Minnesota 4-H @ Home 4-H Discovery Learning at Home

What is 4-H @ Home? 4-H @ Home is an after-school program that has been designed to be a compliment to what you are currently learning at home through your local school district. Minnesota 4-H prides itself in providing high quality, experiential learning experiences to youth in grades K – 13. Below is a 4-H @ Home lesson on photography. No strings attached, no “homework” to report, just a fun activity you can do at home.

Class ObjectivesTo give middle and high school youth the opportunity to explore photography as an art and a camera as a technical piece of equipment. The class will cover basic knowledge of a camera, how it works, and the science involved, providing the opportunity to practice techniques in composition. This class will utilize inquiry-based learning.

Lesson ObjectivesTo be able to explain the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Photo

There are many components that make a beautiful, interesting, informative or captivating picture. Many people simply “point and shoot”. Youth can create photos with good composition by learning a few basic rules. This lesson is a review of some of the concepts reviewed last week, but will incorporate these techniques into a hands-on-activity.

MaterialsCameras, printers, pencils, paper, and National Geographic (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photo-galleries/) or National Geographic Images on Google Search.

Inquiry● Question: What does the word composition mean? (Tell someone or write it

down on a piece of paper.)For you to think about: Merriam Webster describes composition as the manner in which the parts of a thing are put together. The makeup or constitution. It is the combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.

● Question: What were the elements of composition that we learned last lesson?

For you to think about: Isolating the Subject (so your subject is the focal point); Seeing Lines, Shapes, Patterns and Colors Look for hidden lines in your photo; Positioning the Subject (Sometimes it is more interesting for the subject to be off to the side or getting the best proportion of sky and land in the photo); Framing the Subject (use anything as a frame: a window, the crook of a tree or an overhanging branch); Adding Depth (such as a fence or getting low to the ground for things on the ground); and Showing Size (by putting something of recognizable size in the picture.) Pass out National Geographic Magazines or search the web for pictures from National Geographic Magazines (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photo-galleries/) or National Geographic Images on Google Search.

● Question: What makes the pictures in National Geographic a pleasing composition to you? (Tell someone or write your answers down on a piece of paper.)

Lesson The Rule of ThirdsThe focal point doesn’t have to be in the middle of your picture for you to have a great photo.

Photographers use the Rule of Thirds to create interesting pictures. This places the focal point off-center.

https://www.colesclassroom.com/using-rule-thirds-photography/

Your focal point doesn’t need to be in the middle of the frame in order for your photograph to be good. As a matter of fact, it is often better if it is not. Professional photographers use something called the Rule of Thirds to make their compositions more interesting.

https://gurushots.com/article/32-tantalizing-examples-of-why-the-rule-of-thirds-rules

Here is how it works:

● Imagine a picture as a rectangle divided equally by two vertical lines and by two horizontal ones. See where the lines cross inside the photo? If your

focal point falls on one of those spots or on one of the lines, it is following the rule.

● Find a photograph you like and place straws

or pencils or spaghetti strands and order the photograph to simulate a Rule of Thirds pattern.

● Use a piece of paper to cover parts of the photo. What would the picture look like if the photographer didn’t follow the rule? If the focal point was exactly in the center. Would it feel motionless or frozen? Would it feel off balance?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/313422455311738468/

Some cameras and phones have this grid built into them to use as a guide. Look on the menu on a camera or settings on the camera on your phone. This guide can help you view a scene using the Rule of Thirds.

https://

capturelandscapes.com/the-rule-of-thirds-explained/

https://www.lightroompresets.com/blogs/pretty-presets-blog/6264342-the-rule-of-thirds

More Challenges:

● Place a person in the viewfinder. Take some photos. Evaluate them using the Rule of Thirds.

● Use the zoom feature on your lens or in the digital picture program to practice the Rule of Thirds.

The closer you get, the more effective the photo will be.

https://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds/

Golden PhotoThe golden ratio is basically a math term that describes a ratio, 1- 1.618 that is commonly found in nature. Let’s look at the ratio visually:You start with the main rectangle, which is drawn to a ratio of 1:1.618.

Look at the spiral shape found within the drawing. See how the line starts at the bottom left corner, and the spiral forms by following the opposite corner of each square as it goes clockwise.

This ratio is supposedly the most pleasing to the eye – it is found in nature in flowers, plants, pinecones, fruits and vegetables, the human face and hand, etc.The various spirals below show an extent to which this occurs in nature. The top L picture is the ovary of an Anglerfish. The top R is Hurricane Irene. These were found on the Inspiration Green blog- a great post showing many more examples of this spiral in nature. https://craftwhack.com/golden-ratio-for-kids/

Here are some additional examples using photography:

Many artists have subsequently taken this idea and used it to plan their painting compositions. Leonardo DaVinci was probably the most famous artist to use the Golden Ratio in his paintings. Georges Seurat also used it. Check out the Mona Lisa, Bathers at Asnieres, and the Last Supper:

https://expertphotography.com/golden-ratio-vs-rule-of-thirds/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/473933560771053005/ReflectionShow your best pictures on your screen to someone and tell them why you think they are good using the concepts you have learned. Homework: Take pictures with your own camera this week using one of the rules and keep at it until you have something county fair worthy. Show it at the fair!

Searching for more…Contact your local Extension Educator:Name: Lisa Kasson-BauerEmail: Lkassonb@umn.eduPhone: 218-299-7346

Sources: National 4-H Council. (2007). Controlling the Image. Craftwhack, Craftwhack, Mojica, B., Andrea, Izzy, Pushpakaran, P. raj, & Nyberg, J. (2019, January 30). Golden Ratio for Kids. Retrieved from https://craftwhack.com/golden-ratio-for-kids/ Modules were adapted by University of Minnesota extension- Clay County, 2013 Revised 2020 Developed by Minnesota NW Regional Team Afterschool 4-H @ Home: Local Extension Educators, Kaitlin Barbosa (Kittson County), Katie Becker (Polk County), Kim Dailey (Wadena County), Rebekah Donner (Mahnomen County), Linda Houglum (Norman County), Jackie Kokett (Douglas County), Lisa Kasson-

Bauer (Clay County), Janet Malone (East Otter Tail County), Kayla Maas (Traverse County), Ashley Nerhus (Pennington County), Alysa Tulibaski (Marshall County)

Adapted by: Lisa Kasson-Bauer, Extension Educator, MN 4-H Youth Development, Clay County (2020)