A Youthful Eye

A child’s perspective, as illustrated through a camera’s lens, all too often goes for the comedic: a fanciful collection of adult kneecaps or shelves too high to reach.

But just how a child sees, and more important, records the world, is informed by much more than odd angles or distorted faces of adults peering downward.

“My America Camera Project” is an exhibit that attempts to unlock what a child really sees--the emotions, colors, resonance and contradictions of daily life. Corbis, one of the leading digital-image providers, partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Venice in November and gave cameras to 20 art students ranging in age from 7 to 11. After an instructional session with former presidential photographer David Hume Kennerly, the students set about recording details of their worlds, their “ideals of America”--those tangible and others not so: a gathering of palm tree silhouettes, love wrapped up in a simple gesture between father and son, girlfriends posing proud for the world. With interpretations as diverse as the faces in the frames, and perspectives as fresh as the diverse choice of metaphors, these images give voice to the future of America in the here and now. The show of 20 images is displayed only online at www.corbis.com/lakids.

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Lynell George