CLEARLAKE — A special event was held Tuesday at Wild About Books in Clearlake showcasing the photography talents of Naima Kilhamn. The event was held in benefit of the Safe House for displaced teens.
Kilhamn is currently a senior joining this year”s graduating class at Lower Lake High School as a Clearlake Rotary foreign exchange student from Sweden. She said her new American life has brought into light aspects of adolescents that she had never encountered. Giving to the Safe House she said is her way of helping.
“When I got here and saw how some kids have to live their lives I just wanted to help,” she said. “It”s so amazing how everybody has been giving me a safe and happy life, I wanted to give back.”
One hundred percent of all proceeds from Tuesday”s event will be donated to Safe House. Kilhamn said she was surprised at the community”s reception and its willingness to support this cause.
Kilhamn said photography is just a hobby right now but if the right opportunity comes her way she wouldn”t mind spending the rest of her life with a camera in her hand. “I love creative activities. Photography is just one of them. I love being in front of the camera and behind it, too,” she said. “I love colors and being able to capture moments. There”s so much beauty in the world, you want to capture it all. Like they say, ?A picture is worth a thousand words.””
Kilhamn said her favorite moments to capture are sunsets and sunrises, nature and scenery. She said Lake County is very inspirational. “The lake and Mount Konocti, they”re perfect motivators. They look different every single day,” she said. “I”m awestruck by the fog, too. Fog is something I”m not used to.”
Kilhamn said that nature is her first fascination but she is becoming increasingly more fascinated with the diversity of people she is encountering in America. Kilhamn”s work captures a variety of the special moments she is experiencing as an American teenager, from the new people she”s met to the foreign landscape and wildlife. Her work can be viewed online at peacefactory.blogg.se. The site is in Swedish but the pictures speak for themselves.
Kilhamn said she”s finding continued support from her host mother Lori Peters, co-owner of Wild About Books, and her Rotary counselor Dennis Darling. She said she appreciates their generosity and the opportunities they have provided her, especially this recent opportunity to contribute to the community during her stay in America.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
