Nikkormat FT-2 and my daughter

[Andre Reinders]

A few weeks ago I went out to take some photographs, I brought along my daughter Hope who just turned 4.

This was the outing: http://nelsonfoto.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=211

I promised (her? myself? some other forum members?) that next time we went out I would start her using the Nikkormat FT-2. I did. Mind you I slapped on a 35mm lens, popped in some cheap 200 ISO film, preset the exposure at about f11 and 1/125 sec. (or so), and set the focus to infinity (anything beyond 15 feet or so). I showed her how to advance the film and press the shutter button - then told her to take pictures of stuff far away and not the grass.

It was in the hour before sunset, and I went back to a barn I drove by a couple of times - thinking that I had to come back late in the day. For the first time I actually checked the web to see when the sunset time would be, so we could get there during the nice evening light.

My photos will be a while as I did not finish the roll of Fuji Sensia, but she burned through her roll. I also put on the 135mm lens about 2/3 of the way through the roll, but the shutter speed was too slow for her to hand hold (heavy for a 4 year old!).

Here are my 3 favourites:







After a couple more rolls - maybe I will try to introduce her to the focus control.

[Dean Williams]

She's off to a good start.  You have the right idea, Andre.

[head zoo keeper]

Indeed, off to a wonderful start! Three good pix in one roll... better than my hit-rate!

Cheers,
[other Dean]

[sandeha]

That last one is a peach.  Love the tree on the left.

[Graham Serretta]

Now she and my grandson should meet (he's 5) to discuss their common interest.  I warned you about letting her loose with the Nikormat - now see what ya done?

[Mike Kovacs]

OK - I'll have to try this with Emily (also 4).  She is becoming very interested in cameras, even watches on quietly across the kitchen table as I tear them to pieces and bring them back to life.

[r-brian]

My Katie turned 5 last March.  Santa brought her a Nikon digital last Christmas.  Prior to that, she would run around the house 'taking' pictures with a Kodak 828 Pony.  She really enjoys taking pictures.  Pictures of her brother, her toys, the dogs, her self, outside, inside; it doesn't matter.  And amazingly, she takes some very good photos.  More amazingly, she has learned to navigate thru the menus on the camera and she can't even read.  I have no idea how she figured out all that.  For small kids I think a digital camera is great.

Brian

[Graham Serretta]

My 10 year old grandson (in Sydney) had to show me how to use his mother's digicam.  I predict that his generation will grow up with a much greater intuitive understanding of things digital than their parents.

[Andre Reinders]

We used to give Hope the 'old' digicam (the one we bought before she was born!) and she enjoyed that, she would also walk around with some old binocular things and pretend that they were a camera - saying "click, click" and "say cheese".

She started telling everyone that her dad was a photographer, and then after using a couple of disposable cameras, she said she was a photographer too! So cute!

Anyway I certainly enjoy sharing my hobby with her, and getting her involved at such a young age.....TLR next?

[head zoo keeper]

These are great stories, folks!