Abstract photography is a wonderful way teaching photography to children.

For each photography workshop I like to have a theme to focus on and was very excited to run one on Abstract photography.

Abstract Photography is such a great way to introduce photography to children as its all about your vision. You capture something in a way that is not usually seen and you can be quite creative with it.

The children in this workshop were of age 9-13 and for some it was the first time they were using the camera.

What I love about teaching children is that no matter how old they are, they love being creative and enjoy seeing their images printed. abstract photography for children

abstract photography for children

As with all my workshops, part of the day is spent in the park, applying theory to practice. We had a go at taking photos of trees in black and white. abstract photography for children

We used different ways of capturing movement in pictures.

Here are some of the images the children captured on the day and what they said about the workshop. I couldn’t have been more prouder of what they produced!

Emily (13 years) said – “There are so many settings in a camera and I learnt how to use them. The workshop was fantastic and enriching!”

Her mum said – “Emily had a wonderful time and I was very impressed with the photographs you took. She would love to come back in the summer”

abstract photography

Emaad (9 years) said – “I enjoyed learning how to take abstract photography and learning all the different modes in my camera. I especially enjoyed using the night mode to take shots of the glowsticks”

abstract photographyt collage

Hayder (9 years) said – “I loved learning about abstract photography and how my idea was different to others. I really enjoyed the night activity we did using the glow sticks, can’t wait to try some more.”

abstract photography collage

Louis (11 years) said – “I enjoyed learning how to use the different modes in the camera. I enjoyed the glowsticks activity the most. Was a really useful workshop and would recommend it!”

His mum said – “He had such a brilliant time, really love it and very proud showing me his photos. Thank you, I’m in awe!”

abstract photography collage

Nikhita (12 years) said – “I was so excited to use my new DSLR camera at this course and just loved experimenting. I’m very proud of the photos I took and can’t wait to explore my camera even more.”

Abstract photography

Olivia (11 years) said – “I learnt how to use the black and white feature in my camera. I really enjoyed the food photography and spice decoration. The workshop is great fun as we learn so many things.”

Sara (11 years) said – “I didn’t know how to use the macro mode at first but now I love it. I enjoyed the food/fruit activities and especially the spices one. The workshop was super fun and interactive. There were so many different activities which was enjoyable and you got to meet new people”

abstract photography collages

Sofia (12 years) said – “I really enjoyed the workshop because I learnt how to take black and white images as well as interesting selfies. I will try out the spinning selfies more!”

Abstract photography collage

Zak (11 years) said – “I learned what lots of modes are on the camera and what they do. I enjoyed the glow stick photos in night mode. I would describe the workshop as exciting, enjoyable and very helpful!”

His mum said – “He loved it and his photos are fantastic! he can’t wait for his one-to-one session with you!”

abstract photography collage

Photography is a great way for children to express their creativity. After each activity I always encourage children to look through their photos and choose the ones they love.

You will be surprised at the results as children see the world so differently to adults and they are constantly surprising me! abstract photography workshop children

I will be announcing my summer workshops soon so if you want to be one of the first to hear about them then contact me and I will add you to my special VIP list.

by Follow these top 10 tips to take better photos on your mobile phone.

CLEAN YOUR LENS

I know this may sound obvious, but you will be amazed by the amount of dirt and smudges you find on your lens build up from your pockets, handbags and kids. So, get into the habit of cleaning your phone with a tissue or soft part of your clothes (do not wipe on your jeans or fingers!!).

GET ON THE GRID

The best way of achieving straighter images (especially for landscape) is by enabling the grid feature on your phone. This should be in your camera settings and nine equal boxes will appear when you switch your camera on. Use the 3×3 grid to align your images and hey presto no more leaning tower of Pisa!

RELY ON NATURAL LIGHT

Understanding light is one of the most important factors in any photos. It can transform the mood and atmosphere of the photo. Try to use natural light on your subject and avoid using built-in flash as they are usually unflattering or can be too harsh.

DITCH THE ZOOM

By zooming in too much the quality of your image decreases, and it appears more pixelated. To get better and sharper images try to get closer to your subject or use minimal zoom.

GO PORTRAIT!

Ever wondered how professional portraits stand out? (Well, the “not so very hidden” secret is that we create a shallow depth of field by setting our aperture wide). You can achieve this look by using the portrait mode on your phone. The camera phone blurs the background and puts the focus on the subject. Best used for individual, couple’s portraits and even makes food look good but practice by varying the distance.

SHOW ME THE LIGHT

Light is key when taking good photos so understanding where your light is and how to position yourself/subject is important. Put your camera phone on selfie and do a full spin to see where the light is hitting you most flattering. You may also want to try backlight so when the light source is behind you, it creates a halo effect.

HONE IN ON YOUR FOCUS

Phone cameras are normally set to automatic focus but sometimes the subject is not so obvious, or you may want to change the focus point. To adjust where you want your phone camera to focus, simply tap on the subject and a square icon will appear. This will shift your focus and sharpen your subject.

VARY YOUR SHOTS

Rather than taking the same type of shot over and over again, try changing the perspective (go higher up or lower down). Another tip when photographing building or landmarks is to use the panoramic mode vertically (going up or down). This lets you take a series of photos and stitch them together into one wide or tall image.

READY, STEADY, GO!

Nobody likes blurry images, well unless you are creating a purpose blur! To minimise camera shake use both hands or lean on a surface, wall or even a friend’s shoulder to create stability. For low light conditions, time lapse and long exposure, purchasing a small tripod can be more helpful.

LOOK THROUGH AND EDIT YOUR IMAGES

Taking a good photo on your mobile phone is just the first step and with a few tweaks you can turn your good photos into great photos! Most mobile phones now come with editing features such as exposure, contrast, white balance, crop, sharpness, and magic wand. If you want to further edit your images, there are editing apps such as Snapseed, Adobe Photoshop Express and Instagram offer further features as well as one tap filters. Try converting your image to black and white to create a certain mood!

I hope by following these top tips you will see a difference and start taking better photos on your mobile phone. Practising and experimenting is the best way to learn, so have a play on your phone and see what works for you but most importantly have fun!!

If you want to further develop and compose photos creatively then why not sign up to my adult mobile phone workshop. I will be running them at my home studio in North London, N20 from January 2024. Contact me for further details.

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