Young photographer wins contest

Jordan Eiler, 12, a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, was a top winner of the 2008 ImageMakers National Boys & Girls Club Photography Contest, sponsored by Circuit City. The nationwide photo contest included submissions from 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States, with more than 1,000 entries.

Jordan’s won in the 10- to 12-year-old age group for photo essay. Participants were required to express creativity not only by capturing a picture, but also by telling a story. This is the second year in a row the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach has won this photo contest nationally.

Over the summer, Jordan received an all-expense paid trip hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to San Francisco for four days with club Art Director Emily Murray.

This year’s photo essay topic was “G ‘local Issues: Global and Local Issues Impacting Your Community.”

Jordan’s winning photo was captured at Main Beach on a field trip with the Photography Club. Her piece, “A Trashy Sunny Day,” tells the story of discovering pollution in the storm drains and how cleaning the beach and being aware of how to keep towns and communities clean can make a difference in the world.

The trip to San Francisco for the 16 national winners was a first for Jordan, who spent four days celebrating her accomplishments and skills while having fun in the city. Kids came from all over the world, with winners from club sites as far away as Japan and Germany. The kids explored San Francisco with their new Olympus digital cameras, donated by Olympus. They visited Alcatraz, the Exploratorium, took a boat cruise in the bay, saw a Giants game and had a visit to the aquarium.

“Photo Club is really fun and has given me a lot of opportunities I wouldn’t have had,” Jordan said. “I really feel like I accomplished something big, and the new camera will only help me get better. I can’t believe I got to keep the camera and got to go on such a fun trip.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach serve children and families living in Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and the surrounding area.

The club is open every day after school for a membership fee of $150 a year.

The Boys & Girls Club is a nonprofit organization providing enrichment activities for youth ages three to 18.

For more information, call the Club at (949) 494-2535.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or [email protected].