Beginner Engaging a teenager in photography.

Cluster

Cluster

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My 16yo grandson is of the digital age. I showed him a film camera and a developed negative strip and told him the brief basics of old fashioned photography. He was genuinely surprised, possibly a little shocked that the camera made real physical images.
Sensing that he might have some interest in this, I gave him an old Cosmic Symbol 35mm scale focus camera to handle and look over. When I next see him, I will suggest that we pop a film in it and both take cameras on a walk to make a few images (then he can finish the film himself). We can have an afternoon in the future where we develop our films.

I chose the Cosmic Symbol because I have two (one works, one works most of the time). I thought that an outing, each using the same camera might be useful, but I wonder if the limitations of full manual, non-metered, scale focus working might put him off. I can give him a 35mm SLR that has non-coupled metering which will, I guess, better demonstrate focus and DOF. For anyone that has introduced a newbie to film, is one likely to be more successful than the other?
 
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It's good to learn the basics and it'll probably surprise you how well he gets on with it once you have helped him, more importantly it will bring you even closer together. :)
 
The things I enjoyed when I were a lad was less of the technicalities and more the anticipation of getting a film developed, looking back through the images and thinking back to when they were taken. That's the advantage over instant digital in my view, seeing with fresh eyes took me back in time in a way. Blowing up the negatives was also great.
I now think I need a darkroom...
 
I've given my daughter my old Canon d500 to use whilst we go out on family days and she's 11. To be honest, I don't pressure her into taking photos I just ask if she wants to take it when we go out. Sometimes its a yes and sometimes a no. But she has taken some very nice pictures of flowers and 'bugs' on it using the old kit lens that came with it. She's got no interest in it once we get home and hasn't looked at her photos or shown an interest in editing them (I don't edit mine yet as waiting to pick a software package) but it's all small steps, one at a time. I just think if we can get them interested in one element of it (for her it's currently taking the pictures and showing mom how they are better than mine) the rest may follow when she is ready. I ask my son who is 13 and he's got no interest in anything that's not a Xbox lol
 
Cluster said:
My 16yo grandson is of the digital age. I showed him a film camera and a developed negative strip and told him the brief basics of old fashioned photography. He was genuinely surprised, possibly a little shocked that the camera made real physical images.
Sensing that he might have some interest in this, I gave him an old Cosmic Symbol 35mm scale focus camera to handle and look over. When I next see him, I will suggest that we pop a film in it and both take cameras on a walk to make a few images (then he can finish the film himself). We can have an afternoon in the future where we develop our films.

I chose the Cosmic Symbol because I have two (one works, one works most of the time). I thought that an outing, each using the same camera might be useful, but I wonder if the limitations of full manual, non-metered, scale focus working might put him off. I can give him a 35mm SLR that has non-coupled metering which will, I guess, better to demonstrate focus and DOF. For anyone that has introduced a newbie to film, is one likely to be more successful than the other?
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This problem isn’t confined to film photography or any sort of photography — “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” applies. Your success here depends on whether it sparks he’s interest or not, you can only give him the opportunity and see if he takes to it,
 
The one thing about the cosmic symbol - speaking as a user - is that the images they produce are poor, and if he's hoping for pictures that look a little more normal then he'll be disappointed. OTOH if he fails in love with the process as some do, then the actual images may be unimportant.
 
My teenage son started out with Milky Way photography. Wasn't bad at it really seeing as he was 14 at the time...... We've been to Portland Bill, Stonehenge, more local places over the past 2 years or so. Had a few of my old lenses, old Lightroom & Photoshop programs. Bought a MSM star tracker. Really into it. Also took some landscape type stuff on occasion.

Now, he's 16 in a few weeks, and has really been into fitness for a while, joined a rugby team (after playing at school) & now he's discovered 'girls' ......... :)

Hopefully I can nag him to join me on occasions but he does also have his GCSE exams next year & in all fairness he is a top student so.... I just hope in the future we can have more adventure together.
 
For the first day's outing, maybe I will fix him up with a P&S "reusable" camera. My 8yo grandson could come along and use one too. If I choose a bright day for our outing and load them up with a 20 shot roll each, we can dev them in one go, on the same reel.
If the elder grandson takes to it, then I'll give him an SLR. For a youngster brought up on phone cameras, even the concept of focus will be new and best demonstrated through the VF of an SLR.
 
sphexx said:
“you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” applies.
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Agreed.

I really wouldn't try to push children towards something like photography. They need to discover their interests for themselves and pushing your interests on them will more than likely push them away.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
Agreed.

I really wouldn't try to push children towards something like photography. They need to discover their interests for themselves and pushing your interests on them will more than likely push them away.
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I thought of it more as offering him an opportunity to try it. Something he can take or leave, or try and then go no further.
 
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