tell a friend about this article
 

	Rules of Thumb
	Use available light
»	Feeding time

FEEDING TIME

Every day you see your toddler in their high chair. In 10 years you will think back on this time as another era, but as it's part of your every day life today it's not an obvious photo opportunity. Well lets make it one!
.

"At our own zoo"

As you are inside (probably), grab some fast film or wind up the ISO on your digital. Flash will reflect brightly off cups and bowls and ruin most shots. Push the high chair near a window or glass door for some natural light.

Now try some different compositions; look down from a chair, get in close for some munching shots; capture their hand in the bowl getting that last piece of melon; get the great expressions as your child interacts with a parent while being fed from a spoon. These are special moments.
Do the same with your older child who has his 'own' table and chair, or is seated at the 'big' table on a booster seat. Black and white can be great for these shots, as can colour (especially with brightly coloured food such as fresh fruit).
-- ADVERTISEMENT -- DETAILS, DETAILS Especially with infants, the details are often the cutest shots and really are something to cherish. Great lighting and a lense that focuses close are the keys here. Use natural light as always; work near a window or a glass door. Diffuse light from an overcast day, or through a sheer curtain works well. The perfect skin of your child will sculpt the light.   See how close you can focus with your camera. If you are lucky enough to have macro capability (very close focussing) then you are off to a great start. Get those toes, the bottom of the feet, the hands (both by themselves and grasping an adult finger). Get in close and grab the huge, wondrous eyes. Your imagination is the only limitation here. Black and white can really bring out the form in these images and works beautifully. Focus needs to be spot on when working up close.   AT THE SWIMMING POOL Mental note: camera is not in waterproof housing. Do not forget. Repeat as necessary! Swimming pools are variable and the photo opportunities are harder to categorise. Some are inside and you will need fast film, others are outside and the suggestion for the park applies; get there in the morning. Watch for reflections that can fool your light meter. On a point and shoot or simple SLR, consider setting your camera to a Snow or Backlit mode to add a little exposure (if you are outside and it's bright). For good compositions get in close - use that 200mm lense. The expanse of water really doesn't add much to most images. The tight shots are especially good of younger kids in mum or dads arms. Get down to the level of your subject (or maybe slightly above to get a nice simple background; the surface of the pool rather than the pool edge in the background). If it's outside and you can look down into the water there can be some nice effects (depending on the height of the sun and the finish on the bottom of the pool). If you are feeling adventurous, get in the pool and have someone pass you the camera. Get down to water level (or as close as you dare) and have your child blow some bubbles. The resulting image with the head half/in half/out of the water can be a treat. Don't forget to capture the kids getting in and out of the water. The sense of scale and clambering required can be precious, particularly for a paddling pool where they can be left to their own means as they try to get in and out. All this applies pretty well to the beach also (but watch for sand in the camera!). JUST FOOLING AROUND (OR ALL OF THE ABOVE) Most of what was described above can work anywhere. FIRST BIKE? Try panning with a slow shutter, or get in tight with a 200mm lense and wide aperture to capture the expression of concentration. Or get right down on the ground and shoot up with a wide angle lense (trying not to get run over) - nothing but blue sky in the background.

BAKING A CAKE IN THE KITCHEN? Get the details, stand on a chair and look down, pick the expressions, get mum and kids together, get the finger in the mixing bowl, get a close up of licking the wooden spoon.

DON'T IGNORE GRUMPY TIMES (After all, that is a part of a child's life and your experience). Get the unhappy expressions, either by themselves or with siblings. You don't want a whole album of these shots, but they can be fun to look back on. Use the kids as a chance to get some shots of your house and the kids in it. Take shots of the kids doing what they do. Looking out the front door in silhouette; 'helping' to hang out the washing; crashed on the couch watching TV. Get them sitting still and get them on the go (their natural state!).

Birthday party? Use your experience and get ready to work hard as a herd of kids run around. Capture the movement, sit on the floor at their level, get some portraits with a mid telephoto (100-130mm works fine inside), and of course get the cliché of the cake and candles with the birthday boy/girl about to blow them out. Black and white can work well here (especially indoors). Decide up front if you are going to try and get a shot of every child at the party.

Pets? What a challenge - kids and animals in the same shot! But seriously if you can get the hang of taking pictures of young kids, then young kids with your favourite pet is no different (whether photographed inside or out).

TEENAGERS
Ummmmm. Good luck. They have just become self conscious and no longer tolerate you following them with a camera (it's not cooool). The teenage years do however present the possibilities of sport. I don't pretend to know how to shoot sport, however any good tips on shooting professional sport will work just as well on amateurs or kids. Be prepared to buy a good telephoto if you want a serious chance of getting good images.

And there you go; it's really as simple as that. One thing can be guaranteed - as soon as you think you have mastered the art of photographing your kids, they will grow up just enough to present you with a new photographic opportunity. Of course this new opportunity will require that you expand your photographic skills, but it will also come with fresh rewards.

See you at the forums.

Rob Cruse, Nikonian in Sidney NSW, Australia. Username: anitasm