Why Wildlife, Environment and Nature Photography for Children is Beneficial.
By Anthony Ochieng
The development in technology has given children an easier and affordable way to get involved in photography even with gadgets such as smartphones. Getting children involved in wildlife, environment and nature photography is key in developing their learning across the curriculum. This enables them to build an understanding of their environment within themselves and others. In the end, they appreciate wildlife, environment and nature.
Wildlife, Environment and Nature Photography for children offers a range of exciting and valuable learning opportunities, not to mention some great experiences. The benefits include:
- Appreciating and connecting with wildlife, environment and nature on a personal level.
- Learning a new skill which can boost a child self-esteem
- Encourages planning and presentation skills
- Allows children to display their potential through creativity
- Provides children with the opportunity to be innovative
- Allows children to communicate their ideas, thoughts and feelings
- Stimulates children to develop their ideas on design
Pick a subject your child is interested in, such as insects – then take a stroll and let your child take pictures of what they find . Photo by Anthony Ochieng/TonyWild
How do you get children into wildlife, environment and nature Photography?
Buy a camera or digital phone with a camera that has been specially designed for children. Owning their camera is enough to get them inspired!
Once your child has got to grips with handling their camera, inspire them with this fun and easy photo ‘assignments’:
- Help them generate a list of specific things that define wildlife, nature and environment and ask them to photograph them (a flower, a ladybird or butterfly, an amazing scenery)
- Get descriptive. Use adjectives to describe the types of pictures to take. For example, a dirty place, someone helping the environment or wildlife. This enables them to interpret ‘importance’ of conserving wildlife, nature and the environment.
- Go crazy with colour. Provide a list of wildlife, nature and environmental colours that need to appear in the photos, or create a challenging assignment by having your child take ten pictures that represent a single colour of nature. For example “I spy with my camera something green”
- Pick a subject your child is interested in, such as insects – then take a stroll and let your child take pictures of what they find
- Encourage your child to tell a story with photographs. There are several approaches to this project. They can take pictures and write a short story to go along with them, or they can photograph what type of wildlife is around them or what is the impact we humans have on the environment.
To take the step further and inspire them more, ask them to join photography competitions such as the Wildlife Warriors Nature’s Treasures Photo Competition.
The competition entry is FREE and entrants can enter up to three photographs. Help the children submit their photographs through . This will boost their confidence towards wildlife photographer and it will also be a chance for them to learn and improve their skills.
WildlifeDirect has partnered with Tony Wild in Kenya to support the Junior Category for Season Two of the Nature’s Treasures Photo Competition.
TonyWild team is working towards nurturing people into conservation using science, photography, and film, we do this through our wild ideas, The MITIgation project, Visual Ecological Literacy Program, and Wildlife is life Campaign. Help us reach as many people as possible if you want to help email us on info@tonywild.co.ke or reach us throughout social media handles.
Support our MITIgation in the following ways:
© TonyWild 2024. All Rights Reserved. Contact info@tonywild.co.ke to license, purchase or feature