How are you using photography with kids?

[Suz Lipman]

Shirley Hunt just added a blog about Slow Photography that got me thinking:

 

As with so many technological devices, it can be easy to get lost in the device and miss the moment -- or the device can enhance one's experience.

 

How do you all use photography with kids? Do you have techniques that allow them to slow down and observe in nature? What has worked for you and them? How do you combine photography and nature in your program or outings?

 

Shirley's post on Slow Photography is here:

 

http://childrenandnature.ning.com/profiles/blogs/slow-photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Suz Lipman]

I'm reposting Shirley's follow-up, More on Slow Photography:

For any of you who are looking for an approach to photography that focuses on slowing down and observing the natural world around us from a new perspective, Chris Orwig has a fantastic book called Visual Poetry (2010, New Riders). Freeman Patterson called photography the "art of seeing" and Dorothea Lange gave a wonderful description of  the camera as  "a tool for learning how to see without a camera".  Chris Orwig carries on where they left off, and provides a wonderful series of "workshops"  that focus on expressing your creativity and learning to pause and see the world, eyes wide open. Enjoy!

http://www.visual-poet.com/  

 

Shirley also offered this terrific comment that is right in line with this discussion. I hope you'll add your observations:

Trina Koster (my director of photography) and I have found that sometimes during our program the kids try to photograph as many things as possible, without always taking it all in. By reminding them to go slowly, by teaching the creative elements of design and encouraging them to look for those in nature, and by integrating sensory activities into the workshop without cameras, I think we've had an effect to slow them down. Hope so! One of my favourite quotes about photography from a grade 6 boy in a school considered "high need" was: "it made me look deep into nature and notice things that I normally don't notice."

[Ricky Crumbley]

At the Wilderness Outreach events ,which I am the director, I give each participant a list of things to photograph. Each list will include large things easy to find, and very small objects of interest which they must search harder and slower to find.I have found that the smaller objects draw more attention and excitement when found.