortunate to have traveled extensively.  ” One thing is consistent with people worldwide. People love their children and their country. One image and two loves.”

Founder and Creator John A. Curtis

Click on a photo below to download.