Photography projects for curious kids
A note for families of curious kids
Children at OSHC are often using iPad cameras to make photos, (I say make instead of take, as it adds a sense of creativity to our thinking) and videos too. They’re very good at using iMovie to make movie trailers, but they’re almost always scary! Recently two students, KM and JL, have shown an interest in taking their photography a step further and so to help them along, we have put together the following projects that we hope to share with you all.
The ideas for the following projects have been taken directly from or are inspired by a wonderful book called Eyes Open- 23 Photography Projects for Curious Kids, by Magnum photojournalist Susan Meiselas.
The goal of sharing these project ideas with our community is to inspire children and families to develop their visual literacy and creativity with a camera and other creative tools.
I recently asked a group of students questions about how people in their family use computers and devices and the results reflected what I suspected and know about myself and my own family. It turns out, according to my small survey, that it’s the grown-ups who are always glued to screens!
We should probably give more thought to our own screen time, but this isn't about that. This is about embracing doing something more productive and creative with our devices and sharing that with our children.
Who knows, through exploring photography and videography, we might find better ways of sharing our work and shift the emphasis from sharing to social media to something more wholesome.. and safe. Imagine printing for a photo album, a photo book, or using a projector to host a home-movies marathon!
We have begun creating work with a number of mOSHCers and hope that you'll join in too. We endeavour to teach children about dignity, privacy and respect, as well as cyber safety and our digital footprint. We won't be sharing names and faces publicly, just initials and the work that we create.
Now go on CURIOUS KIDS, get snapping!
01 ALPHABETOGRAPHY
Can you find objects, lines and forms that look like each letter of the alphabet? Discover letters in natural and made structures and go from A to Zed. Try to write your name with pictures!
Check out this inspiring resource for kids photography projects: www.clickphotographyworkshops.com/alphabetography.html
02 NATURE STUDY
Where does nature interact with the made environment? How is it surviving in places you wouldn't expect to find it? Can you create three photographs?
Image by Yongyut from Adobe Stock
03 SAME BUT DIFFERENT
How many types of the same thing can you find to make one photograph? Books on a shelf anyone?! How many single photos can you make of things that are the same, but different? Create a collection!
Same but different: I have unintentionally collected at least a squillion keys over the years and have no idea what most of them are for, other than unlocking things.. Photos by Aaron Overstreet
04 REFRAME
Can you find lines or shapes to photograph through to create a frame for your picture? A frame within a frame! You could begin with a door or window frame..
Image by painter and photographer, Saul Leiter
05 LIGHT- Can you photograph and change how light can look on something interesting? How is it different when it is sunny and cloudy? What happens to shadows? Have you ever noticed how wonderful a beam of light through a window is? It’s the best! Make sure you play around with the exposure slider for this one!
A tulip, black card, and light from a window, by Aaron Overstreet
Brilliant portrait ideas for at home
Portraits in Disguise- Can you make a portrait that gives a senes of the person without showing their face?
Family Photo Album- Can you make individual and group portraits of your family? Can you make a family portrait that includes multiple generations?
Pet Portraits- It certainly is a challenge to pose a dog for a portrait, perhaps it's easier with a cat! Can you create an interesting portrait of your pet? If you do and you would like to share it with us, we’ll create an ongoing blog post for our pets and make a poster display at OSHC!
*Print your work people, and tape it to the fridge!