Today Ethan received a certificate at his school assembly. The award was for “Phenomenal Photography“.
For the last couple of days, Ethan’s teacher has been letting the kids have turns with their classroom’s very own digital camera. She has been giving them 5-10 minutes each to wander around outside, snapping as many photos as they can of “interesting” things.
At this stage, the kids are learning about the camera settings. It’s just a little point-and-shoot, but they know to use the “macro” setting, and they know how to use the zoom.
They haven’t even started learning about photo composition yet. But Ethan’s teacher was extremely impressed with the pictures he took yesterday. I gave her a blank CD this morning and she very kindly copied them all for me. Here’s a sample:
The first one, showing Ethan & a classmate looking down the drain through the grate, was his teacher’s absolute favourite. She wants to get it printed to display at the upcoming school art exhibition.
Personally? I want to enlarge it, print it, frame it, and hang it on my living room wall. I think it ROCKS. I love how you can see the rippling water, and the kids’ reflection. I also love how that part of the photo is in focus, and the top of the grate is blurry.
Ethan appears to have a good eye when it comes to photo composition. Notice how he gets in really close (so important!), and takes a photo of the object slightly off-centre (a very good photography trick). His photos are clear & sharp. He hasn’t been taught any of this stuff, it obviously just comes naturally to him. He’s also chosen some really interesting stuff to photograph – everyday things you normally wouldn’t notice.
I’m ashamed to say that I have never given Ethan my camera to play with. It never even crossed my mind; I had NO IDEA he was talented (or even interested!) in this area, but he obviously is.
Do you agree? Or am I biased? I don’t care if I am biased; I’m very proud of him!
Nevertheless, if his interest in photography continues, Santa may very well be bringing him a little digital camera of his own. 
They are brilliant! I totally agree, he has the *eye*. Nurture it.
By: Hay on August 29, 2008
at 7:09 pm
Heck Hannah those are awesome photos. My fav would have to be the last one – the colour, the perspective, everything about it is just fantastic. Ethan has alot of talent!!
By: juliemaree on August 29, 2008
at 7:18 pm
WOWSA these photos are GREAT – well done Ethan. And NO Hannah it is normal to not realise children’s interests until they come across them and are great at them.
At my Kindergarten we have cameras that they children use and the photos are great and NOT so good – some of them have a great eye and others are blurry….. but I have learnt that practice does help them refine their skills. A cheaper camera is better as if it does break (Knock on wood) then it is better than a $500 one…. another good idea is to make a long string necklace and attach it to the side of the camera, make the children wear it to start with, so if the camera falls it only goes to their waist – NOT the ground!!!!
Ps it took me ages to hand the camera to my 3 year olds- it has been left out in the rain twice, buried in the sandpit and then washed once, and dropped twice…. and it is still alive – if it like a cat then it has 4 lives left!!!!! hahahaha
By: mandyb on August 29, 2008
at 7:23 pm
fantastic photos, he sure is good!
By: ruthnz on August 29, 2008
at 7:36 pm
Wow, I like the last one best too. What a natural talent. It’s great that you have found out while he is still young, and can help him to nuture it.
By: Tracy le Roy on August 29, 2008
at 8:53 pm
Awesome photos he’s a natural
By: bronwyn on August 29, 2008
at 9:22 pm
awesome photos Hannah – he did really well and seems to have a good eye for those special shots.
By: Michele on August 29, 2008
at 9:45 pm
Sounds like a great present in the making for him then. He sure does have the knack for it.
By: Vicki on August 29, 2008
at 9:48 pm
Love the photos! My fave is 3, 5, 6 and 9. I can totally see them all framed in a collage style on his bedroom wall! Kamryn has been using my camera for a while but it’s a bit big for her so should get a littler one. LOL, I don’t even know what macro is lol.
By: Christi on August 29, 2008
at 11:40 pm
Christi had a great idea there – a collage of all of his photos for his wall!
They are brilliant – he is a definite natural!
By: Mich on August 29, 2008
at 11:57 pm
AWESome!! Those were really amazing. HOW OLD IS HE AGAIN?!?
I’m thinking a nice camera for Christmas may be in his future….
By: tracey on August 30, 2008
at 12:10 am
Oh, he’s got it, alright!
By: Kelly on August 30, 2008
at 3:11 am
Um YEAH! He’s got talent, no doubt. That first one is my fave too but I love the basketball too… the fact that he focussed on the dew…
He’s putting me to shame. Perhaps I should send him my camera, I think he’d put it to better use
By: Kami on August 30, 2008
at 4:12 am
Wow – these are great! I don’ t think you are biased at all. He definitely has an eye. I never would have thought to photograph some of those items but he did and he executed the thought very well. I love the ones of the boys looking in the drain but they are all great. Possibly that is my favorite because you get a glimpse of the photographer. But also there are so many layers and textures in that one. It is way cool.
Nice job, Ethan!
By: teeni on August 30, 2008
at 7:17 am
He definitely likes water. He managed to capture water in many different ways. I wonder if he realized that. What a great little photographer. I agree that you should get him a camera for Christmas.
By: joanharvest on August 30, 2008
at 7:47 am
Wow!! He has an amazing eye!!
By: Angella on August 30, 2008
at 9:23 am
How cool. Yep a definite little photographer there
By: Roo on August 30, 2008
at 10:21 am
I’m sitting here gobsmacked, Hannah. These are brilliant!
No way are you biased and I love the first photo too. Definitely one to enlarge, frame and place somewhere prominent in your home.
By: tw on August 30, 2008
at 11:43 am
Yep, he sure is talented. They are really cool fun shots. Go Ethan.
Kids often have a different perspective on what they see cause they are at a different level to us. So its great to give them this type of opportunity.
By: Trina on August 30, 2008
at 1:12 pm
Yes, kid’s got talent!
I love the dew drops on all sorts of things… but I think my favourite is the drainpipe at the end.
I was thinking of getting Mr 7 one of the kids cameras from Fisher Price – but at just over 1MP it wasn’t worth getting the photos printed. So definitely a cheaper point and shoot is the way to go I’d say. Wooo hooo Ethan!
By: kelly on August 30, 2008
at 1:35 pm
Cool photos!
We’re thinking of getting one for Tim some time. He copies Rod all the time with his Mobilo camera he creates. I’ve given him mine a few times too.
By: Penny on August 30, 2008
at 9:07 pm
these are great Hannah, you should be pleased…….. and yes, hand over your camera!
By: Angela on August 31, 2008
at 7:20 pm
Well done Ethan. Very cool shots. Love how he likes the zoom
By: Rachel on September 1, 2008
at 3:45 am
They are fantastic. They are the kind of shots I wish I could take! I am planning to take a photography course to get the *eye*. I wish I had it naturally like Ethan.
By: Robyn on September 1, 2008
at 5:09 am
Having such a talented Mom I am SO not surprised that young Ethan is showing such talent. GREAT photos!!!
I am envious, he has the artistic eye!!
By: Merri on September 1, 2008
at 8:48 am
Umm, wow, I can’t beleive someone so young could take some amazing photos, or even think to photograph such things. Honestly, I think they are incredible photos.
By: myonlineself on September 1, 2008
at 9:24 am
Wow – great photos. He really does have a good eye
By: Sharon on September 1, 2008
at 11:52 am
Fabulous photos and you are right to be proud – thansk for sharing them with us all. My favourite is the basketball. And what a great teacher to be giving the kids such fun assignments!
By: Meelie on September 1, 2008
at 3:14 pm
Wow Hannah – he’s good. Isn’t it cool that his teacher did that? And now look at him, a budding photographer. I am SO impressed. I love the basketball one. He has a great eye. Get that boy a camera! : )
By: Elaine@ on September 1, 2008
at 4:38 pm
Those pics are so cool, and I can see real talent there! You must be proud!
By: Rachel on September 1, 2008
at 5:21 pm
Wow!!!
I could take a few lessons from him!
Those are awesome!
I would be proud too!
By: Anna on September 1, 2008
at 9:33 pm
[...] a big photo frame that holds five 6×4 photos. Ethan chose his 5 favourite photos from his school photo shoot and we printed 2 copies of each. One set went into the photo frame, which is now hanging on his [...]
By: Our weekend « Blairs Boys on September 8, 2008
at 10:51 am
Wow you must be so proud. Those are awesome pics and I just love your basketball one Ethan. Creativity must run in the family. TFS once again xx
By: liz (dizzy lizzie) on October 3, 2008
at 10:45 pm
[...] is one of the photos Ethan took at school a few months ago. Remember he won a certificate for his photography skills? And I made noises about possibly buying [...]
By: Photo meme « Blairs Boys on November 27, 2008
at 4:39 pm