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Getting the kids thinking photographically
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Jun 14, 2018 11:36:47   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
My wife, co-conspirator in photography, and best friend, a/k/a "Grammy" has been taking care of our 9 and 11 year old grands in Virginia, and came up with a fun idea that they are really enjoying.

She has taken them on a couple of "photo safaris" this week, which is basically her normal recreational pursuit of driving around country roads and stopping to shoot whatever appeals to her. The littles get to tell her where to turn (something my dad used to do with us on Sunday drives), and everyone gets to say "I see something!" when they see a place, view, animal, or object that they want to shoot. Grammy pulls over safely, and they all get out and try to take pictures - Grammy on her DSLR and the littles on their phones. They get back in the car and keep rambling, turning where each kid suggests in turn, and stopping for treats like an ice cream cone or some fine Dollar Store shopping. When they come to a place where they can walkabout, they stretch their legs and shoot some more. When they get home, Grammy uploads everything onto her tablet, and they sit on the couch together deciding which ones they want to enhance. She then sends them to Papa Andy, so he can see where they've been on safari. It's more fun when they call it a safari.


It's kept a couple of energetic kids occupied and entertained for several hours so far in their first week off from school (You don't overdo anything with littles, I've long ago learned), and they're very proud of their work. They're also learning a bit to "see" and to compose, crop, color, etc. Most kids these days have phones with decent cameras and some editing capacity, so they can join right in. And Grammy still gets to go on her photographic rambles.


It's better than teaching them how to take duck face selfies!


Papa Andy

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Jun 14, 2018 11:39:13   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
AndyH wrote:
My wife, co-conspirator in photography, and best friend, a/k/a "Grammy" has been taking care of our 9 and 11 year old grands in Virginia, and came up with a fun idea that they are really enjoying.

She has taken them on a couple of "photo safaris" this week, which is basically her normal recreational pursuit of driving around country roads and stopping to shoot whatever appeals to her. The littles get to tell her where to turn (something my dad used to do with us on Sunday drives), and everyone gets to say "I see something!" when they see a place, view, animal, or object that they want to shoot. Grammy pulls over safely, and they all get out and try to take pictures - Grammy on her DSLR and the littles on their phones. They get back in the car and keep rambling, turning where each kid suggests in turn, and stopping for treats like an ice cream cone or some fine Dollar Store shopping. When they come to a place where they can walkabout, they stretch their legs and shoot some more. When they get home, Grammy uploads everything onto her tablet, and they sit on the couch together deciding which ones they want to enhance. She then sends them to Papa Andy, so he can see where they've been on safari. It's more fun when they call it a safari.


It's kept a couple of energetic kids occupied and entertained for several hours so far in their first week off from school (You don't overdo anything with littles, I've long ago learned), and they're very proud of their work. They're also learning a bit to "see" and to compose, crop, color, etc. Most kids these days have phones with decent cameras and some editing capacity, so they can join right in. And Grammy still gets to go on her photographic rambles.


It's better than teaching them how to take duck face selfies!


Papa Andy
My wife, co-conspirator in photography, and best f... (show quote)
Great Idea Andy what Grammy does.

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Jun 14, 2018 11:43:55   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
AndyH wrote:
My wife, co-conspirator in photography, and best friend, a/k/a "Grammy" has been taking care of our 9 and 11 year old grands in Virginia, and came up with a fun idea that they are really enjoying.

She has taken them on a couple of "photo safaris" this week, which is basically her normal recreational pursuit of driving around country roads and stopping to shoot whatever appeals to her. The littles get to tell her where to turn (something my dad used to do with us on Sunday drives), and everyone gets to say "I see something!" when they see a place, view, animal, or object that they want to shoot. Grammy pulls over safely, and they all get out and try to take pictures - Grammy on her DSLR and the littles on their phones. They get back in the car and keep rambling, turning where each kid suggests in turn, and stopping for treats like an ice cream cone or some fine Dollar Store shopping. When they come to a place where they can walkabout, they stretch their legs and shoot some more. When they get home, Grammy uploads everything onto her tablet, and they sit on the couch together deciding which ones they want to enhance. She then sends them to Papa Andy, so he can see where they've been on safari. It's more fun when they call it a safari.


It's kept a couple of energetic kids occupied and entertained for several hours so far in their first week off from school (You don't overdo anything with littles, I've long ago learned), and they're very proud of their work. They're also learning a bit to "see" and to compose, crop, color, etc. Most kids these days have phones with decent cameras and some editing capacity, so they can join right in. And Grammy still gets to go on her photographic rambles.


It's better than teaching them how to take duck face selfies!


Papa Andy
My wife, co-conspirator in photography, and best f... (show quote)

Fantastic creative and positive approach with young people.

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Jun 14, 2018 11:50:00   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
rjaywallace wrote:
Fantastic creative and positive approach with young people.




She's a fantastic, creative, and positive partner, photographer, and Grammy.

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Jun 14, 2018 11:50:22   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
PixelStan77 wrote:
Great Idea Andy what Grammy does.


Yup. Wish I'd thought of it!

Papa Andy

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Jun 14, 2018 12:03:57   #
woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA
 
I have been trying to get my grand kids interested in photography. I gave my 13 year old grand son my D3100 with a 50mm lens for his birthday, He is up at Lake Tahoe for a week and has the camera, so I'll see how he does. My youngest Grandson now 8 is the most interested. Thanks for the post.

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Jun 14, 2018 12:07:20   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 

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Jun 14, 2018 12:10:14   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
woodsliv wrote:
I have been trying to get my grand kids interested in photography. I gave my 13 year old grand son my D3100 with a 50mm lens for his birthday, He is up at Lake Tahoe for a week and has the camera, so I'll see how he does. My youngest Grandson now 8 is the most interested. Thanks for the post.


Thanks for looking at it!

One of the older grands got so interested in shooting photos with his phone, that his mum and dad went out and got him a DSLR at a pawn shop. I think it was lots of early "picture taking" experience with his phone that motivated him. He's done some nice work.

We'll see if we've got a budding Georgia O'Keefe or Ansel Adams among these two~

Papa Andy

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Jun 14, 2018 12:28:43   #
deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN
 
This is such a great idea! (tucking it in memory bank for when I have grandchildren ;) The most important thing however, is that these kids will grow up remembering how much fun they had with their grandparents...that's the prize!

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Jun 14, 2018 12:35:09   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
deer2ker wrote:
This is such a great idea! (tucking it in memory bank for when I have grandchildren ;) The most important thing however, is that these kids will grow up remembering how much fun they had with their grandparents...that's the prize!





Grammy gets full credit on this one... I'm just at home waiting for the email to arrive.

In the immortal words of Vincent Gambino, Esq....

"And she's pretty cute too, huh?"



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Jun 14, 2018 12:36:29   #
Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley
 
A great innovative idea! Having a say in where to go and what to shoot, makes it fun and interesting for the grand kids.

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Jun 14, 2018 12:43:27   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
Soul Dr. wrote:
A great innovative idea! Having a say in where to go and what to shoot, makes it fun and interesting for the grand kids.


When we were little, back in the fifties and early sixties, my dad did not have a lot of spare cash in the family budget. He actually originated the idea of going for a kid-directed Sunday drive. We'd always find hot dogs or ice cream somewhere along the way. I had my first 35mm camera (An Argus C-3 brick) somewhere around 11 years of age, so I may well have called out, "I see something!" way back then.


Grammy is a a genius with kids - wish we were a little closer to most of the grands.

Andy

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Jun 14, 2018 13:14:18   #
deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN
 
Yes she is! Mighty young looking for a grandmom!
AndyH wrote:



Grammy gets full credit on this one... I'm just at home waiting for the email to arrive.

In the immortal words of Vincent Gambino, Esq....

"And she's pretty cute too, huh?"

Reply
Jun 14, 2018 13:14:40   #
Stardust Loc: Central Illinois
 
Like it. We watch a few faux grandkids (10 & 13 of a friend) now & then in the summer. I take photos of our outings and share with mom & dad. Next time they each will have one of my old "point & shoot" cameras to do the same. Thanks to Grammy & Papa (cliche names but great idea)

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Jun 14, 2018 13:45:22   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Andy,

I was having a lot of fun with my granddaughters at that age with a video game setup in my office/den/studio. One day they thought it would be fun to make videos. I bought the gear and we went to work. At the time I had abandon "serious" photography as a revolt against the switch to digital. They planted a seed that re-lit my interest. They are now in the high school years. They've done well. One is shooting a Nikon and the other has sold paintings. Both are very good phone shooters. One has a huge group following her photography on Instagram.

Enjoy working with them and seeing how fast they can learn!

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