The afternoon began like any other when the kids arrived home at 3.30pm: snacks, TV, whingeing... At around 4.20pm I'd had enough. "That's it! Grab your jackets, put on your gumboots we're going out!"
A chorus of wails broke out, "Ohhhh but I'm too tired!" "I don't wanna go out! "I wanna watch TV!" You probably recognise the routine.
I decided to steal myself against their displeasure and pushed on.
"Get your bikes. Let's go. We're having a photo competition..."
Amidst much groaning and many complaints we made it out the door, with bikes, helmets and... the camera.
{Now, I thought I had spare charged-up batteries, I really did. Turns out I think they are stuffed, too old, past their best-before date. More on that later.}
Before we'd even gotten out the gate Scrag's finger got accidentally jammed by Miss Fab and the wailing escalated to a whole new level.
Man! Why do I bother???!! I thought to myself. I nearly caved in right there - but I had the inklings of a great blog post so I wiped tears, kissed ouchies and continued (LOL).
Here are the rules, I told them.
We are going on a hunt through our neighbourhood - a Photo Scavenger Hunt.
You have to take five photos each. Here's what you have to find to photograph...
~ Something Beautiful
~ Something Small
~ Something Built
~ Something Green
~ Something Alive
Keep your eyes open. If you see something grab the camera and take your picture. I'll put your photos on my blog and get people to vote for their favourite. Sound like fun??? I asked hopefully.
Groans, some muttering... not too much enthusiasm really. I ignored that. We pushed on.
Once they got into it, they started to enjoy themselves and I was glad I'd persevered through their moaning (and ignored the fact I hadn't started dinner yet and it was nearly teatime. It was great to just break out.)
Three photos in - the batteries died. Never mind, I have spares, right??? Wrong. No juice in the spares. Argghhh! All of that trouble and the camera dies??
I took out the batteries swapped them over and tried again. Whew, the camera came back on and I left it turned on as a precaution. The kids managed to get most of the subjects on the list, but rather than post all of them, I've decided just to put up their two best photos each.
So my lovely friends, can you take a look at these works of photographic art below and leave me a comment voting for your favourite. The kids will be very excited to get feedback about their work!
Dash: Something Small
Miss Fab: Something Alive
Dash: Something Beautiful
Miss Fab: Something Beautiful
Leave me a comment if you would be interested in a Kids Photography Linky competition. Here's hoping - I think it could be fun...?
(...and even if you're not keen, please vote for your favourite one of the kid's photos! Ta.)
