Photography - encouraging the younger generation

A recent report found that children today spend 60% less time outdoors than their parents did at the same age. In these days of tv, video and computer games where youngsters look to simulated adventure for their enjoyment, it is becoming increasingly hard to find activities to encourage children to venture outside. The countryside is often seen as boring and wildlife as un cool, but if we want our environment to have a future as a cherished and respected place then we need to start encouraging our younger generation to get outside and get involved. And what better way to do this than through photography. Could the simple art of taking pictures provide the link, for todays children, between technology and the outdoors? Today I went to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Lackford Lakes to find out.

I joined a junior photography workshop run by Kevin Sawford http://www.kevinsawford.com/. Kevin specialises in wildlife and nature photography and is a very enthusiastic ambassador for the outdoors.


Learning about depth of field


During the half day course the children learnt about simple camera operations, what settings to use when shooting particular subjects, how to control depth of field, how to use a tripod, and how to choose and frame subjects. They were generally left to find their own subject matter which was a great way to encourage them to notice their surroundings and really "see" what was around them. Despite the absence of impressive species the children found plenty to photograph from wild flowers to damselflies and even a slow worm. It was really encouraging to see the enthusiasm with which the children took to the art of nature photography and gives hope that the battle to reconnect a generation to the counrtyside is not lost.

So how do you go about getting your child inspired by outdoor photography? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Plant the seed at a young age. Children as young as 5 or 6 will derive a huge amount of pleasure from using a simple camera. They love to experiment and show their creativity and will get a huge amount out of exploring a wild area with a basic camera. Encourage them to take lots of images and have fun with the camera. It is only by experimenting and practice that young children will learn.

2. For older children it is possible to teach them a few basics such as how to hold the camera still and level, how to frame a shot, basic composition including points of interest, backgrounds and simple rule of thirds. Encourage creativity by discussing colours, lighting, depth of field and shooting from different perspectives. Stick to one or two ideas at a time and don’t use too much theory in one session. After all you want your child to have fun and catch the photography bug; too much theory may have the opposite effect.

3. Always let your child choose their own subject matter and vantage point. Encourage them to show their creativity and only help them once they have taken the first steps. If creativity is running low give a few suggestions to help such as photos that tell as story, objects of one colour or shape, or subjects that represent a season or habitat.

4. The nice thing about photography is that the creativity doesn’t stop once the shooting has. At the end of a day out you can upload your images and review them together. Most children love computers so it should be easy to encourage them to do something interesting with their images. Make a photo diary or collage of the day, or set up a photo blog on one of the many blogging sites. Encourage family and friends to visit their blog and to leave comments and feedback.

5. The most important thing to remember is that photography is fun and a great way to get children inspired and interested in the great outdoors.

For more information about Lackford lakes visit www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves-and-visitor-centres/lackford-lakes/