Usually, seniors have a mobile phone with a camera and use it to take photos. This can be the first step to getting interested in photography. Some of them prefer using traditional cameras. This kind of activity is an opportunity to teach them about photography, IT tools, and improve the necessary skills.
The basic terms we teach seniors are:
- Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images or pictures by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation.
- Architectural photography – photographing buildings and similar structures.
- Street photography – focuses on people and their behavior in public, sometimes recording historical events.
- Portrait photography – a photograph of a person or group of people that captures the personality of the subject using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses.
- Artistic photography – focuses on creating composition; it is the goal of the photograph.
- Panoramic photography – views of wide areas, up to full 360° panoramas.
- Macro photography – focuses on small or close-up objects.
The more practical part of the activities involves working with light and composition. It is helpful to provide links to websites, discuss them, and then try in real life. The work is easier and more effective if all seniors watch the same materials. One of the videos is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJWNQv01VtI – it is slightly over 3 minutes long and explains the basic rules of lighting.
For work on photo composition, we recommend:
- https://petapixel.com/2016/09/14/20-composition-techniques-will-improve-photos/
- https://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules
Opportunities to improve IT skills include working with programs and applications for photo editing. The most popular are: GIMP, PAINT.NET, PHOTOSHOP EXPRESS, PIXLR.COM, ADOBE PHOTOSHOP FIX, PICMONKEY, POLAR PHOTO EDITOR, FOTOR, PICASA.
Another opportunity is creating photo stories using a mobile phone. A simple application is called Steller. Here is a short instruction:
NEW APPLICATION – NEW SKILLS
Steller – a mobile application to create e-books
- Find the application on your mobile: https://steller.co – e-books can also be viewed on a laptop.
- Load the app.
- Register (you can use your email, Facebook, or Twitter).
- Once registered, you can create your own e-book using your photos on the mobile. You can send it to others or publish it. You can also view e-books from other users.
Example of an e-book created in the app: https://steller.co/s/8CBdkWUqnRy