Say “Cheese” Please…. Children Sharpen Skills and Interests Through Photography 3/12/04

Say “Cheese” Please…. Children Sharpen Skills and Interests Through Photography

WICHITA, Kan. – Photography is among the most popular of 4-H projects, but parents are sometimes surprised to learn that it can be a good choice for junior 4-H members, ages seven through nine, said Eric Otte, K-State Research and Extension development agent in Sedgwick County.

“Having a camera in hand can raise a child’s level of interest in the people and places around them, nature and the environment,” said Otte, who recently coordinated the 4-H Photo Extravaganza at the Wichita Garden Show that attracted more than 400 4-H members.

WICHITA, Kan. – Photo judging is popular with 4-H members, said Eric Otte, K-State Research and Extension youth development specialist in Sedgwick County, who also recently coordinated the 4-H Photo Extravaganza that attracted more than 400 4-H members.

Photo judging requires an understanding of the basic principles of photography and how to apply them, and a willingness to test personal decision-making skills, he said.

Many families already have cameras, and, if not, using an inexpensive, disposable camera minimizes the investment.

“Half or more of the photographs submitted for 4-H photography projects are the product of point-and-shoot cameras,” he said. “Learning how to use a camera can be more important that the camera itself.”

“In 4-H, skill-building sessions are age-appropriate,” said Otte, who uses the familiar Tick-Tack-Toe game grid to explain the photographic Rule of Thirds.

“The subject in the photograph should be placed where the lines intersect,” he said.

“Photographic principles such as filling the frame and incorporating leading lines also are part of the 4-H project.”

“Some of the best 4-H pictures are from young photographers who have learned to look at the world around them in new ways. Their success – being able to say ‘I did that’ boosts their self-esteem and self-confidence,” Otte said.

For more information about 4-H photography or other educational projects open to students ages seven and up, contact the county K-State Research and Extension office or visit the 4-H Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu/4hyp/

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.