Guest Speaking - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/26/2007 01:28:22 PM · #1

So on friday, I am going to be guest speaking for a high school year book class about photography. I have them for about 45 minutes. I think there are 10 students or so. They have one DSLR and a lot of 5+ megapixel point and clicks. I am wanting advice on what to say/do with them. Apparently most of them just use all of the auto everything settings on their camera, so these kids are definately not very advanced. I plan on starting by introducing myself, talking about what I have done, show some samples, but from there I am stumped. This is where you all come in.... What do I do with them. What, in about 1/2 hour to 40 minutes, can I do with 10 kids, all different cameras, and little knowledge about photography, that will make a fun and good difference??? I also have offered to sit the sidelines at the home football game that night and teach them techniques as they shoot, so that should have an interesting outcome :)!

Anyway, any ideas and suggestions that you all may have, please help!

Chinabun

Canon PowerShot SD990 IS

09/26/2007 01:35:03 PM · #2

well since they are on the yearbook committee, do you know anything about photographing Candid's? That might be good to talk about. The sports is good also. Maybe you could focus more on how to shoot and angle the subject rather then complex settings, especially since you dont have that much time.

Message edited by author 2007-09-26 13:38:08.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

09/26/2007 01:57:50 PM · #3

Yeah, I was thinking that focusing mostly on composition would be good. They're not going to become technically proficient overnight, but you could try to get them to get in close to their subjects, use the rule of thirds, etc.

You could undoubtedly use up half the time with Q&A, too.

atupdate

Pentax K-R

Promaster 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR IF

09/26/2007 01:58:32 PM · #4

Composition, composition, composition. If you can get these kids to move the main subject off center you will have spent your time well.

Good luck!

Tim

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

09/26/2007 02:11:02 PM · #5

okay, it sounds like their teacher already went over rule of thirds. Furthermore, I dont know if just lecturing is a good idea. Anyone have any ideas for activities or anything?

bassbone

Nikon Z8

09/26/2007 02:39:22 PM · #6

Tell the students that when they are taking photos for the yearbook - to get in as close as they reasonably can for photos - most people when they first start shooting tend to do it from a great distance and end up with a great deal of nothing. With a 5mpix P&S - when you start cropping and zooming in - the resolution drops and the quality suffers.

Yearbooks are about faces and actions. Remind them to focus on those things

Another thing - They don't need the whole person in the photo for it to be a good photo. Again, most beginners expect that the only good photo is one that has the whole team, person, set of people in the photo. For a yearbook photo - you want to get the faces.

edit correction for grammar

Message edited by author 2007-09-26 14:40:37.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/26/2007 02:55:50 PM · #7

What bass said. Title your talk "Photography and the Art of Intimacy"; that should get their attention. Tell them if you have one lesson to teach them, it is to get up close and personal. Tell them how the camera empowers the photographer, allows a level of intimacy that would otherwise not be acceptable.

Find out what kind of cards the P&S cams use and bring laptop/reader (if they don't have a pooter set up where you are speaking). Give them a 60-second "assignment"involving themselves and the classroom, and then view/discuss the results.

Stuff like that.

R.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/26/2007 03:03:09 PM · #8

I think all the previous advise is good. But the main "lesson" I'd try to get across is to shoot pictures that tell a story. These are almost always people pictures, but pictures of people engaged in something.

If I were doing it, I would start off telling the students that in 10 minutes you are going to ask them for their questions and try to talk about what is interesting to them. Then talk about yourself, what you do photographically and show some work. This gives them some time to think of questions and things that are bothering them photographically.

Then open it up to questions and go from there. If they are reticent about asking questions, go around the room and ask them what is hardest for each of them photographically ... start with yourself. Then develop the discussion around tips to overcome what's hard.

Hope that helps.

09/26/2007 05:45:29 PM · #9

bump =)

09/26/2007 07:15:17 PM · #10

another friendly bump =)

dsterner

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

09/26/2007 10:19:12 PM · #11

Maybe you could get a sampling of typical student shots - the ones where the subject matter is surrounded by heaps of background in that you don't know what the focus was; where the subject is smaller than a dime on the printed page. Typically a posed shot of a friend.

Print a copy for each kid and have them cut out the subject and then compare the cut out (subjuct) to what's left (the rest of the 8x10) which has more paper area? This can prompt a discussion on composition, zoom features and how a photographer creates an image with positioning...etc.

I just thought a hands-on approach might be fun. Kids stop listening after seconds into introduction...cutting pictures would involve them immediately....you get to talk while they are doing something.

JMHO...I teach special education, struggling with yearbook class myself

jpochard

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

09/26/2007 10:42:41 PM · #12

Something we've done at a camera club meeting:

Take a few larger prints with you...they could be yours or perhaps even out of a magazine or something. Take some plain white poster board and cut a "frame" to whatever typical size you want that will work with the prints you have (8x10, 11x14 or whatever.) Have the opening that size and have the frame part thick to obscure anything that would be outside of the opening.

Have the students use that frame to "crop" the prints you bring in. Have them maybe critique each other some saying why they like or dislike a certain crop. Gets them involved with the activity.

09/26/2007 10:47:43 PM · #13

I believe that the last two suggestions are very similar, but definately something that I LOVE!!! I will definately be doing this, and really appreciate the help. If anyone else has suggestions, please bring them up!

jpochard

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

09/26/2007 10:50:51 PM · #14

Let us know how it goes! Have fun :)

dsterner