We recently connected with Kirsten Elstner and have shared our conversation below.

Kirsten, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

National Geographic Photo Camp has absolutely been the most meaningful project I’ve worked on. It started out as this idea to use photography and storytelling as a tool for young people to recognize the power in their voices, share their perspectives and stories, and build meaningful connections. And that’s been the heart of the program since 2003 when I first brought my idea to the National Geographic Society.

Fast forward 20 years later, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside my fellow National Geographic Explorers and renowned photographers on more than 145 Photo Camps and we’ve introduced photography to thousands of young people from communities around the world. Each of these young storytellers has inspired me with their openness and optimism. As much as I’m there to teach them, they’ve taught me just as much and I’m so proud of the community we’ve grown together.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, the founder of Photo Camp, and of course a photographer. To give you a bit more about my background, I have always wanted to be a photographer, ever since I was a little girl. I started out as a photographer for a whitewater rafting company in New Zealand and eventually became a freelance photographer with my photos featured in outlets like The New York Times and TIME. Then, when I was out on assignment for the International Red Crescent, I had this realization: the camera, the journal and the pen should be in the hands of the people I was documenting. They should be encouraged to share their own stories.

I decided I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the world through my work and to use photography as a way to connect young people and encourage them to understand one another better. Also to help others learn from their stories. And that’s how Photo Camp came to be.

The goal of each Photo Camp is pretty simple: to provide a meaningful introduction to photography for young people, and to inspire them as they see the power of their own stories. We teach students the basics of composition and light, take them out on assignments, help them find stories they want to tell, encourage them to reflect on big ideas, and try to foster a sense of community so they feel supported and connected. They also write about their hopes for the future, their connections to the land or to their communities… all kinds of themes that they help us to create as we design the project.

With support from the National Geographic Society, we’ve been running this program for two decades and have worked with more than 3,000 students now. It’s quite an impressive community of young storytellers! Many alumni have continued a relationship with National Geographic –– some as Young Explorers or teaching assistants at other Photo Camps –– and others have pursued further education in photojournalism with work published in media outlets like The New York Times and Washington Post, or teamed up with acclaimed photographers on assignments.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I’d say the best thing we can all do is listen. Everyone has a story to share, and listening and trying to understand each other’s stories is one way we can change the world for the better. It’s something really powerful that I see at Photo Camp: the students have a chance to tell their stories and be heard, and they also have the chance to tell the stories of their peers and their communities. So to anyone looking to support the next generation of storytellers, I’d say take the time to listen to their stories.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Working with and mentoring Photo Camp students has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life –– the transformation some students have from the first day to the final show at a Photo Camp is astounding! If I were to choose a specific moment, I would have to say that the 20th anniversary was a highlight for me personally and professionally. The National Geographic Society brought 20 Photo Camp alumni to Base Camp for a sort of master class, and it was amazing to watch how quickly and deeply the students connected despite never having met and coming from so many different places. It felt like a profound testament to this community. And it was really special to me and the entire Photo Camp community to see their work published by National Geographic in, “Photo Camp Stories: Our World Through The Lens of Young Photographers.” I’ve always wanted this program to give these young storytellers a platform to tell their stories, and the way we celebrated the 20th anniversary really made me feel like we’re fulfilling that vision. I am incredibly lucky to do this for a living and I’m hopeful for what the future of Photo Camp will bring!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://explorer-directory.nationalgeographic.org/kirsten-elstner
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstenelstner/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-elstner-2884846

Image Credits
All of the file names have the credits in them except the group photo. That one can be credited to National Geographic Photo Camp. Feel free to contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any questions.