Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/02/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My four, two boys, then two girls. Yeah I know someone's going to say how did you get them like that? Heck, I just looked in the order catalogue and ordered them! ;-) Their mother has other ideas! ;-) I'm not sure what the right age is, as I believe from experience it has far more to do with the child's interest in the subject, be that darkroom or shooting. If they're keen and show a real interest in "what do you do in the darkroom when the lights are off?" Then that's the time to bring them in gently without overwhelming with a lot of talk and mystery they have no idea what the heck you are talking about. Darkroom: Make prints then show & tell, "watch the magic happen when I put this piece of photo paper in the developer." Then the best part happens......... watch their eyes light-up with excitement and awe when they see the first beginnings of the image appear, then to completion. A few like that and they are hooked! Next move, let them try exposing a piece of paper while placing their hand on a sheet of photo paper, flick the enlarger light on and off . Then let them develop their own magic "hand picture!" Almost from that moment when they see their hand print appear, they are as hooked as you are. Not always for a great length of time, but they are hooked! :-) Best part for papa son? Their eyes, as they are so excited they can hardly get the picture out and take it to "Show mom!" The two girls never really got into it, but they shoot pictures that are worthy of what they learned and still do even though neither went into it as photographers. One went into baby making! ;-) The other, her own Stock Photography Sport Agency up 'till a couple years ago. The oldest son does a good handling of a camera when he's inclined with his teacher profession, even though when younger he was really into shooting and darkroom. The beginnings of another fine sport shooter. Anyway the oldest son, Ted jnr. was probably in the darkroom buffaloing prints through the chemicals when he was about 6 years and Scott, number 2 son was even earlier as he stood on a box to be high enough to see over the sink. Why younger? Brother action driven, not my influence. :-) He wanted to do what Ted jnr was doing. And as it turned out he's the son I rave about as being such a great sport shooter and has put the old man to shame more than once when we've covered the international sport scene together. His company website is: http://www.cyberus.ca/~fsgrant/ for any of you interested in a very fine sport shooter. :-) I feel getting your children into the photo bug these days is an excellent idea particularly with so many unsavory things they can be lured into. But learning photography and the fun it holds can be very effective in keeping them out of harms way. Plus it may give them something that is a lifelong hobby or develop into a lifetime career. And from where I stand after a 50 year career and still going, I think that's a pretty good thing for a kid to get into.......... IF! They have the keen to do it and not pushed into it! That gentlemen and gentlewomen is the key! Not "pushed into it!" Make it fun and exciting without pressure and they will come along! :-) ted Ted Grant Photography Limited www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html