Exciting Angles for Exciting Photos

Kids love taking pictures of anything. In the age of digital photography it is much easier to just let them go wild with a camera since there you don't have to worry about running out of film or the cost of getting pictures developed. Photography can also be a great learning experience for children as they explore the world around them and learn more about how the things around them work.

A great way to engage your child's mind is to show them how angles will change the way their pictures look. For example, if they were to take a picture of a toy from low to the ground it would make it look giant, which pictures taken from the top of bunk beds will make things look tiny. This will be a fun experiment for children.

A fun activity for young photographers that could easily be done in the home is building a miniature town inside your child's room. Blocks or cardboard work great for this. Be sure to set dolls, action figures, or other toys up inside the town as townspeople! Now they have the option of putting their camera low to the ground to make everything seem huge. They will love seeing how the pictures of the “buildings” in their room look just as big as real buildings. Kids taking pictures from bunk beds will see everything as if they are from an airplane or the top of a tall building. Just remember to keep kids safe on their bunk beds and don't let them hang too far off of the edge to take pictures. You should also make sure your child uses a wrist strap so they don't drop the camera.

When you are all done, you can take pictures of “monsters,” your child's teddy bear or other toys, destroying the town. The pictures you keep will be great memories for you to remember and look at later.

- By Robert Lobitz

CAMERAS FOR KIDS ANNOUNCES A FREE COLORING BOOK

Younger kids can often benefit from practicing their fine motor skills, shape & color recognition, and having the gratification of a job well done. The downloadable PDF format coloring book is full of animal illustrations to encourage a natural curiousity about animals, science, and the environment. Teachers, parents, and kids are all welcome to use this coloring book at no cost.

Click HERE to download (It's approximately 9MB, so it may take a couple minutes)

INTERVIEW WITH WNB-WEST TALK RADIO

Interview with Don McCauley of WNB-West Talk Radio (About the CFK Project)

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS

CAMERASFORKIDS.INFO

INEXPENSIVE TIPS FOR CHILDREN WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS

Many of the questions kids have about digital photography are easily answered. Here's
some easy remedies to some of children's most popular questions aboout taking better
shots.

Q) Is the sky in you picture kind of dull and could use more color?

A) Try puting your sunglasses over the lens when you take the picture. This is called POLARIZING and can be used to draw out the color in other types of shots, too.

Q) Is your camera having trouble focusing while you are trying to get a closeup of a flower or other small object?

A) Try moving just a little further back. Sometimes if you are to close to an object, the camera has a hard time focusing.

Q) Did you ever wonder how to make small objects such as toys look really Big?

A) Trying crouching down really low and shooting a picture of that object from
really low. The lower the angle, the larger the object will look. Now try making that object look really big. That's right, shoot the object from above so that you are looking down on it. These tricks are called PERSPECTIVE, meaning another way of looking at something.

Q) Can't find a good deal on a tripod or a tripod just doesn't seem to work for what you are trying to take a picture of?

A) One really cool (and cheap) solution might be to use a large beanbag. Place the beanbag on a firm surface and gently let the camera sink into it. The beanbag will keep the camera from shaking which makes you photos sharper.

DIGITAL CAMERAS USED AS A LEARNING TOOLS:

In today's world of cell phones, texting, video games, television, and other media devices, it's tough to get kids away from the distractions of the techno era. In a world of ever increasing diabetes and obesity at an earlier age, it's crucial for kids to get up and exercise. (more than just their fingers) While some children are into sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, or other activities that burn calories, boost the metabolism, and increase the sensitivity of the insulin receptors, other children do not enjoy sports that much.

Digital photography is a healthy alternative for kids that don't enjoy sports. It's an added bonus for kids that are already active. It's surprising to see a 13 year old set down their cell phone to pick up a camera (or use their cell phone's built in cameras) to laugh, play and shoot pictures while moving around. It can be a fun activity with friends, or an indivial exploration. One of the keys to keeping children involved in digital photography is to keep exposing them to different aspects, scenerios, and environments. While their first adventure with the camera may be uneventful, they may love the next adventure.

Knowing your children and what they enjoy helps. While teaching the Cameras For Kids Project in schools, there's been a general difference girls and boys. (although it's important to remember there's no set rules). Girls seemed to like the images of animals such as horses and pets. They also seemed to to enjoy scenics full of blue skies and trees. The boys in the same class would gravitate towards blowups
of insects, pictures of cars, and unusual angles of things like tunnels. The idea is to expose the children to as many types of photography as possible. You'll eventually find something that they really love. Hopefully they will soon be getting exercise on there own. - Cameras For Kids Staff

SOMETIMES THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE A CHILD IS FREE

For Familes on tight budgets this holiday season, you can turn the time into something meaningful and fun. Many people are going back to the basics. Commiting some time to you children can be specacial and fun, and doesn't have to cost anything but a little time. Especially with younger children, a simple 'Chistmas Voucher' inside a card can mean a lot. Whether placed inside a card or given to seperately, you can make a voucher or ceriticate telling you child that you are going to spend X amount of time with them working on a special project. The project can be anything your child loves. A treehouse made out of scrapped wood, A model airplane, A dress up and make over session(s), or of course, photography excursions (even if it's just the back yard). Somewhere in our culture, we've forgotten the fundamentals of holidays, which is just to love, cherish, and be thankful for the blessings that already surround us. Going back to the basics may give your family memories for a lifetime.



If digital photography is the path you choose, here's a link to a free lesson plan developed for children and has been implemented as a 30 minute presentation in schools. The lessons can be expanded on and turned into individual moments with you loved ones. LESSON PLAN

For assistance with the lesson plan, here's a link to the lesson that is currently being used in schools. Scroll down to teachers, here's a simple lesson plan