My mother in-law is a nature person, a hiking/camping former Colorado girl. Several times a year she hikes the Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Preserve with her grandchildren. It’s something she does with each of them once they turn 8 years of age. Last year was Mikey’s first time, and he loved it. This year, I thought it would be fun to send him with my old iphone. I told him to take all the pictures and videos he wanted.
The first few pictures were what I was expecting.
Behold: Mikey’s first #selfie! Chin up? Check. Smirk? Check. He still needs to work on eye contact portion.
I once read that, despite wanting to minimize the gender differences in boys and girls, researchers found boys and girls had typical, ingrained actions and reactions to certain stimuli. Erik Erikson’s study on block play (boys build up and girls build enclosed/interior spaces) is probably the one I’m thinking of, but that’s a controversial study many researchers haven’t been able to replicate. Interesting fact: it took Lego years to figure out how to get girls to play Legos. They relied on Erikson’s research as well as their own to create a product that would sell, and it’s why the Lego Friends sets for girls focus on interiors and details.
Selfies are the new Legos, and boys will smirk while the girls duckface. Shhhhhh. We’ll ignore the fact that I’m a girl who almost exclusively smirks in selfies for the purpose of this post.
The rest of Mikey’s pictures shocked me. They were good. Some of them really good. These are unedited, straight out of the iphone.
These I edited, but only slightly. I increased the saturation just a bit because the sunshine washed out the colors. The second one is my favorite. I love it.
And now, the videos. You guys, the videos. It’s like The Blair Witch Project meets Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
This first one is mainly Mikey commenting on the scenery, my mother in-law warning him (several times) about poison oak, and Mikey not really caring about poison oak.
There is a historic ranch adobe on the preserve. Mikey did a video tour of it for us and he is so confident, so excited, so completely full of it. I can’t stop laughing at his comments. It’s clear he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but heck if that’s going to stop him.
This last one, though, is our favorite. The Mister says it’s the kid’s version of Double Rainbow, but with bunnies and squirrels and a high speed chase.
Good job, Mikey. Maybe we’ll him a camera for his 10th birthday.
Mikey really has a good eye, those photos are good!! I wish my phone were filled with photos that nice!
My parents got me an old Nikon for my 12th birthday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_FG that baby) which I still have and use every now and then. It was the best present, and the fact my parents trusted me at 12yo to look after a camera made me feel super proud. I remember taking it with me on every school trip.
Mike is definitely a budding photographer. I’m impressed.
I would never duckface! The indignity! ;)
That first photo of the windy grass is just stunning!
Lovely photos–but the videos. Ha, Awesome! ‘Keep a fair distance from the poison oak . . . dun-dun-dun!’ It’s going to be my new motto.
Awesome pictures! The very first is my favorite – something I like about trails to who knows-where. They are full of possibilities. Good job Mikey!
“Step in between … and keep a fair distance … [zoom in on green leaves] … from the poison oak. Dun dun duuuuuun!” LOL
And the Bunny Chase revealed the adorableness that still lives in his little 9 yr old heart. “This is breathtaking!” I think the same thing whenever I catch wildlife while walking the trail.
I give my nephew (also 9 yrs of age) my camera any time we have a family function. I take the expected pics first (scene, cake, whatever) and then hand it off. He always comes out with great shots and I can enjoy the family time.
What a great eye for composition! Love, love the trail photo.
Maybe a camera and a book on some photography basics?! And a copy of his favorite photo framed for inspiration?
Love it all, thanks for sharing.