Shooting the dunes

Marisa O’Neil

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Eastbluff Elementary

School students had plenty to say Thursday.

About 50 fifth-graders hit Newport Dunes for a nature-themed photo

essay assignment.

The outing, part of an environmental education program, was

designed to give students a better appreciation of the area’s natural

beauty.

“Use your hearts and use your eyes,” professional photographer Rod

Veal advised the students as each picked up a disposable camera.

Some students also used their legs, sprinting down to the water’s

edge the moment they had cameras in hand.

“Hey, there’s seashells!” 10-year-old Stephen Sawyer shouted to a

classmate. “Let’s get the seashells!”

From there, Stephen headed to a giant, beached whale -- one made

of fiberglass -- for more shots.

Meanwhile, a lone seagull alighted on a piece of wood protruding

from the water near the shore.

“Oh, that’s a good shot,” 10-year-old Ashley Svendsen said,

readying her camera and taking a picture.

Nick Treadaway, 10, looked up from his shot nearby and headed over

to get his own picture of the seagull. That threatened Ashley’s hope

for an exclusive.

“No! Hey!” she exclaimed, waving her arms to scare the seagull

away, but the gull basked in his new-found limelight and stayed put

while students snapped away at the water’s edge like hungry

paparazzi.

With a public exhibition of their work coming up next month, few

could blame the students for a little friendly competition.

Each student’s best work will get blown up to an 8-by-10 glossy,

mounted with a nameplate and displayed on the walls of sponsor

Fletcher Jones Motorcars in April.

This is the third year for the Picture Perfect project, which is

also part of the Partnership for Clean Water, a Newport Beach-based

elementary school environmental education program.

“It’s cool to have stuff displayed,” 10-year-old Riley Senske

said. “Then people can feel what you felt when you took the picture.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.