Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Discussion
A little help please guys.
I'm an instructor with the Army Cadet Force and some of our cadets have asked about doing photography as their skill in their D of E awards. The cadets are aged 14 to 18 and have different skill levels as well as differing levels of access to cameras, from phones to dSLRs.
As a youth organisation sponsored by the MOD we have access to some excellent photo opportunities - ceremonial, military hardware and some fantastic scenery on the training areas. Has anyone been an assessor for the D of E?
I'm looking at getting each cadet to produce a portfolio, and maybe to introduce the use of post-processing, filters and different settings on the cameras. Any other suggestions?
SD.
I'm an instructor with the Army Cadet Force and some of our cadets have asked about doing photography as their skill in their D of E awards. The cadets are aged 14 to 18 and have different skill levels as well as differing levels of access to cameras, from phones to dSLRs.
As a youth organisation sponsored by the MOD we have access to some excellent photo opportunities - ceremonial, military hardware and some fantastic scenery on the training areas. Has anyone been an assessor for the D of E?
I'm looking at getting each cadet to produce a portfolio, and maybe to introduce the use of post-processing, filters and different settings on the cameras. Any other suggestions?
SD.
You might want to set a bit of an agenda and/or an expectation for the students here. "Improving skills" in the context of modern digital photography might be how to use the sliders in pp, or it might be composition, lighting, subject-matter, care of the camera/lens/other equipment, charging batteries ahead of a shoot etc. If they've never used manual settings on e.g an SLR then there's a whole host of opportunities there to develop skills around available light, f-stop, ISO and shutter speed.
In a sporting context, my club, which has a National Governing Body, uses a proficiency scheme for beginners and thus it's straightforward to put a novice DofE student through the programme i.e they go from 0-fencing in a few weeks. Book ticked, job jobbed for the bronze. For silver and gold, progression to regional and national competition entries would demonstrate the skill gained over time
Ironically, one of the DofE's suggestions is that candidates photograph their learning and achievement. There's an excellent opportunity to do a photo diary on a smart phone of improving photography skills on bigger kit with tripods, lenses, filters etc etc.
OP, are you generally in the Bronze and Silver category? If Silver/Gold, you might want to consider suggesting a 365 with a residential stopover somewhere to tie in the nights away aspects too...
In a sporting context, my club, which has a National Governing Body, uses a proficiency scheme for beginners and thus it's straightforward to put a novice DofE student through the programme i.e they go from 0-fencing in a few weeks. Book ticked, job jobbed for the bronze. For silver and gold, progression to regional and national competition entries would demonstrate the skill gained over time
Ironically, one of the DofE's suggestions is that candidates photograph their learning and achievement. There's an excellent opportunity to do a photo diary on a smart phone of improving photography skills on bigger kit with tripods, lenses, filters etc etc.
OP, are you generally in the Bronze and Silver category? If Silver/Gold, you might want to consider suggesting a 365 with a residential stopover somewhere to tie in the nights away aspects too...
Thanks all. I was volunteered for this - typical really.
My ideas would have been for bronze -
1) to explain how a camera (either film or digital) works - very simply.
2) to take a small portfolio of photos on a subject of their choice.
3) crop and resize images using software of their choice
For Silver -
1) Different types of camera - simple point and shoot, bridge and (d)SLR
2) Aperture and exposure
3) A portfolio of photos on a given subject.
4) Applying effects in software - examples given of before and after.
Comments?
SD
My ideas would have been for bronze -
1) to explain how a camera (either film or digital) works - very simply.
2) to take a small portfolio of photos on a subject of their choice.
3) crop and resize images using software of their choice
For Silver -
1) Different types of camera - simple point and shoot, bridge and (d)SLR
2) Aperture and exposure
3) A portfolio of photos on a given subject.
4) Applying effects in software - examples given of before and after.
Comments?
SD
I think your categories are a little jumbled. Try to get 'photography' in first before you get carried away with software and manipulation malarkey.
To re-order your points roughly:
1) to explain how a camera (either film or digital) works
2) Different types of camera - simple point and shoot, bridge and (d)SLR - actually start with DSLR and work down, because really DSLRs are the most simple to understand.
3) Aperture, shutter speed and how they make and affect exposure. Depth of field
4) COMPOSITION! The rules and how to break them.
5) to take a small portfolio of photos on a subject of their choice.
6) crop and resize images using software of their choice
7) Applying effects in software - examples given of before and after.
I'm not happy with the idea of 'applying effects'; black and white fine but be wary of trying to make bland food taste better with ketchup. If you can do exposure and composition you're home and dry
To re-order your points roughly:
1) to explain how a camera (either film or digital) works
2) Different types of camera - simple point and shoot, bridge and (d)SLR - actually start with DSLR and work down, because really DSLRs are the most simple to understand.
3) Aperture, shutter speed and how they make and affect exposure. Depth of field
4) COMPOSITION! The rules and how to break them.
5) to take a small portfolio of photos on a subject of their choice.
6) crop and resize images using software of their choice
7) Applying effects in software - examples given of before and after.
I'm not happy with the idea of 'applying effects'; black and white fine but be wary of trying to make bland food taste better with ketchup. If you can do exposure and composition you're home and dry
shed driver said:
Cheers Simpo - makes a lot of sense. I'm a simple Sergeant Instructor with little experience of doing this. I'll take your ideas on board - hopefully I can get this off the ground.
Whereabouts are you? Anywhere near Manchester?
SD
I'm not far from Manchester (M6 J15/16), and wouldn't mind helping out if you want, perhaps to go through Simpo's guide with you in person. Whereabouts are you? Anywhere near Manchester?
SD
I'm not a pro-photographer, unlike Simpo, although do work in live telly, so know my way around lenses, exposure, composition etc, and am a reasonable amateur photographer when the mood/opportunity takes me.
If you can get to my office, I've a massive whiteboard that would be helpful in explaining things, we find it very handy to be able to map out ideas, principles and break technical stuff down into the basics.
Send me a PM if it suits you.
For something worthwhile like the ACF I can chuck in say 4hrs in a studio at the right time. They could do portraits of each other in uniform or whatever.
It is in central Preston.
ETA www.ianwalker-photography.com
It is in central Preston.
ETA www.ianwalker-photography.com
ian in lancs said:
For something worthwhile like the ACF I can chuck in say 4hrs in a studio at the right time. They could do portraits of each other in uniform or whatever.
It is in central Preston.
ETA www.ianwalker-photography.com
It's at times like this that I really love PH. Ian, could I contact you one day and discuss this - what a truly kind offer.It is in central Preston.
ETA www.ianwalker-photography.com
SD.
shed driver said:
It's at times like this that I really love PH. Ian, could I contact you one day and discuss this - what a truly kind offer.
SD.
sure, PM through here when you're ready. For info I'm CRB cleared too.SD.
www.ianwalker-photography.com/Photography/Studio
Edited by ian in lancs on Wednesday 4th September 22:40
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