Students Go On Assignment With National Geographic During Photo Camp 2005

Washington, D.C., July 5, 2005 -- National Geographic photographer Robert Caputo will give 14 District of Columbia high school students a unique opportunity to look at their city in a new way during PHOTO CAMP 2005. From July 11-14, the students will shoot, edit and design a portrait of the Washington suburb of Mount Pleasant, “Zip Code 20010,” based on National Geographic magazine’s monthly ZipUSA feature.

Caputo and other National Geographic staff will brief the students on photographic equipment and technique, accompany them on their assignments, critique their work and guide them through the process of creating a story.

“Our photographers who take part in the PHOTO CAMP program are thrilled to be able to help mentor a new generation of photographers,” said Sarah Laskin, National Geographic vice president for public programs. “The program gives young adults the opportunity to see the world in a different way -- through the lens.”

In addition to Caputo’s work for National Geographic magazine, he is the author of “National Geographic Photography Field Guide” and three other books in the “Photography Field Guide” series: “Landscapes,” “People & Portraits” and “Travel.”

Students attending PHOTO CAMP 2005 are 10th- to 12th-graders from McKinley Technology High School, Duke Ellington High School of the Arts, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Anacostia Senior High School, Woodrow Wilson Senior High School and Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School.

The National Geographic Society Education Foundation, whose mission is to “prepare children to embrace a diverse world, succeed in a global economy and steward the planet’s resources,” is sponsoring PHOTO CAMP 2005. The camp is part of LEAP (Learning, Employment, Adventure Program), an intern program funded by the Education Foundation as part of the Foundation’s continued commitment to being an integral part of the community by enriching the lives of students through meaningful employment.

PHOTO CAMP 2005 is also sponsored by VisionWorkshops of Annapolis, Md. Cameras have been donated by Nikon.

The PHOTO CAMP program debuted in Washington, D.C., in 2003. This year, PHOTO CAMPS have been held in New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Miami.

Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. It reaches more than 285 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and its four other magazines; the National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; radio programs; films; books; videos and DVDs; maps; and interactive media. National Geographic has funded more than 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, log on to nationalgeographic.com; AOL Keyword: NatGeo.

VisionWorkshops is a mentoring program based on the foundation of photojournalism and is based in Annapolis, Md. The program encourages youth to find a voice through the use of photography and writing, and to convey their perspectives to others through VisionWorkshops’ public exhibitions.

Contact Information

Sarah Clark

Media Contact

National Geographic Society

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