The common thought when someone mentions digital media among young teens or kids is this: The idle being, hunched and with giant thumbs, texting like mad and completely unengaged. Because of the things that children and youth are doing on their gadgets – continuous Facebook-ing, IM-ing, online bullying, and sexting – everyone thinks of technology being negative!
What I have tried to do is to devise a way to include my enjoyment of these devices while maintaining a love for the outdoors. For over a year now I have been doing amateur photography while using those same technologies, and I think that is a great way for kids my age to become ecologically conscientious and more involved in their communities.
Photography is the use of a camera to procure photographs. Boring? Not really. Photography opens the eyes to see what we usually ignore, shows you the detail of that leaf, this sidewalk crack, and the beauty in everyone’s face. Nowadays we have the digital photograph, with it’s $20 memory card that can hold several thousand images. Plus video. But here’s how it helps kids.
As a kid, life goes FAST. A lot of the time we’re growing so fast and experiencing so much that it’s easy to miss the importance of what we’re looking at. The devices that are built to distract us don’t help either!
It may seem difficult to connect with the outdoors while keeping in touch with those oh-so-sweet iPods, but taking photos digitally means that you can share your work on Facebook, Twitter, or a blog. I have been keeping a blog since I started photography, and it has been a great way to keep in touch with people and share my work. Facebook lets me keep an eye on community websites and communicate with other photographers.
I entered a photo contest last year and I had to research what kind of plant or animal I had taken a photo of. That helped me get into the nature aspect of photography and learn more about the preservation of local ecosystems, like the one I grew up in, The Cumberland Community Forest.
Gadgets are not bad things. It shouldn’t be a “either get off that thing and go outside or I kick you out the door” kinda thing, It should be a “we’re going for a hike! Bring your smartphone!” All in all, I think that there is more to our screens than we are led to believe.
All Photographs Are © Tenzin King
Tenzin King Guest Author Bio
I am a 12 year old home learner from Cumberland B.C. I love taking pictures of everyday things that I find beautiful. Birds, plants, neat places and interesting perspectives.
Blog: Forest Walk
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“Photography opens the eyes to see what we usually ignore, shows you the detail of that leaf, this sidewalk crack, and the beauty in everyone’s face.”
That is one fine sentence and along with the others you have spoken eloquently of an ageless experience which I also am sharing at 62 years of age. Well done!
Craig
Tenzin!
Thank you for sharing your gift and your passion with us.
Great pics. Great point of view!
Don’t stop!
Cheers,
Gil
Lovely pictures!
Thanks!
Young Tenzin is an inspiration. His eye is innocent and therefore sees everything.
Thanks for that perspective. Your article has broadened my thinking on this issue. Excellent applications of technology and awesome photos.
Glad to hear it! Stoked to hear that this may enlarge someones view on technology!
An inspiring and insightful piece, beautifully photographed!
Thank you John!
Hi Tenzin
You’re absolutely right. Technology can help us do all sorts of positive, creative things. Photography is far more accessible and quicker to learn than old-school film used to be (I can remember learning virtually nothing with film despite my enthusiasm).
Technology helps us to do all sorts of things better, but unfortunately, the media like controversy and only talk about the adverse aspects. I have a nephew with learning difficulties who’s written English has improved vastly since using Facebook – something education alone couldn’t do.
People can accidentally get burnt, be we still need fire.
Using technology to help us to observe the outdoors, nature and form, and being drawn to art is surely positive; one of the only positive things at times.
Keep up the good work! 🙂
Pete
Well said! Thank you for the comment. I had a lot of trouble with writing until a few months back, and until then I couldn’t write a sentence! I wonder if joining Facebook had something to do with it like your cousin?
As with most things, practice and keen observation 🙂