A Three Year Old Child Takes Photos

[raid]

Recently, I posted the question whether a three year old child can take photos. Many of you gave their opinions and suggestions on what to do and what not to do. Then, Gabriel was so kind to give my daughter a digital camera (2MP) as a gift,along with a memory card and all accessories.
Today, I took a brief walk downtown Pensacola with my two daughters (20 months and 3.2 years). Of course, Dana had to use her newly acquired Vivitar digital camera. It started out looking bad; she places the camera against her forehead and pushes the trigger button. It turned out to be OK since the camera would be level and pointing at whatever she was looking at. A few minutes later, I tried to show her how to place the viewfinder in front of one of her eyes. I did not interfere otherwise. All photos are taken without a tripod.
Dana's "masterpieces" follow. She took 20 digital photos and I am posting ten of them. The rest are either OK or worse.

 

[raid]

Here are three more pics:

 

[raid]

Here are three more pics.

 

[JimG]

A true prodigy. Jim

 

[drmatthes]

Raid,

I LOVE the one with child & door. Beautiful colors and composition. Let her go ahead! Nice idea also to turn around the "improving family photography" thread this way. - When will she become a RFF member?

Jesko

____________

2006 AD
800 yrs Dresden
80 yrs Zeiss Ikon

 

[raid]

I will try to support Dana's new"hobby"and maybe she will get into photography one day. Do you think that her photos are what is expected from a three year old walking downtown and taking photos whenever she wanted? I am a little surprised since getting 50% OK shots of her attempts is not what I had expected. Needless to say that father pride plays a role here. 🙂

 

[raid]

Raid,

I LOVE the one with child & door. Beautiful colors and composition. Let her go ahead! Nice idea also to turn around the "improving family photography" thread this way. - When will she become a RFF member?

Jesko

____________

Jesko,
Thanks.
Your question raises the issue whether the RFF should start a children's corner to encourage younger people to get into photography. I am not sure whether it is a good idea to have kids get into the internet. Maybe parental guidance is better here.


Thanks, Jim.

"A true prodigy. Jim"
__________________



Regards,
Raid

 

[ampguy]

Yes, they are great!!

Yes, they are great!!

many folks don't let their kids shoot outdoors with decent cameras at this age, so I really applaud you, your kids will be better photographers because of this.

I will try to support Dana's new"hobby"and maybe she will get into photography one day. Do you think that her photos are what is expected from a three year old walking downtown and taking photos whenever she wanted? I am a little surprised since getting 50% OK shots of her attempts is not what I had expected. Needless to say that father pride plays a role here. 🙂

 

[oscroft]

Nice. I'm really pleased that you went ahead and encouraged her, and it's great that she has her new camera. And she's got some half decent shots on her first attempt with it! (I love the one of the child at the door too).

Best,

 

[Magnus]

Man I can feel your proudness ..... my son is 19 months I can't wait untill he will pick up a camera out of his own free will and experiment....

 

[Don Parsons]

I'm all for it!

I'm all for it!

Raid,

>>>Your question raises the issue whether the RFF should start a children's corner to encourage younger people to get into photography. <<<

Let's ask Jorge to do it. That is a wonderful idea. My 8-year old is just getting into photograhy and if he could contribute (with parental supervison) here, I think it would help him enjoy it even more.

Love the one of the child and the door too.

don

 

[bobomoon]

Very cool pics. Those future close to the ground shots are going to be great. It would be cool if my kids grow up to be interested in taking pics...or at least reload my film. Of their own free will, of course 😉

 

[petesaunders@bl]

I would have been pleased to have taken child at door myself. It ia a fresh and spontaneous image. Perhaps we can learn from her and unlearn some of the rules (crutches?) we have picked up over the years.

 

[raid]

Pete: I am not getting my hopes too high, but will guide Dana tomorrow in a second attempt to take photos. I hope that by the time she is 5, she will be familiar with a camera.

Raid

 

[raid]

Man I can feel your proudness ..... my son is 19 months I can't wait untill he will pick up a camera out of his own free will and experiment....

Magnus,
Will your son's camera have to be a Leica! 🙂

Raid

 

[wlewisiii]

Thanks for posting this thread, Raid. It reminds me that I need to respool some 620 so I can let my 4 year old son take some pics with his Argus 75 (TLR box camera.).

William

 

[BrianShaw]

Okay, Raid... I apologize and retract my previous opinion. I was a "nay sayer" when you first asked the question. I based my opinion on my own quite intelligent 3.4 year old. But he's a boy and there might be a difference. There is NO WAY that my son is ready for a camera, nor could he take pics like your girl. I guess it's true that in some ways girls are more advanced than boys at the same age!

Keep encouraging her!

 

[raid]

Okay, Raid... I apologize and retract my previous opinion. I was a "nay sayer" when you first asked the question. I based my opinion on my own quite intelligent 3.4 year old. But he's a boy and there might be a difference. There is NO WAY that my son is ready for a camera, nor could he take pics like your girl. I guess it's true that in some ways girls are more advanced than boys at the same age!

Keep encouraging her!

Hi Brian: Maybe girls are better with artistic things.

Raid

 

[BrianShaw]

Hi Brian: Maybe girls are better with artistic things.

Raid

I don't know if that is exactly how I would characterize the differences. But maybe. All I'm really sure of is that boys tend to potty train later... that's where I am now. 😉

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Great, Raid! I had my first camera when I was five. Shot my first photo when I was four (my father still has it; I still need to find a way to get a copy -- it's a photo of my mother, father and newborn sister).

Lost my camera when I was about 8, then nothing really much happened until about four years ago. Your daughter will thank you for encouraging her.

Five y.o. sounds about right. Keep 'em coming!