photosbyhenry Loc: Apple Valley MN

If I may, another thought,idea. 4H is involved with a lot of projects. One way to start is maybe to have each one do a photo story. 5 photos that tells a story. I am not taking credit for this but I saw this and I wrote it down.
Take lots of photos
Have your camera always ready
Look behind you
Keep learning
Have fun
"Happy shooting" Henry

photosbyhenry Loc: Apple Valley MN

If I may, another thought,idea. 4H is involved with a lot of projects. One way to start is maybe to have each one do a photo story. 5 photos that tells a story. I am not taking credit for this but I saw this and I wrote it down.
Take lots of photos
Have your camera always ready
Look behind you
Keep learning
Have fun
"Happy shooting" Henry

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I have done many programs for Boy Scouts, Church Groups,etc. I think it si important for them to know how a camera works. I show them a tin box that has a hole in the lid with a piece of tin foio with a pin hole in it. Apiece of film in the bottom and some black tape over the pin hole. Tell them this is a camera and show pictureI have taken with it. Then I draw a stick figure man on the black board, a box for the camera and the sun behind the camera. Then I draw a line from the sun to the foot of the stick figure and then back through the pinhole (lens) to the top of the back of the camera. I do the same thing with a beam going to the head of the stick figure and through the pinhole to the bottom of the back of the camera. Then tell them that the same thing happens to the whole man till the film (sensor) is exposed. Then i have them look through my old view camera and they see they upside down image of whatever I pinted it at. If I were you I would do something similer. Probable someone you know has an old fiew camera or an old Press Camera (Speed Graphic) that they can do this with. They love it. Then I would do all the above, - Dave

photodaddy Loc: Missouri

Here is an idea that might be fun for beginners. Its called the alphabet photo. Take a photo of an object that begins with each letter of the Alphabet.

SagebrushVideo Loc: Kansas

You can order the book, "The 4-H Guide to Digital Photography" from www.4hmall.org or purchase the Kindle version from amazon.com. I am a member of the Kansas State 4-H Photography Action Team and this is one of the resources we use for our photo judging contests. Contact your local extension office and get a copy of your state's 4-H rules and project materials. You might also be able to search your state's state 4-H website. To see some of the things we do here in Kansas go to www.kansas4-h.org. Click on "Action Teams" in the lefthand column, then click on Photography. Our next event is a judge's training, then a project leader training in May. Photo Adventure Camp is in June. The state photo judging contest is during the STate Fair in September.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

This is my two year old granddaughter. She's going to be great one day.

BigDaveMT Loc: Plentywood, MT

I got my start in a 4H photography project many years ago and I'm glad to see others working with the program. I'm going to second the suggestion for getting the 4H program's manual. My local Extension Office gave me copies of the first three levels to use when I taught an adult ed course.

Get them shooting right away and then see what develops, no pun intended!

ace-mt Loc: Montana

All I have to say is God bless anyone who takes time to be a 4H leader.

annie blossum Loc: USA

Get them interested in nature and wildlife as you go along.
Starting them at such a young age can lead to a great profession. My grandson showed an interest in photography around the age of six. I taught him the importance of taking care of my camera and we went to find things he wanted to take pictures of. While taking pictures of nature he is also learning about the beauty of God's creation.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

You might see if you can find a copy of the Boy Scout Photography Merit Badge book. I have taught that class at our district merit badge forum for the last few years. Covers how a camera works, differences between film & digital, how aperture, shutter speed and ISO affects photos, composition...lots of useful things. It is a bit dated at the moment. I put together a PowerPoint show mostly with my own photos to demonstrate the lessons.
Thay really like hands-on examples too, so I bring several cameras and accessories, lighting, etc.

A link here gets you to other resources, including a workbook:
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Photography

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

thats going to be a herculean task - especially getting people to feel what you feel.......

DK Loc: SD

In SD, we have seen a phenomenal increase in 4-H Photography since digital came in. I have been judging county and state contests for years and it is unbelievable what these kids are coming up with and the skills they have. Our photography club helps by giving workshops, judging and making kits for their 4-H Judging contests. We also provide awards for excellence in photography which are presented at the awards banquet at the end of the 4-H year. There are criteria which have to be met to receive these awards.