Free Photography Workshop Invites Children to Explore the World Through a Creative Lens

Young aspiring photographers will have an opportunity to develop their creativity and learn how to see the world from a new perspective during a free children’s photography workshop at Historic Asistencia. The workshop, titled “Developing Your Eye Through Photography,” will be offered during Sunday Afternoon Open Gates on September 27. Led by photographers Caroline McAllister and Linda Murphy, the introductory class is designed exclusively for children ages 9 through 12. During the hands-on workshop, participants will explore the basic elements of photography while learning to observe their surroundings with greater attention and curiosity. McAllister and Murphy will introduce the children to the ways light, color, shape, pattern, perspective and timing can influence a photograph and turn an ordinary moment into a memorable image. Rather than focusing only on operating a camera, the workshop will encourage participants to slow down, examine the details around them and make thoughtful choices about what they include in each picture. Children will learn introductory concepts related to composition, including how an image is framed, where a subject is positioned and how different viewpoints can change the story a photograph tells. Simple, age-appropriate activities will give participants an opportunity to practice these concepts while exploring the historic grounds. The setting of Historic Asistencia—with its architecture, gardens, textures, shadows and natural surroundings—will provide young photographers with a variety of potential subjects. The workshop will also introduce children to visual storytelling. Participants will be encouraged to think about what they want their photographs to communicate and how a single image can capture a feeling, place, person or moment. The class is intended to be creative, accessible and enjoyable, and no previous photography experience is required. Children should bring a camera or smartphone they are comfortable using. They should also arrive prepared to experiment, ask questions and view familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. The free workshop begins at 1 p.m. on September 27, at the start of Sunday Afternoon Open Gates. It will be held at Historic Asistencia, located at 26930 Barton Road. Advance photography skills are not necessary—just a camera or smartphone and plenty of curiosity.