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Beach Sunset
Photograph by Gina McGuire
Santa Barbara provided a picturesque setting for the National Geographic Photo Camp – Ocean for Life (OFL) program. In partnership with NOAA, OFL brought 30 students from Lebanon, Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, and all over North America together to learn about one another through ocean science, documenting their experience with the help of the National Geographic Photo Camp Media Team.
See photo galleries from other Photo Camps
Watch the Photo Camp - Ocean for Life videos:"Ocean for Life—Overall Experience"
"Ocean for Life—Cultural Understanding"
"Ocean for Life—Sense of Place"
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Hair Blowing
Photograph by Erica Knox
Noaf Anwar Almurbati, from Bahrain, enjoys the boat journey out to the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and Santa Cruz Island, where many of the OFL students went camping for the very first time.
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Shadow in Water
Photograph by Hala Kamil Zahr
Santa Barbara provided the ideal home base for the OFL program—many of the Middle Eastern participants had never experienced an expanse of water like the Pacific.
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Open Water
Photograph by Emiliano Valle
Students took advantage of calm waters around Santa Cruz Island to kayak out and snorkel to photograph garibaldis, sea urchins, kelp forests, and sea stars.
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Fish in Hand
Photograph by Brooke Liston
Participants in NOAA's Ocean for Life program have the opportunity to explore marine life in a hands-on environment that creates an impactful outdoor classroom experience.
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Taking a Water Sample
Photograph by Alhassan Ali Omar
The Ocean for Life program teaches students the importance of conservation and stewardship by having participants conduct field studies. Here, students test water quality and acidity at popular Hendry's Beach in California.
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Underwater
Photograph by Erica Knox
Students were given underwater cameras and instruction from National Geographic Photo Camp staff on how to use the cameras to document their experience.
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Garibaldi fish
Photograph by Basmah Al-Mesad
The garibaldi is a popular, curious fish protected by the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and California state law.
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Flowers in the Sunset
Photograph by Brooke Liston
Students learned about the unique geography of Santa Cruz Island during a four-day stay at the Nature Conservancy's Reserve station.
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Lighthouse
Photograph by Natasha Khan
Pakistani student Natasha Khan practiced unique ways to take photos. In this picture, she captures the lighthouse on Anacapa Island as seen through a viewer.
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Man Holding Drum
Photograph by Ellie Burck
In addition to learning about marine sciences and photography, students gained insight into cultures with a spiritual connection to the ocean and its resources, including that of the Chumash Indians.
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Self-portrait
Photograph by Hala Kamil Zahr
As part of the Ocean for Life and National Geographic Photo Camp programs, students are encouraged by staff and mentors to explore self-portrait photography.
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Crawling Crab
Photograph by Amira Ahmed Ali
Amira Ahmed Ali, from Egypt, captures a close-up of one of the smaller creatures on Santa Barbara's beaches.
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Bird Posing
Photograph by Aneesah Jaffer
Anacapa Island's flourishing kelp forests provide a healthy foundation for both marine and land animals.
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Girl Underwater
Photograph by Natasha Khan
Ocean for Life student Natasha Khan plans to return to Pakistan and organize her community to help clean up her city's streams and waterways.
More Ocean Galleries
Ocean Topics
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Acidification
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Ballard, Robert
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Bowermaster, Jon
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Cook-Wise
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De Rothschild, David
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Doubilet, David
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Earle, Sylvia
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Frozen Seafood Benefits
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Goodman, Beverly
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Habitat Destruction
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Invasive Species
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Kristof, Emory
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Marine Food Chain
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Marine Pollution
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Nicklen, Paul
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Norman, Brad
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Ocean Overview
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Overfishing
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Plastiki
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Pristine Seas Expeditions
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Sala, Enric
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Seafood Decision Guide
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Seafood Substitutions
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Sea Level Rise
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Sea Temperature Rise
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Seaver, Barton
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Sustainable Seafood
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Thys, Tierney
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Tips to Save the Ocean
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