Fill the frame! Composition Tool #1

Fill the Frame:

This is a great challenge to get uncomfortably close to your subjects!

Our students love this one because you can see details that you might not notice with other objects in the frame.

Play with manual focus and autofocus as the lens gets confused on autofocus sometimes when you’re trying to capture things close up. Also, remember to zoom in if needed to add the extra push into your subject (what you’re taking photos of.)

Ok, now go take pictures!

Photo by Nora in North Bend- age 8

Teacher Examples!

Student Work! Intro to Cameras: By Ben D.L.

The reason we learn how to take pictures manually is because cameras are made to make a well balanced photo, but most of the time you won't want such a vanilla effect, instead, when adjusting manually, the photo can be almost anything.

First Setting: Shutter Speed

A faster shutter speed leaves out blur or motion, while slower shutter speeds create blurred fluid photos.

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This changes a photo because the slower the shutter speed, the more undefined and abstract the photo is.

Second Setting: Aperture

Aperture is used to control how bright your photo is, a larger or wider aperture makes your photo brighter, while a smaller aperture makes your photo darker. The trick is to find a good balance for the conditions the photo is being captured in.

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Playful Photographer Study: Imogen Cunningham

We’ve been studying the theme of PLAY and brainstorming ways of incorporating it into our photos. Let’s take a look at a famous University of Washington alumni, Imogen Cunningham!

She was known for pushing past what was popular at the time, and in turn, created a style unlike anyone else’s in a majorly male-dominated art world.

Our favorite story is about how she and Ansel Adams were playfully rivals about commercializing their work. She made fun of Adams for what she considered “selling out” and straying from making “real art.”

Love the playful photographer drama, and Imogen’s incredibly energetic work!

Guest Artist: Cornell Watson!

Wait, WHAT?!

A few months ago we announced that we are having a series of guest artists join our camera kids for an extra special class each quarter, the first being the incredibly talented Cornell Watson, aka @cornwhizzle!

His work has been super inspiring for our students to study, and also helpful in reminding them to bring their cameras with them wherever they go (even if it’s just around the block)!

We LOVED to see our camera kids ask him questions and even present some of their own work for feedback!

What would you ask him about his beautiful work??

Joyful Compositions!

This ten-week photo class series is inspired by the work of Ingrid Fetell Lee and her book, Joyful!

We study new photographers each week and look through student work and real-life examples of the themes we learn. Some of the kids’ favorite weeks so far include celebration, abundance, magic, and energy!

Our current camera kids have been LOVING this, as you can see from this small batch of recent student work!

With a curated art kit full of colorful tools to use in class, the kids also get all lesson materials and a photo book of their work at the end of classes. It’s been amazing to see their confidence soar in this series, let us know if you have any questions!