Totally agree.
I'd suggest the emphasis be put on composition and what its all about -
isolate, simplify & define.
In further, more advanced classes would be the time to get into some
technical aspects of photography - exposure & the basics on non auto
exposure - the effects of aperature, shuitter speed spot metering etc. Imo
film might be referenced as the way it use to be.
Kenneth Waller
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Walker" <bruce.wal...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: OT: Photography for Kids?
This is late and probably nobody cares anymore, but I have to say my
piece or I'll fidget.
Larry and a few others suggest using film cameras in a beginners
course on photography. I think this is crazy and here's my analogy:
it's like giving a beginning writing course and requiring everyone to
show up with an old mechanical Underwood typewriter, then learn how to
thread the ribbon and apply white-out.
If I go to a basic writing course, I'm there to learn how to write.
Not how to work an obsolete typewriter. I want to learn how to tell a
better story using words.
If I go to a basic photography course I want to learn how to tell a
better story using images.
Okay, I can sleep now.
On Sat, Jan 14, 2012 at 9:48 PM, Larry Colen <l...@red4est.com> wrote:
On Jan 14, 2012, at 8:01 AM, Christine Nielsen wrote:
Thus far, this is what I'm assuming:
- Kids aged 9 & up... maybe even a 9-12 group, and a 13 & up?
- Mostly p & s cameras, esp with younger kids
- Composition getting greater emphasis than ins & out of exposure -
we'll deal in Auto modes
- Teaching practical applications... finding "good" light, how to
photograph your friends, your pet, sports, landscapes, your vacation,
macro, etc...
- Keep it fun... a photo scavenger hunt? a website they can post
pics/contribute to? "A day in the life", or other photo projects..?
- Maybe 4 - 6 classes, 90 mins each
What do you think? Anyone out there ever done this sort of thing, or
have any good resources to share? I'd be most grateful...
I doubt that I'm the only one on this list that learned photography at
age 12 using a fully manual camera, and processed my own film in a
darkroom. Don't underestimate the ability of younger people to understand
things like exposure.
For a young kids class, I'd teach them:
how to hold the camera
How to look for good light:
not shooting into the light
not mixing sun and shade
enough light
how to use zoom, how to wait for focus
How to put the camera on a tripod (or a beanbag) and use the self timer
don't aim directly at a window with the flash
extra credit
fill flash
composition
As a matter of fact, that's pretty much the stuff I'd teach people who
don't want to learn photography, but want to take pictures.
For general photography I'd suggest:
All ages, kids under 12 by special permission. This way parents and kids
could do it together.
Adults only
I'd ask around for people with developing tanks, changing bags, old 35 mm
cameras and light meters collecting dust.
Day1:
I'd cover the basics in the above class. Homework, go and play with
cameras
Day 2:
I'd teach them the basics of exposure, using the histogram to illustrate.
I'd then show them how to use a lightmeter (internal or external) then
give them each a roll of Tri-X and a camera/lightmeter, and show them how
to load/unload the camera and give them until the next class session to
shoot the film
Day 3: Process the film and look at it. In many ways, they'd learn as
much just taking a roll of C41 B&W to walgreens, but I think that
processing the film would be a lot of fun. I'm specifically avoiding
color film if we're talking exposure.
Day 4: scan the negatives look at the results on a computer, and discuss.
Review using the histogram, how to set exposure and when to use
auto or manual exposure. Assignment, take pictures using both manual and
auto exposure
Day 5: review digital exposure homework. teach depth of field, manual
focus, auto focus, and when to use tripods to stop down and get more
depth of field at slower shutter speeds.
Day 6: color balance, grey cards, raw versus jpeg
I don't care for the holga idea, it may be fun, but not as instructional
on a base level
--
Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est
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