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4-H Youth Development

Photography

Capture your friends, family and important events through photography. Learn about basic and advanced film cameras, and/or digital cameras, and how to plan, compose, light and exhibit your photos. Advance into wide-angle and telephoto lenses, filters, light meters and computer enhancement.

Things to Learn/Do in the Project

Level 1 Photography

  • Learn more about a camera and how it works
  • Learn basic photo composition
  • Organize a photo story
  • Learn to use simple automatic or digital camera

Level 2 Photography

  • Learn shutter speeds and f-stops
  • Use the Rule of Thirds
  • Learn to capture a point in time

Level 3 Photography

  • Use filters and special film
  • Learn how to use a light meter
  • Create still-life photos
  • Explain the differences between normal, wide angle, telephoto and zoom lenses

Important Photography Notices

Appropriate photo subject matter:

Photographic subject matter is expected to follow 4-H standards.  For a sense of prohibited subject matter, review the Kansas 4-H member Code of Conduct; in general, if it is not allowable at a 4-H event, it is not allowable in a 4-H photograph at the State Fair.

Photos with live subject(s) on railroad right away or taken from railroad right of way property will not be displayed in Kansas 4-H Photography and may receive a ribbon penalty or disqualification.

Copyright protections must be observed.

Decisions as to display and/or penalties will be made by the Photography Department Superintendent and the 4-H Specialist responsible for the photography department.

Posing on or taking photos from railroad tracks is a practice that is both dangerous and illegal. If you trespass while photographing, you can receive a citation, fine, jail time, or more severe consequences such as injury or death. Trains do not stop quickly and you may not see or hear one coming until it is too late.

Project Materials

Reasonably priced materials are available for every project in Kansas 4-H. You can order the materials for your project online or contact your local Extension Office.

Photography (PH100)

General Photography Resources

Events and Activities

2023 Fall Shutterbug Event Information

Picture Perfect State Workshop - April 24, 2022

2022 Shutterbug Workshops

Shutterbug events are photography workshops put on across the state by the Kansas State 4-H Photography Action Team. Workshops are typically scheduled as a morning session and concentrate on a variety of aspects of composition. The events typically end around Noon.  Examples of sessions include: Portfolio, I have a camera-now what?, Panning, Close-ups, Aperture Settings & Kaleidoscopes/Reflections.

2022 Events:

  1. Botanica                                                                                             
    Please note:  $9 entry fee per person for all-day pass to Botanica 
    1. Where: Botanica Gardens, Wichita, KS
    2. When: April 23, 2022
    3. Registration begins at 9:00 AM
  2. Shutterbugs at the Zoo                                                                            Please note:  $5 registration fee for each of the first five members of a family. Children 5 and under are free. 
    1. Where: Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City, KS
    2. When: May 7, 2022 
    3. Registration begins 8:30 AM
  3. Shutterbugs at Big Creek
    1. Where: Agricultural Research Center, Hays, KS
    2. When: Saturday, October 29, 2022
    3. Registration begins at 8:30 AM
  4. Shutterbugs at Old Jefferson Town
    1. Where: Oskaloosa, KS
    2. When: Saturday, November 5th, 2022
    3. Registration beings at 8:30 AM

Awards and Recognition

County Level
Award: Medal presented at your 4-H Achievement Banquet

State Level
Award: Medallion

National Level
Award: $400 National 4-H Congress Scholarship

Career Connections