The Kids in this class were so ready to rock on this assignment! They got a small taste of what it takes to produce a photo shoot and what it feels like to be in front of the camera. By using a green screen (or sheet), a few props around the house, fun costumes and photoshop you can create this look with your kids at school or home too. I think they did an awesome job. What do you think?
Buying a Camera for Your Child
If you are considering purchasing a camera that will be primarily used by your child I advise against buying a camera that is made for kids. Camera's today are very intuitive and a basic review of the instruction manual will put you on the right path to taking a photo that is in focus. Afraid that your child will break the camera? Well, the first lesson to be taught about photography is equipment handling. Practice how to hold, store and pass a camera. Most importantly, make a big deal out of using a neck and wrist band.
What to look when purchasing a camera for a child
There are several things to consider when purchasing a camera for your child:
1. Camera Size - A large camera may be too bulky and heavy for a child's' small hands.
2. LCD size (the screen on the back) - Kids like the larger LCD screens - make sure that the camera also has a viewfinder (the little opening that you look through)
3. Zoom - You will want a camera with a decent zoom lens. Kids love to take those close up shots of animals that they can't really get close to. A zoom lens also allows them to stay put and take a shot that is farther away.
4. A dial that lets you choose how to shoot (close-ups, sports, low light, auto). These options are great if you want to use this camera as a building block to learning photograph.
There are many brands and varieties of cameras out there on the market. A decent camera can be purchased for $175. Don't forget an extra memory card and batteries!
As you know it’s that time of year again and the C.R.E.S.T Enrichment after school photo workshop is back in full swing. As always we have introduced the class by creating Cyanotypes aka sun prints.
Our students for this class were amazed by this very easy and fun process. They first decided what objects they wanted to use. The kids were provided with different materials such as buttons, rubber bands, transparent images, safety pins, in order to compose an image. And they were encouraged to use something from nature for some of their prints, such as leaves or flowers. Once they selected their object they were to arrange them on to the paper or cloth creating their own design. The second step was to have their prints put out in the sun to get them exposed. After being exposed the kids rinse out their images and amazed at their new creations.
Here are some examples of Cyanotypes from our Intro to Photography class:
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| This sun print was created by one of our 1st graders, Josh. It was nice to see how he manipulated the buttons and the rubber bands to create a face. It reminds me of clown with a very surprised look on his face. |
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| Pine needles by Josh (1st) |
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| This is playful image was made by Sophia (2nd grade) |
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| Sun Print by Lizzie (K) |
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| Sun print by Adrianan (K) |
