Cameras For Kids, Author Interview and Giveaway

Author, John Crippen was gracious enough to send me 2 copies of his book, Cameras For Kids to review and giveaway! He also agreed to do an interview.

I love this book, full of colorful photos and easy to read directions this is a great way to encourage young children to explore the world of photography. Learn how to make a toy animal glow, action photos and perspective are some of the useful tools that you will learn. This book is written for an average 4th grade reader but is not only for the young at heart, adults will enjoy this book as well! John writes about very inexpensive props that you can purchase for your kids to photograph, then he goes on to explain basic camera functions as well as choosing a camera. Once your child takes 100's of photos what are you going to do with them? Use the helpful scrap booking tips to create endless memories of a young child's journey in the world of photography!

I can't think of a better gift idea, not only for children but for teachers as well...a useful tool to encourage kids to explore their artistic options!

Now for the interview with John:

What made you decide to write "Cameras For Kids"? I love photography and have been taking pictures of my grand children or years. I noticed that my grand children were curious, so a I started teaching them. It was so much fun I started going to their classes and doing 30 minute presentations in schools. It all just kind of took off from there.

Will you be writing a follow-up or more advanced book as a sequel to "Cameras For Kids"? I already have a couple of books available for a little bit more advanced photography. They primarily for the advance point and shoot to the beginning DSLR user. One is on animal photography and the other is on scenic photography. I'd like to make another advanced book that will cover many types of shooting.

What would be your #1 piece of advice for photographers of any age? Have fun, experiment, and expect the unexpected.

Also, try different genres. You might find out that you enjoy shooting a subject that you would not have expected to.

What were your fears/hopes when your book first came out? When I wrote 'Cameras For Kids', I wasn't sure how receptive parents and teachers would be to the book. I've been pleasantly surprised with all the positive feedback. People really love this book, it's surpassed all my expectations.

Were you a child photographer? I did have cameras as a kid, but I was mostly into drawing and watercolors. Photography came more as an adult. I didn't want other kids to miss the opportunity to start at an early age.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book? The easiest? I found the content to flow pretty easy and I had 5 grand children to run ideas past. The most difficult part has been proof reading and correcting grammar.

What do you tend to photograph most and why?
I primarily enjoy shooting nature, scenic, and wildlife. As the youngest of 5 kids we did a lot of camping and hiking.

John would also like to encourage parents and educators to get involved with the 'Cameras For Kids' project. www.camerasforkids.info on the website there's information on nature, science, and wildlife as well as photography. For teachers there's even some helpful information on grant writing and discounts.

...and how about a giveaway which will end on 4/20 at midnight

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