Twenty Pasifika youth in Aotearoa have received first-class training in photography and storytelling from the National Geographic Society.
A graduation ceremony for the participants was held on Wednesday at the Motu Moana Camp in Blockhouse Bay in Auckland.
It ends five days of extensive training which included tutorials by veteran National Geographic photographers.
"We had an amazing group of 20 young people from all over, share their stories with us through photography and writing," Photo Camp founder Kirsten Elstner said.
"They produced some incredible photography and they really owned their stories that kind of leaned into the power of their own voices,
Kirsten Elstner, Photo Camp Organiser Photo: RNZ Pacific/Finau Fonua
"It was a combination of words and photographs, but it was also a combination of their spirit and energy, and just the life that they brought to their own community and to their community with one another."
"We noticed how much they listened and learned and soaked up all this information and then translated into their own personal growth and photography and storytelling, so we were very impressed by them," she said.
One participant 17-year-old Telesia Tanoa'i, said the camp organised field trips, teaching students how to represent and express their culture through photography.
"A group of us would go to Mangere Bridge and Otara Market. Some of us went to Karangahape Road and the Art Museum. We've been learning how to take photos of what catches our eyes and how to make the most of that picture," Tanoa'i said.
Photo Camp Participant, Telesia Tanoa'i shows her certificate. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Finau Fonua
"It's really amazing. We spent the last five days together with these wonderful workers and it's been a blast. It's only been five days, but it's felt like a year because we've just been working from sunrise and sunset."
Supported by Air New Zealand, the photo camp is one of five held over the summer targeting youth across the country. Part of the series was to bring stories to life of New Zealand's minority communities.
"We worked with the rainbow community in Northland last week, we worked with the Maori community in Murupara, and that is because we are really trying to really create a story of all of the diverse voices of people throughout New Zealand," Elstner said.
"We also want to develop partnerships, so that we can collaborate with people on the ground here in New Zealand," she added.
Another participant, 17-year-old Teuila Vaielua said she felt honoured to have been trained by National Geographic photographers.
"It such a privilege to have photographers from National Geographic fly all the way down here to teach us all these different camera skills."
"Being able to go out into different places that share special connections of that community was really special. I feel really privileged, it's been such an amazing experience and such a great opportunity to meet other like-minded people," she said.
