Boy Scout Photography Class - Thoughts?

[RustyTheGeek]

Plan to teach another (basics) Photography Class to scouts soon. Been pondering how to make it fun, keep scouts' attention, etc. Not my first rodeo but it never hurts to get input from others and gain more perspective. I've got a projector, computer, extra cameras, etc. Their requirements include learning photography basics and making a poster board or slide presentation with their pictures that tells a story.

So for all you instructors out there, anything you think makes a big splash or is a hit with your audience, I'm all ears! Thanks!

Also, some low cost camera thoughts/ideas for those young shooters... I was thinking either a used Rebel with kit lens (harder to come by) or a Canon SX160 from Amazon, etc that is a P&S but still allows for manual control and takes AA batteries when the suggested AA rechargeables run down while camping.

 

[ScottyP]

I suppose a bikini glamour model would not work? That would keep their attention.

 

[Ryan708]

I was a scout and would have loved this opportunity. There will always be immature nit-wits around that age group though. Macro might be cool for the younger guys. the history of gun-cotton and exploding photographers, and the camera obscura might be neat. lens-rentals has some neat articles and facts about the history. Goodf luck!

 

[distant.star]

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Have them shoot a gay pride parade. That should be educational and generate a lot of fascinating questions.

And technically, parades can be quite challenging.

 

[brad-man]

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Have them shoot a gay pride parade. That should be educational and generate a lot of fascinating questions.

And technically, parades can be quite challenging.

;D ;D ;D

 

[RustyTheGeek]

I was a scout and would have loved this opportunity. There will always be immature nit-wits around that age group though. Macro might be cool for the younger guys. the history of gun-cotton and exploding photographers, and the camera obscura might be neat. lens-rentals has some neat articles and facts about the history. Goodf luck!

Some great ideas I hadn't thought of for keeping it interesting Ryan708. Thanks!

 

[ScottyP]

All kidding aside, I think the TRIANGLE is the key. I'd take ISO out of it, and have then work with shutter speed and aperture. As for concrete exercises, I don't know....

 

[bycostello]

I suppose a bikini glamour model would not work? That would keep their attention.

hahahhahaha

 

[RustyTheGeek]

I suppose a bikini glamour model would not work? That would keep their attention.

hahahhahaha

It would distract the Instructor... (me!).

 

[RC]

Not an instructor but a few ideas:

1. Rent a fisheye lens (if you don't have one) to take some cool distorted portraits of the scouts
2. Time exposure shots showing moon and star trails
3. First curtain and second curtain flash shots of an moving vehicle showing trailing and leading head lights
4. Daytime photo making it appear like a night time shot using HSS with -4 to -5 EV
5. Macro close-ups of anything that may look cool to scouts--rusty bolt, food with lots of texture, etc.

Good luck

 

[christianronnel]

Have them build a pinhole camera. This would teach them to work together and will teach the basics of photography without spending more than $50. Some lensbaby would also be fun for them. To keep them engaged and interested, the bikini glamour model is the best idea. ;D

 

[RustyTheGeek]

Great Ideas so far. Thanks!

I've decided to get THREE Bikini Models. One to teach with the pinhole camera and take pictures of the second one as she runs and jumps while the third one takes pictures of the other two making it look like night time and seeing how the headlights streak.

The instructor has decided to let the Bikini Modles teach the class. Why should the scouts have all the fun?

8)

 

[jeffd]

Hi Rusty,

I've taught photography classes to youngsters aged 13-18 numerous times, and in my experience, you need to keep things simple on the technical side - at least at first. While we camera lovers may think it's imperative to feed our classes with aperture, shutter speed and ISO combinations from day one, I find it's much more productive to teach them composition and have them use the auto/program settings for the first classes. Show them a number of different everyday scenarios (not too complex) and explain how they work compositionwise. Then have them try to capture similar scenarios on their own. This will also allow kids with only a smartphone camera to experiment when they don't have access to a dedicated camera.

Once they've got the hang of it, I then start introducing semi-manual and finally manual settings.

Having the kids build a camera obscura sounds like fun and will also help them understand how thir camera works.

Regards,
Jeff

 

[RustyTheGeek]

Thanks Jeff. Good Points! Now I'll just have to have someone teach me all those things and I'll be set! (LOL!)

Seriously, I agree to keep it simple. However, I need to cover what's in the merit badge book and I'm trying to keep it to a day class for scheduling reasons, etc. (Hard to get these guys together for these things consistently.)

I'm thinking something like teaching the composition and basics first like you're suggesting, break out and everyone take pictures, regroup, examine pictures, discuss more technical topics, break out and take more pictures, regroup, examine and then wrap up with summary and the rest of the topics like careers, etc. Then they have to take pictures on their own and create a poster board story or slideshow for the last requirement.

 

[Ryan708]

if you can gets your hands on a old used fild rebel (mine was 5$ with a 35-80 lens) they could really see how it works up close, and play with shutter speeds and watch the curtain, and play with the aperature opening. I wouldnt let them play with my main body I know that