Archives: October2008

• MIAMI STUDENTS TO GO ON ASSIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND MIAMI HERALD TO DOCUMENT THEIR ENVIRONMENT

  WASHINGTON (Oct. 30, 2008)—Under the tutelage of National Geographic contributing photographer Maggie Steber, 20 students from Little Havana Institute will document their community’s natural history during National Geographic Photo Camp 2008. From Monday, Nov. 3, to Friday, Nov. 7, the ninth- through 12th-graders will photograph, edit and design a portrait of Little Havana and the tropical environment of South Florida. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with The Miami Herald.

  During the five-day workshop, the teenagers will explore and document the natural surroundings of Little Havana as well as the landscapes and plant collections at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, a leading institution of palm research, horticulture and conservation. Together with photographers from The Miami Herald and the National Geographic Photo Camp staff, Steber will brief the students on photographic vision, equipment and technique and will guide them through the process of creating a story, using the students’ photographs as a catalyst for discussion about their experiences. On the final day of the camp, the participants will share a multimedia presentation of their work with students, faculty and staff of Little Havana Institute.

  “We hope that Photo Camp 2008 will provide participants with a unique lens on the world and help expand their awareness of the environment and their impact on it,” said Terry Garcia, National Geographic’s executive vice president, Mission Programs. “We are honored to participate in this endeavor.”

  The theme of the Photo Camp is the environment and conservation, and the aim is to draw attention to youth perspectives on their generation’s connection to the natural world.

  EVOLT SLR cameras for the Photo Camp have been provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Memory cards have been donated to the Photo Camp program by PNY Technologies.

  Steber is an internationally known documentary photographer whose work has appeared in many magazines and book anthologies as well as solo and group exhibitions around the world. She has won numerous awards, including the World Press Foundation Award, the Leica Medal of Excellence, an Overseas Press Club honor and Pictures of the Year awards. Steber has served as a judge for many photo competitions, including the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Pictures of the Year contest.

  National Geographic Mission Programs is sponsoring other Photo Camps this year in Rajasthan, India; Chesapeake Bay; Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, S.D.; Costa Rica; Appalachian Trail; Taos, N.M.; Camden, Maine; New York; and Santa Monica, Calif., in partnership with VisionWorkshops of Annapolis, Md. Visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

  The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 325 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

  Little Havana Institute, administered by the Cuban American National Council and funded by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, is an alternative high school for students who encounter difficulties adjusting to traditional school settings. Founded in the early 1980s, the school’s mission is to create a safe environment where students can experience academic and social growth.