Scavenger Hunt

I love teaching what I know about photography. This has led me to have a relationship with a local 6th grade, photo journalism class. Their most recent assignment, which I was asked to judge, is a photo scavenger hunt.

Normally, a photo scavenger hunt is a list of things, but this time, the list is not quite so easy. The list includes the words secret, hope and lost. So we aren't just portraying an object, we are portraying a feeling or motion.

Naturally, I used Jazzy in many of the shots. I have five more to go, but wanted to share what I do have with you. Can you match which photo goes with which set of words?

design, three feet, secret, collection, skip, holding on, beyond reach, at the shore, exit, left behind, lines, a closer look, wonder, on its own, at the crossroads, out of place, texture, hope, now and then, lost.

Teaching Photography

I volunteered to teach a creative photography class to a sixth grade at a local school. After much thought, I came up with the idea of a zoo. What a great way for children to create a scene, figure out their own lighting, focal point, and be creative with depth of field.

I had fun shooting the photos for my short presentation to introduce them to the process. Here is what I am doing.

1. The children will have a bin of toy animals, fencing, trees, grass, and rocks to arrange whatever scene they like.

2. Then they have to pick which object will be their focal point, what depth of field they want, where to set their subject in the frame and where they wish to position the light source (flashlight). The camera will be on a tripod so the angle will be constant.

I am hoping that I get many different photos from similar set ups. We'll see.

Candy Train

A

Star

Shining

Brightly upon

The tree top. Branches full

Of glittering balls and flashing lights

Tinsel hanging like melting icicles, glimmering

With the shiny lights. Around the tree a toy train speeds

through tunnels and into a miniature North Pole. Santa is in his sled

Pulled by eight tiny reindeer. A clock tower telling time. A little boy stops the train.

“All aboard!” the boy shouts. He puts jelly beans into the open box car and starts the train.

Around it goes again. The train stops and the boy pulls out one piece of candy. He yells to Santa

“Thanks for the treat!” The train goes around again. The clock is still telling time. Nine more minutes. Only nine pieces of candy.

The train loops again.

Eight pieces.

Around again.

Until one left.

Midnight!

Time for presents.

Susanna Hill’s 9th Annual Holiday Contest is under way. The test is to write a treat oriented story in 250 words or less for children 12 and under. I hope you enjoyed my entry.

You can find all the other stories on her blog. Follow the links in the comments.