When Covid first hit back in early 2020, I created a 30 Day Photo Challenge with the hope it would help kids find creativity and connection. At the same time, I hoped it would give parents a bit of a break as their kids explored some fun topics and activities. It has been the most popular course in KPA with kids signing up from all over the world and has personally given me HUGE joy in seeing what the kids come up with.
As winter break starts today for a lot of kids, this is a perfect activity to get kids exploring their own creativity! As socialization options are limited, they can do a fun project like this to keep their minds and bodies moving!
How does it work? Kids receive a challenge every day for, you got it, 30 days! They log on to the course and check out their challenge for the day. Some challenges just take a couple minutes to read over and others will take longer. Whatever the challenge, the kids are learning or trying something new related to photography... a composition technique, a storytelling collage, a way to look at light, a set-up of some kind, the list goes on and on. The best fun and exploration starts when they take out their phones and cameras and start to complete the challenges given.
Kids also have the option to post their pictures in the community hub where other kids can see their photographs. They'll have fun seeing how other kids interpreted the same challenge.
So I thought I'd give an example of one of the challenges today. This is one of the simplest challenges of the 30. Yet, I believe it highlights one of the most important aspects of being a photographer.
What is that you ask? Read through the challenge and see if you can guess!
From My Porch
This challenge is about forcing you to REAAAAALLLLLLLLLY look, observe and notice.
We are staying pretty close to home these days.
So this is a perfect challenge for right now. It's about limiting yourself! We often talk about how "There are no limits" and "The sky is the limit" but sometimes, limitations are a good thing!!
Here is your challenge...
You can ONLY take pictures from your front or back porch.
This challenge will force you to really LOOK, observe and keep your eyes open!!! As you're working within a small area, you may notice things that otherwise you would have overlooked if you didn't take the time to slow down and really LOOK! You might find you take a few photos and then feel you're done.
But keeping going. Push yourself to find more.
While you are looking and observing and taking photos, remember all the fun things you've learned about photography so far in this 30 day challenge: find a reflection, seek new perspectives, change your angle, frame a subject.
And also try your best to remove any distractions that you don't need. You can do that by moving something you don't want to have in your frame. You could also shift your angle so the unwanted element isn't in your frame anymore. Try not to have anything in your frame that is distracting from your main subject.
Don't do this challenge too quickly. You may be tempted to take those 4 quick pictures and say "I'm done!". To help you, set a time for 10 or 15 minutes. Don't stop taking pictures until the time is up. And REALLY take the time to notice what's around you. Use the mantra from waaaay back on Day 1 to seek new perspectives.
NOTE: If you don't have a porch, give yourself another limited area. Perhaps only your backyard, only your front/back steps, only the bathroom, only the kitchen.
