Kids get hands-on education in photography in CBC-TV series ‘Snapshots’

TORONTO – Sara Lake usually reaches for her tablet, a Polaroid or her dad’s phone to capture images, but her recent use of a fancier conventional camera offered a whole new lens into the world of photography.

“(It has) more zooming effects, so it makes everything look way more clear,” said the bubbly 10-year-old.

“Sometimes it’s hard to zoom in, or when you press the button and sometimes it doesn’t click properly,” she admitted. “It’s difficult, sometimes, but it’s really fun.”

Sara is one of several young shutterbugs getting a hands-on education on the finer points of photography on the CBC-TV children’s series “Snapshots,” which premieres Saturday.

Each episode sees three youngsters take part in photography challenges aimed at fostering competition, developing their skills of the craft and showcasing their knack for creativity.

Mentors are present to offer guidance to competitors on how to adjust their cameras or position their bodies to capture the ideal images. Photography experts later judge from among their best photos. Meanwhile, a companion website (www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2) will allow kids across Canada to compete in a digital spinoff contest based on the challenges featured in the show.

“The kids that are on this show love photography and love an opportunity to learn about it and showcase their skills to other people,” said “Snapshots” host Dalmar Abuzeid.

“They’re able to talk about what they like about their shots. They’re able to talk with their peers. They’re able to talk with their mentors. I think that’s so important, and I think that really shows with the quality of the pictures that the kids take.”

Fellow “Snapshots” contestants Kayla St. Ange and Brayden Williams, both aged nine, each make use of their tablets for photos. Kayla said she likes to snap images of graffiti and the sea, while Brayden’s vast range of photo subjects includes sunsets, sports and animals. Both said they’ve gained valuable skills through participating in the photo competition series.

“I’ve learned how to do a proper angle because the mentor taught us a lot about that,” said Kayla, who said the key is to move to a lower position to find a “nice one.”

Added Brayden: “I’ve learned how to get the full body in (to a shot), and I’ve learned landscaping, which is (shooting) horizontally, and I use portrait, which is (shooting) vertically.”

Abuzeid said he’s picked up a few photography pointers as well, such as the different aspects of backlighting and focusing images. He also marvelled at the ability of the youngsters to receive criticism of their work.

“If I was eight or nine and I was getting critiqued on my work … I don’t know if I’d be able to take in that information and apply it, but I think the kids on this show are really listening.

“When they hear they need to incorporate more light into their photos, I feel like they’re going home and they’re taking those notes.”

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