So I'm home for the summer with the ds(9) and dd(1) and since dd's nanny is still working with us, I want to spend some quality time with ds, who, i admit, I haven't spent much alone time since dd was born.
Anyhoo, i want to teach him the principles pf photography. I have my D80 and dh has an old, but good, nikon fiml camera at our disposal. My thought was that if i can get him interested, I'd buy him a used D50 for his b-day/X-mas.
So yesterday i told him to take 20 pics with my D80. I'm going to upload them review them with ds, keep the good ones, and talk about improving them through aperture, shutter speed, etc. Do thi continually over the summer.
Do you know of any books, any assignments, any suggestions to help? Is 9 too young- he's pretty bright and focused. Would you use film or digital? WWYD?
D80, 18-55, 50-200VR, 50 1.4 & 85 1.8 OTW!
I would do film and digital. i think the effects of your settings are more immediately visible with the digital but the film is a dying art. (not dead....just on life support,as they say.) Also, do you have a 4h group in your area? there are photography 4h clubs . I can look to see if i can find my son's 4h photography book. He did photography when he was 8-9-10 somewhere in that range. I think that I would start with the aperture and shutter speed and iso and teach him how they work together. maybe even start without the iso part lol.....but if you can find an old lens you can even show him the aperture or find a diagram of an aperture online somewhere so he can see how it works. I have been teaching my older boys and including them in as much as I can when i have been learning over the years because i want it to be second nature to them as they get older. I think now is a great age to begin! i'll post more in a minute.
ETA:
I would definitely teach him how a camera works first thing. Then also show him works of art (photography). Explain to him things like how the get a shallow depth of field and how they get so much dof in different images. I think just looking at true works of photographic art will teach him a wealth. :)
~~Tammi~~
d300, MB-D10, sb800, sb400, 18-200VR, 18-50 f/2.8, 28-75 f/2.8, 90 f/2.8 macro, 50 f/1.4, Pocket wizards, sekonic L-358, and an aresnal of reflectors and other light modifiers....and maybe more. ;)
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HERE you go!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.4-hmall.org/detail.aspx?ID=484776
this is what I would use, whether he is in a club or not. there are others in the series, but for only 6$ what a great place to start. and if I recall correctly, there are questions for him to fill in answers to all thru the book. :)
Mostly at that age I would just concentrate on letting him learn to love it. I wouldn't push learning too much technical stuff yet I would just get him a decent little P&S and let him do what he will with it. I would also concentrate on composition before other technicalities. Trying to teach too much could take the fun out of it. Unless of course he asks for all of the details then go for it.
I would also let him pick a few every so often to get printed and get a neat album for him to keep them in.
Constructive Critism is always welcome. I am here to learn so let me know how I can do better.
Canon Rebel XT Sigma 28-90mm (less used: Sigma 70-30mm and Canon 18-50mm kit, 430 Speedlite)