Photowalking with the Kids
July 31, 2007 by Kerri Aldrich
Filed under General Play Library Goodies
This post at over at Digital Photography School, written by guest poster Trevor Carpenter, reminded me of day trips I’ve planned out with the kids. Days I’ve planned, but haven’t quite taken, yet.
I would love to pick a location with lots of space to walk and places to explore. I’d like to hand each kid a disposable camera and set them free to record their experiences on film. While we spend all of each day together, I’m sure their perspectives on the world would be so different from my own, and might even bring back a few glimpses of my own childhood.
I think it would be so fun to see which details of a space would attract the eye of a child, details that barely register in our own adult minds.
And, of course, I think Photoboating would qualify, too. Here are a few of the many that my daughter took when her grandma handed her the digital as they experienced the architectural tour via the river in Chicago. I included the one with all of the heads because that seemed to be a theme in the photos of my 6 year old!
What activities do you enjoy that would be interesting to see from the perspective of a child?
Update: I was informed that the first photo was not, in fact, taken by my daughter but by my sister. My bad. 
Here is a third that my daughter did take.
photo credits: K. Pence and S. Aldrich
Wow! Thanks for the ideas. I love going out with the kids and my camera. I think since I’ve started shooting, my wife and kids have had more of me around, even if we’re heading out so I can shoot. It puts us together.
I’m also using what I learn in photography with my 7 year old daughter. She had an old school Polaroid and shoots with me sometimes. I help her learn the basics; composition and lighting awareness. I think maybe later this year we may get her a point-n-shoot.
It is interesting seeing my hometown from a child’s point of view. Seeing adults crane their necks just as much as kids have to on a daily basis.
I doubt the exhibit is still on display, but years ago, one of the local museums had built chairs, tables, and a few other items at a massive size, showing adults the perspective of a young child. It was certainly enlightening, not to mention a physical workout trying to climb up on those giant chairs!
interesting and cool exhibition
!!
now i would like to see children connecting to their community by taking photographs oof animated characters, toys, animals etc
Trevor: Thanks so much for commenting! Kids feel so special when they’re trusted with the use of a camera. I remember how much joy it used to bring me when my mom would let me take a few photos with hers.
I’m really enjoying your Photowalking site, and looking forward to doing one in our city!
Matt: Thanks so much for visiting! I will have to do a correction here as my sis has informed me that she, and not my daughter, took that first photo. I should probably find more with adults’ heads in them to make sure it’s one of hers! I do love your hometown, and am hoping to get back there soon.
Oh, how I wish my kids were little again. Hard to believe, but that was a time when each family owned one camera and you paid for each photo. I would love to have a photo album from the time they were little of their very own photographs. A quick little peek at how their little brains were working way back when!
GH: Thanks.
SP: I remember how special I would feel when my mom would let me take a few shots with the camera! There was no other rush like it, and still isn’t.
I should start their own little scrapbooks of their own photos. They’d get a kick out of it one day!