News Release

Experience national parks through the lens of youth

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News Release Date: August 24, 2021
Contact: Katie Liming, 703-399-4547

Experience National Parks Through the Lens of Youth, a photography exhibit by local high school students, is on view at the White House Visitor Center Aug. 28 through Sept. 13. The National Park Service (NPS) at President’s Park invites you to see DC-area national parks through the eyes of 20 high school students who learned about photography and photo editing at national parks across the region, from the National Mall to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The exhibit opens on Aug. 28 at noon and the students will be available to discuss their experience and their work from noon to 2 p.m. You can also view the exhibit online.  

President’s Park, one of America’s 423 national parks, hosts a competitive youth photography program for high school students each summer. This year Nilda Keres, a photography teacher at Gaithersburg High School (Md.) and guest professional photographers taught the students about photography and encouraged them to develop and celebrate their unique style and perspective.  

“During this program, I’ve had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity going to national parks, speaking with park rangers and professional photographers, and have inspiring teachers by my side willing to help and support me at any time,” Cecilia Lapetina, a student photographer said.  

Students visited and photographed parks including Clara Barton National Historic Site, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Glen Echo Park, Great Falls Park, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Lincoln Park, National Mall and Memorial Parks, President’s Park and Theodore Roosevelt Island.

“I had to work hard to portray the historical background behind each national park in my work,” Gabrielle Cordero, a student photographer said. “I made note of the key points of the location’s history or culture and found subjects that demonstrated those emotions in my photos – I aspire to continue exploring photography for years to come.”  

Student photos were judged by a panel of NPS employees and volunteers who evaluated composition, lighting, basic technique, subject, originality/interpretation, story/mood and ability to capture the NPS mission. The winners will be announced on Aug. 28.

The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. and is open every Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Face masks are required to enter the visitor center, regardless of vaccination status

Funding from the White House Historical Association helped to make the exhibit possible.

For more information, please visit, President’s Park (White House) and follow the park on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  

Tags: youth, white house, photography, education

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