Ei
ght creative homeschool students, ages 8-13, participated in this January’s “Capturing Winter”; PVAS’s special nature photography workshop at Cool Spring Preserve. “Capturing Winter” was led by youth program instructors Abby Freidline and Amy Moore.
Students began the day with the prompt; “What benefits does nature photography provide society?” The students suggested that nature photography is a great way to remember natural places they have visited as well as share these places with others who might not have the opportunity to experience the same thing. PVAS thinks this is a beautiful sentiment during a time where travel and access to nature can be limited. Students also discussed how nature photography can be used as a conservation tool to bring awareness to certain environmental issues.
Each student was provided their own Nikon DSLR camera and learned techniques such as “rule of thirds” (used to draw the eye in to a specific part of your photo), how to utilize sunlight to illuminate the subject in photos and avoiding angles where the subject would be backlit, and how to automatically and manually focus on a subject. Students tested using both the macro and landscape settings on the cameras and the differences they make.
After reviewing the camera, students set out on the trails of Cool Spring Preserve where they began capturing their own photographs of the natural world. A mild yet cloudy day provided the students with wintry sights, muted colors, and moody tones. From macro shots of seed heads on dead flowers to shots of birds using our telephoto lenses, the students were able to see nature artistically through their unique lenses. The students even captured the “circle of life” in their photos when they photographed a dead deer in the pond! They were very interested in photographing that particular subject.
We were really were impressed by how much the students learned in three hours! Please enjoy photographs by PVAS’s fantastic photography students in the slider below.
Interested in photography? You can register students for the next photography workshop, “Capturing Spring” on March 19th here.
Swipe through or click the photos to enlarge:
Trixie G, Age 9
Vivian B., Age 8
Megan P., Age 8
Emily P., Age 13
Makenzie B., Age 9
William G., Age 12
Ella S., Age 8
Elias R., Age 8
Elias R., Age 8
Mackenzie B., Age 9
Megan P., Age 8
Ella S., Age 8
Emily P., Age 13
Vivian B., Age 8
William G., Age 12
