Happy National Photography Month!
As the sunny days of May roll in, it’s the perfect time to step outside and participate in the excitement of National Photography Month! Whether you’re a fan of being behind the lens or in front of it, photography opens up a whole world of creativity just waiting to be explored.
Photography is like a window where you can show the world from your own perspective, so don’t be shy to get playful! Have you ever tried snapping photos upside down or from down low? It’s a surefire way to capture some truly one-of-a-kind views! Or how about getting eye-to-eye with your furry friends or tiny creatures like insects? You’ll be amazed at the fascinating effects you can achieve!
Another awesome trick to make your photos pop is to use what’s around you. Look for natural frames like curving paths, fences, or even streams that can guide the viewer’s eye straight to the focal point of a photo. These are called leading lines, and they’re like little arrows that point right to the subject of your photo!
A fun photography activity to try this month is a Nature Photography Scavenger Hunt!
Get ready to explore, experiment, and let your creativity shine this National Photography Month!
Non-fiction books on photography from COSMOS:
Guide to Photography: Tips & Tricks on How to be a Great Photographer from the Pros & your Pals at My Shot by Nancy Honovich
“In the age of smartphones and selfies, why not learn from the pros how to take great photos to share with friends and family! Here’s a fun, fact-filled, kid-friendly guide that is jam-packed with all the essentials for budding photographers. From how to set up a shot and stage the lighting and from the best software to short assignments, you’ll learn all the important photographic concepts and basics of equipment, lighting aperture, lenses, depth of field, and more. This wide-ranging book also has sections devoted to composition and photographing different subjects (animals, people, sports, landscapes). Before and after shots offer visual explanations while tips and photographs from National Geographic photographers are featured throughout, making this the best photography guide out there today for children (and adult beginners too!).”
Seeing Things: A Kid’s Guide to Looking at Photographs by Joel Meyerowitz
“Uses photographs to provide examples on how to interpret and appreciate photographs, offering advice on characteristics such as color, timing, and emotion.”
Super Simple Camera Projects: Inspiring & Educational Science Activities by Alex Kuskowski
“Ever wondered how a camera works? Snap up Super Simple Camera Projects. Find out about the history of the camera. Discover how George Eastman changed the photography industry. Then do the science-based camera projects. This book has a timeline, easy-to-follow steps, how-to pictures, and best of all, it’s written for kids!”
Eyes Open: 23 Photography Projects for Curious Kids by Susan Meiselas
“Twenty-three enticing projects help inspire a process of discovery and new ways of telling stories and animating ideas. Eyes Open features photographs by young people from around the globe, as well as work by professional artists that demonstrates how a simple idea can be expanded. Playful and meaningful, this book is for young would-be photographers and those interested in expressing themselves creatively.”-Amazon.
Fiction books on photography from COSMOS:
The Golden Hour by Niki Smith
“After witnessing a violent attack at school, Manuel struggles with anxiety but his cell phone camera helps him find anchors when he dissociates, and an unexpected friendship opens up new possibilities.”
Delicates by Brenna Thummler
“Marjorie Glatt’s life hasn’t been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie’s only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she’ll be labeled as “a freak who sees dead people.” With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell’s ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is. Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. She’s an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as “different” by all the other kids in school. Constantly feeling on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing her best friend, Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures?” -Book flap
Photo Finish by Bonnie Bryant
“Lisa’s thrilled at the offer to visit the stables at a racetrack and she’d love to take photos of some of the Thoroughbreds. But when she uncovers a plot to make one of the stallions too sick to run, can her photographs help bring the guilty to justice?”
Meet the Bigfeet by Kevin Sherry
“Blizz Richards is a great guy, a caring boss, and a loyal friend. Oh, yeah…he’s also a yeti! He’s made it his life’s mission to study cryptids like him, hidden animals who have taken a powerful oath to never be seen by the outside world. So when a photo of Cousin Brian becomes a media sensation, Brian can’t handle the guilt and disappears. But it’s time for the annual Bigfoot family reunion, and it won’t be the same without him. Luckily, Blizz and his devoted team are on the case. Can they find their furry friend before their secret gets out for good?”
