Nature photography in our reserves, parks and gardens
Our weekend workshops provide opportunities for youth ages 8-18 to connect with local reserves, parks and gardens, exploring their beauty and diversity through photography.
IMAgEN8 provides digital SLR cameras for the participants, and our mentors teach them the technical and artistic aspects of photography. Students receive digital copies of their best pictures, and compelling images are published in the Compassionate Nature magazine. There is no cost for the participants as these workshops are funded by the local boards or charitable donations and grants.
We started this project in 2022 in the Orakei local board area, and published the well-received book, Centres of Wellbeing, in 2023. Our intention is to publish similar book(s) covering all of Auckland, with impressions of nature as seen through the eyes of children.
The goal of our work with children and young adults is to nurture their love for Nature. The strength of this love and deepening of connections to our physical world improves their mental wellbeing, fosters increased awareness for the environment, builds compassion, and manifests as kaitiakitanga.
We believe that by forming deep connections and love for our natural environment, we are happier, more compassionate, conserve what we love, and live sustainably. This fuels our passion to work with diverse communities, ages, and schools, so we can contribute to fostering a more sustainable society and planet for us all.