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.

Tricky's New Home

Darla walked home from witch school. Something was following her. She hid behind a bush. “Yuck,” she said as she wiped off a big cobweb.

Along came a black kitty with orange eyes. It would have been scary except it was limping.

“Tricky,” Darla immediately named the cat, “What happened?” She picked up Tricky and noticed a cut on his paw.

Darla carried Tricky home. Her mom saw her and asked, “Who have we here?”

Darla said, “Tricky is hurt and needs your healing potion?”

“Yes, let’s get Tricky healed and feed him a treat.”

Darla smiled. Tricky was staying.