On Sat, Jan 14, 2012 at 11:01 AM, Christine Nielsen <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello all... > > ...and Happy New Year! > > Well, 2012 has gotten off to a busy start, and I haven't had much time > to cruise the list lately... I hope Santa was good to everyone! > > One of the things I've been doing is teaching some classes, sort of a > "Photography for Moms"/Beyond "Auto" kind of thing, and it's been > going pretty well. I've been asked several times if I do kids' > classes... and I think I'm going to put something together in that > vein. > > So... I'm doing some research & thinking about how that might work. > And soliciting input from anyone who might have it... > > 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... > > :) > -c
I like your ideas, Christine. Make it fun and interesting and they'll learn! One thing I wonder about is the "leaving the camera on auto" thing. Maybe this is a really good time to start to talk about exposure. I'm surprised at the number of adults I've spoken with, some with DSLRs around their necks, that have no idea what aperture and shutter speed are. Some exposure basics early on would be most helpful for these kids as they grow and make photography a life obsession (or perhaps just a meaningful hobby). ;-) So here's what I'm thinking: Is this a class where the participants pay? As opposed to, for instance, something for underpriveleged inner-city kids who are dirt poor? Because if there's a fee to enroll, why not add on an extra $35 or $40 bucks and give everyone a Holga and roll of film or two? You can work games and projects into that scenario and the kids might actually learn more about light and what it does to a light-sensitive surface. Plus, everyone will be using the same equipment - no one showing up with daddy's Leica M9 while everyone else uses a P&S. Level playing field and all. Everyone gets to keep the cams at the end, so it's good value for them. Anyway, just an idea. I certainly do like what you're planning; I know whatever you do with work very well! cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
