Teen Photographer's Pictures Help Dyslexic Kids

Eric Moglia is a 15-year-old who has already learned the truth behind the old adage "a picture is worth a thousand words."

Not only does he already have an online collection of his photography for sale at 1000wordsphoto.org, but he wants to use the proceeds to help buy Kindles for children who suffer from dyslexia, a learning disability that he has also learned to deal with over the years.

"It made school more confusing," Moglia said of his dyslexia. Thankfully, he said, his mother realized his condition at an early age and he was able to get the help in school that he needed. And she has supported his interest in photography, even buying him his first digital camera just before he turned 14.

"I wanted to show how I saw it from my point of view," he said.

His mother, Jodi, saw photography as a venue for Moglia to express his talents in a way he couldn't through writing. And he's never taken a photography class—all of his skills come from his unique, natural ability. He has a different eye, she said, and he is always thinking out of the box.

"I think his photography reflects that," she said. And she loves being able to see the world in a way she normally wouldn't through his photos.

"That's been fun," she said.

And Moglia is grateful for her support. "My family is always there for me," he said.

Moglia became interested in photography when he was 13, and even before that he had a knack for photography, even with instant cameras. More recently, his Canon Powershot has served him well. On his website, he has collections of flora, sunsets, forests, a recent selection of fall shots and more, all of which were taken around Montville, Kinnelon and on his family vacations.

"I've been really focusing on forests recently," Moglia said, noting that his mushroom shots are some of his favorites. "A sky is something anyone can look up at. Not everyone can sit and look at a forest." His most recent gallery, "The Alaskan Collection," is a number of photos posted recently that he took during a vacation up north.

And he plans to add to his collection of photos. Instead of a sweet 16 this summer, Moglia will be traveling to Italy with his family, camera in tow.

All of the photos featured on the site are for sale through e-mail orders. He is selling 8 x 10 prints of his photos for $25 and 16 x 20 prints for $50.

Though his site hasn't received too much traffic to date, he has also featured some of his work at the Towaco Jazz Festival in August. But Moglia and his family hope his photo presence will grow locally.

"Trying to find places to sell photography is tough," Jodi said.

But Moglia doesn't just want to sell his photos. Recently he brainstormed with his mom and decided he wants to make a charity out of his work, buying Kindles for dyslexic children who would not be able to afford them otherwise.

Moglia said he never liked reading, especially for school, until he received a Kindle and had the added push he needed to propel him through the stories. From here, he had a complete change of heart and now loves reading.

"This is a fun, amazing, device," he said. And though he hasn't raised enough money to buy his first Kindle to donate, he hopes that raised awareness about his goals and the site will get him on his way.

"It's a great way to use his photography to help with a good cause," Jodi Moglia said. "I think it's a great thing for him to be involved in."

When he's not taking photos, Moglia enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing paintball and helping his sister with her Forever Friends group, which raises money for children with spinal cancer. As far as career choices for the future, no matter where he ends up, he would like to keep up with his photography.

"It would be a perfect job if I could get my photography and sell it," he said. I would love that."

Otherwise, he's back and forth between becoming an aerospace engineer and an architect.

"I would always have photography on the side," he said.

To learn more about Moglia's work, visit his site at 1000wordsphoto.org or contact him at emoglia@1000wordsphoto.org.