Nature Photography for Kids
Create Your Own Backyard Field Guide
Kids love cameras and kids love nature. Combine the two and you have with a wonderful project to fill your summer days. We are going to create our own backyard field guides using nature photography. Check out the Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners blog post Backyard Exploration for ideas on exploring your backyard before you get started.
Allow children to be the lead on this project and follow their own interests. Do you have a child who is interested in insects? Help them create a backyard insect field guide. Other ideas are trees, wildflowers, birds, biodiversity, or even clouds and weather. Inventory and photograph the subjects you have chosen. Bring a notebook with you and have children record their observations of what they have photographed.
When children are done taking pictures download them to your computer. Go through the photographs with your children and let them decide which photos to include in their field guide.
With your children identify each subject that you are going to include in your backyard field guide. If you do not have field guides they can be checked out from your local library. There are also many on-line field guide resources. Allow children time to look through field guides to get an idea of what they look like, and what information is included in each. Decide what information you are going to include in your backyard field guide.
Create your field guides by printing pictures and descriptions and creating a journal. An old notebook or photo album will work. You could also create a photobook through a website such as Snapfish and have an actual book created and mailed to you. You now have a field guide for your own backyard!
Want to expand your field guide? Create a nature field guide for your neighborhood or community, your favorite camping site, local park, or even the nature on a vacation trip!
Camera Basics
Teach children the basics of operating a digital camera. Start with the basics and expand from there. For younger children keep it simple. Older children who have experience with cameras may be interested in learning more about shutter speeds, and lighting.
There are several kinds of children’s cameras available; however, they generally do not take quality photos. You can get a cheap “adult” camera that will take better photos for the same price. Base your decision on the age of the children and how much “rough and tumble” action the camera will see - kid’s cameras are built to withstand drops, and rougher handling. You can also allow children to use your camera with supervision or purchase disposable cameras for each child.
More Fun Nature Photography Ideas for Kids
Photography scavenger hunts: alphabet, botany, textures, shapes
Themed photography walks: butterflies, beetles, birds, trees, wildflowers
Personal photo book: allow each child to review their pictures and print off or create a personal photobook of their favorites
Nature Journal: Add your nature photos to your nature journal
Books
Castella, K., and B. Boyl. 2006. Discovering Nature's Alphabet. Heyday Books.
Criswell, S. G., et al. 1996. Nature Through Science and Art. McGraw-Hill Companies.
Hass, R. and P. Michael. 2008. River of Words: Young Poets and Artists on the Nature of Things. Milkweed Editions.
Lepp, G., and K. V. Lepp. 2010. Wildlife Photography: Stories from the Field. Lark Books NC.
Sweet, T. 2010. Fine Art Nature Photography: Advanced Techniques and the Creative Process. Stackpole Books.
Links
11 Simple Tips for Kids: Nature Photography
http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/PhotoZone/Archives/2010/Kids-photo-tips.aspx
National Geographic Kids: Photography Tips for Kids
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/moreactivities/photography101/
Nature Mom: Kids ‘n Cameras: Five Tips for Introducing Children to Photography
http://anaturemom.com/2012/07/01/kids-n-cameras-five-tips-for-introducing-photography-to-children/
