Teens Explore Photography, Creative Writing and Self Expression in End of Year Exhibition

MELVILLE, NY (July 12, 2010) – In support of the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Youth Insights Education Program, photos taken by students using Nikon D-SLR cameras are now available for viewing in an online exhibition.

Youth Insights is a semester-long course for New York City teens to learn about photography that was taught by Nikon photographer Nina Berman. Through Berman, Nikon loaned Youth Insights fifteen Nikon D5000 cameras to students in the program, enabling students to transition from point-and-shoot cameras to entry-level D-SLRs. Berman taught the amateur photographers about aperture, depth of field and other elements of photography and helped them create their final project focused on capturing the meaning of war through photography and writing.

“Nikon was excited to provide the Youth Insights program with Nikon D-SLR’s to support aspiring student photographers,” said Lucy Pellegrino, Sr. Strategic Marketing Manager, Nikon Inc. “This Whitney Museum project was a great way to give first-time photographers an opportunity to learn from a professional and express their point-of-view through words and imagery.”

Students wrote stories, essays and poetry to complement their photographs and their work was celebrated the Youth Insights Spring Celebration at for an audience of more than eighty people, including family, friends, teachers and artists.

“When I first heard we were getting Nikon cameras, I thought, oh, this is a great opportunity. I had never used a SLR camera, although I had seen them around,” said Troy Cordice, 17, Bronx High School for Visual Art. “I thought it was the same thing as a digital camera, but it’s completely different. You can control everything and that’s a great opportunity I’m fortunate enough to have had.”

Student images included both literal and conceptual interpretations of war. The Youth Insights exhibit will be available for viewing online indefinitely.

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