Our seven-year-old nephew spent a couple days with us this past week. One of the activities we did was spend part of a day at one of the local state parks here in Minnesota with his younger sister and mom. I gave him my *ist DL with my ZX-7 kit lens (28-70mm) and told him to "go nuts with it"! He has never used a camera before in his life!
I know he is a bright one, but now I know he also has an artistic eye. Take a look at these examples. These were taken without any coaching. He just composed and shot away!
He actually took 5 shots of this butterfly. With each shot, he snuck a little closer to try to get more of it in the frame. He looked just like he was hunting it! Just a millisecond after this shot, it flew away. He caught it at just the right moment with it's wings ready for flight!
I love how the water is "forming" around his sisters hands! No question what the subject matter is here.
For a seven-year-old, he really nailed this one if you think of the basic landscape rules. He used the rule of thirds for the walkers. He also put them on the left side so they look like they are walking into the picture along the curved path. On top of that, he figured out it looked better holding the camera in portrait!
Of course, some of this is probably "beginners luck" and I know he hasn't a clue about photographic "rules", but the fact that he was able to pull off these shots shows he has the artistic basics even if he doesn't know what they are called. It was just instinct in his child's mind. Oh to be seven again!!
When we got home, he was all excited to look at them on the computer. I couldn't believe how great some of these were! With no coaching! Honestly! He has never picked up a camera before in his life!
Of course there were about 4 dozen pictures of just trees and grass, some in and some out of focus, but who of us hasn't done that!
I am truly a proud uncle!