A group of local students have been honored for a year’s worth of photographic work highlighting the local environment. A calendar featuring their nature photographs was unveiled Monday.
The students came from all over town and a variety of age groups. Some, like middle-school student, Lauren Szymanski, were challenged by their teachers to do something new.
"She didn’t want us to over-edit our pictures," Szymanski said. "So it was kind of different, because we’re so used to editing our pictures in these crazy different ways."
Students shot elements of nature at fifteen parks and open spaces around town. Councilman Ron Nirenberg says the program helps develop good environmental stewards for the future.
"We wanted to get their perspective of what they appreciate through the lens of our environment in Texas and in San Antonio. And when you see the photos on the calendar, it really brings home what’s important, what’s common to us all," he said.
Green Spaces Alliance Executive Director Susan Hughes says the talent exhibited in the photos makes it hard to believe these photographers are kids.
Hughes says the program gets kids from all over town out into nature preserves, including some who might not otherwise have a chance to see green spaces outside their own neighborhood.
"And all of the nature deficit disorder that we talk about all the time? This is one good way to get kids outdoors," Hughes said.
Proceeds from sales of the Picture Your World calendar benefit Green Spaces Alliance efforts to preserve natural habitat, promote community gardening and other efforts around San Antonio. Sales also benefit CPS Energy’s REAP program.
You can buy the calendar at greensatx.org.
