Photo Camp Pictures, Ocean for Life Gallery

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Photograph by Samaah Jaffer
In 2009, mixing cultures, marine education, and media, Ocean for Life and Nature Bridge brought together organizations worldwide to work with students from the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa. National Geographic Photo Camp was one of them, giving 30 students from around the globe the unique opportunity to document and learn about marine sanctuaries in California and Florida, working under the guidance of photographer Matt Moyer.
The photos in this gallery, such as this one of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, are the students'. "The ocean is a looking glass that reflects the differences and magnifies the similarities between us," says student photographer Samaah Jaffer. "I have learned that although we come in a variety of shapes, sizes and social norms, on the inside, we are all the same."
Outstretched Arms, California
Photograph by Omar Mansour
"Meeting people from other cultures has taught me that we all speak the same language but in different tones," says Photo Camp participant Omar Mansour.
Seaweed, California
Photograph by Sara Fox
"To me, the ocean is … common ground … for everyone, no matter where you come from," says student photographer Sara Fox. "I dream of a time when I can see the world through other perspectives and not just my own."
Flower, California
Photograph by Ahmed Khoshaim
A flower springs from the sand in California.
Tall Grass, California
Photograph by Hussain Hasan
On the way to see elephant seals, a grassy field stands out.
Invertebrates, California
Photograph by Sean Deeb
Shrimplike creatures fill a glass jar.
Moon Jellyfish, California
Photograph by Erie French
Moon jellies float inside a tank at the California Academy of Science.
Sailboats, California Coast
Photograph by Erie French
Sailboats ply the waters off the coast of Sausalito.
San Francisco Bay
Photograph by Hussain Hasan
One of the first adventures for the California team was to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A student saw a break in the fog and captured the shimmering water of the San Francisco Bay.
Sailboat Silhouette
Photograph by Emily Goldstein
A student casts a shadow on a sailboat in the San Francisco Bay.
Marin Headlands
Photograph by Mohammed Almarzoog
"Meeting people from other cultures has taught me that you will not know how things look until you come closer to them," says student Mohammed Almarzoog. "Then you will see a different picture that you can paint yourself by looking for light."
Underwater Reef, Florida
Photograph by Tamrynn Clegg
Students at the Florida Photo Camp spent almost every day in the water, exploring.
Reptile Tail, Florida
Photograph by Astrid Amalie Skjaerpe
An iguana nearly scrambles out of the frame.
Multicolored Building, Florida
Photograph by Farah Ghazi Mtaweh
Students at the Florida Photo Camp stayed in this residence in Key Largo.
Green Leaf, Florida
Photograph by Sally Quinn Pryor
"Here at [Ocean for Life], cultural misconceptions are erased," says participant Sally Quinn Pryor. "No, not all people from the Middle East are terrorists. Not all French people are snotty. Germans aren’t Nazis. Not all Africans are poor. My cultural curiosity went uninterrupted. I have been able to gather understandings of the world around me. Here we are just one global culture. A big family. "
Hibiscus, Florida
Photograph by Grace Park
A hibiscus shines in the Florida sun.
Snorkeler, Florida
Photograph by Tamrynn Clegg
A Photo Camp student captures video of the reef below.
Dolphin Flukes, Florida
Photograph by Nicolas Lemoine
Students had a special tour of the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key. Here two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins show off their flukes.
Stop Sign Frame, Florida
Photograph by Astrid Amalie Skjaerpe
Holes in a stop sign frame a Florida building.

Steady Hands and Fins

Photographer David Doubilet photographs stingrays, sharks, and more.
Survival Guide: Dodging Locusts

Swarm behaviorist Iain Couzin has a toxic reaction to a locust at the same time his team runs out of food.