I received an email from Annabel Weiman’s mom saying that her daughter had won a contest with the Kestrel image that she captured while on the Girls Who Click workshop that I co-lead with Ashley Scully. I was so thrilled! I received the New Jersey Monthly magazine today along with a hand written note from Annabel.
Girls Who Click is an organization that was set up by Suzi Eszterhas to empower teen girls to enter the field of nature photography and use their work to further conservation efforts.
Annabel’s Kestrel image is on the right. c
From Annabel:
I’m 15 and go to school in Oakland, NJ. Since the 8th grade I loved photography because I’m able to find unique things and capture them. I like that I can I express myself that way. After entering some photos taken with my phone to our annual high school magazine, three were selected. That was the first time my work was published. My mom encouraged me to take a digital photography class and get a “real” camera. We both took a workshop at Unique Photo in NJ to learn how to use my camera and its special functions. The GWC workshop at The Raptor Trust was my next photography event for me. I had two really good instructors, Denise Ippolito and Ashleigh Scully. In that workshop I ended up with so many good photos of birds that I had a hard time finding my favorites. I entered one that was an American Kestrel, a beautiful little falcon, in a New Jersey Monthly magazine cover contest. I thought with the cropping it would be perfect for a magazine cover. I received a runner-up award in the student category which shocked me! I felt really proud that it was selected and published in a state magazine.
Annabel Weiman standing with her winning image.