Flower photography broadens
horizons for 7-year-old Manoa girl

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Star-Bulletin Staff

When children get behind the lens in the "Art in Nature's Garden" program, the caliber of their photographs is often astounding. Case in point: Seven-year-old Maia Furer placed in the top 25 of Canon's 2002 amateur photo contest with her snapshot of a water lily.

"It's eye-opening to see what children can do when given a full opportunity," said Jill Laughlin of Lyon Arboretum, site of the environmental program.

Every year, second-graders at Noelani Elementary and Manoa schools submit photographs for the competition taken during the "Art in Nature's Garden" program. Just a couple of years ago, another student's photograph from "Art in Nature's Garden" placed in the contest.

Canon's theme this year was "Flowers of Hawaii," a topic perfect for nature student Furer, who was the youngest winner in the contest.

"Most of the entrants were adults, and some of the photographs were published in magazines and things like that," said Janice Nishiki, Furer's teacher. "And imagine, this girl is just 7 years old."

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