A great way to involve your kids with nature is to encourage them to take photos of what they see. There is no need to invest a huge amount of money into a camera for them. At first our daughter used a hand-me-down point and shoot camera from us, then Santa gave her her own last Christmas. She really enjoys walking around the yard and taking pictures of all the creatures she sees. If you don't have an old camera and don't wish to make an investment in a kid's camera, you could start off with a one-time use camera to determine whether your child has any interest. Even my 2-year-old carries his toy camera around with him and pretends to take pictures.
We began taking photos together outside in our backyard. I would see something interesting or pretty and snap a photo, then my son and daughter would copy me. Now they go off and hunt around and find their own subjects of interest. They mostly take photos of the many creepy crawlies they find --- ants seem to be the most popular right now!
As your children grow, you might be surprised by the artistry and imagination behind the photos they take. You can also help them out by giving them a few simple tips on photographing animals that I borrowed from Gabby Salazar, founder and editor of the online magazine Nature’s Best Photography Students, where young people submit photos for contests and online publication, blog with each other about nature photography and view student photo galleries. Her magazine displays amazing photos taken by young photographers. They are really beautiful and I encourage you to take a look.
Here are her tips:
* Focus on the eyes of the animal. When you frame your image, make sure that the animal’s eyes are in focus – they capture any viewer’s attention.
*Include the environment. Try photographing the animal in its environment instead of just zooming in close. Show the surrounding area to tell a story about the animal’s lifestyle.
*Be respectful of wildlife. Never get too close to animals. If your presence is changing their behavior, you should back away.
Don't forget to pack their cameras for vacations! Why not give them a tool to help them create their own family memories!
I am borrowing Gabby's idea and asking my readers to submit photos their children have taken. Over the next several months, I plan to post them to my blog so all my readers can enjoy the creativity of the kids of parents in this online community. You can email then to me at kidsdiscovernature@gmail.com. Please include your child's name (if desired - or provide just their initials or first name), age and their home state. Thanks for participating!
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