This summer, we’re asking our tweens and teens to take pictures and send us evidence of their summer holidays. We’re going to post the pictures in the library in August, but I thought maybe they might need a few ideas to help take some great (and unique) summer photos.
First, there are some fabulous books at the library to help guide the beginner (and advanced) photographer towards more stunning and fun photos.
Photojojo by Amit Gupta kept me enthralled as I went through project by project, trying to decide just what type of photo idea I wanted to work on next. It has some wacky ideas, but also lots of simple and exciting projects that anyone can do. (Gupta is involved in many diverse projects, such as Jelly, the work-from-home-out-of-someone-else’s home project where people can come to an apartment and work all day….it’s like working from home, but with new and exciting people around!). Regardless, this is a fun book for kids or adults and will inspire you to try new things. (My Will & Kate at the library idea came from something similar in this book.)
The Kids’ Guide to Digital Photography by Jenni Bidner is also a great resource! There are plenty of useful ideas in this book that gives step-by-step instructions on how to work a digital camera, how to use photo editing software and also gives project ideas.
But by far, Jason Lee’s WONDERFUL flickr page has some of the best ideas and inspiration anyone could ask for when it comes to photographing people and coming up with ideas. Lee is a professional wedding photographer who started posting photos of his kids on the website when his mother became ill and the girls couldn’t visit. Lee came up with amazing and creative ideas for each photo that not only provided lots of laughs for his mom, but also for the people following his site. He gives some great tips for setting up photos and coming up with ideas as well.
One look through the site and you’ll be hooked! The girls are adorable, but it’s Lee’s wacky sense of humour that comes across in each photo to make them all delightful! Take a few minutes and scroll through the pictures and you might even learn a few new things to help you the next time you’re taking pictures at the cottage or for Christmas.
