Pretty Pictures

Get your little ones hip to the practice of point-and-shoot

Aperture, shutter speed, and metering are all words that your toddlers have no interest in and probably cannot pronounce. But as any photographer can attest to, these terms are essential in understanding the art and science of photography.  The way light and colors are captured to form an arresting composition, whether good or bad, is the discernment that makes photography a great medium for expression.  When looking at an Annie Leibovitz portrait or an Edward Weston still-life, it is hard not to grasp the profound emotion that emanates from the subject matter. 

And remember, even Edward Weston and Annie Leibovitz had to start somewhere. Like riding a bicycle or the learning to play an instrument, photography is a skill strengthened through practice. Get your little ones inspired with Wendy Ewald’s book, Best Part of Me. And once their curiosity is sparked, present them with a camera from Lomography and let them create master images of their own. Invite some friends over and provide a backdrop, great lighting, and perhaps a carousel of costumes and have them “produce” their own photo shoot. Once they see how fun the experience can be, Liz Miles’s classic, Photography, can answer any persisting questions. In no time, your budding photographer will be explaining the significance of depth of field, color temperature, and other hard-to-pronounce words. —Barry Samaha