4-H photography project

Photo of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue colored pencils that are submerged in water and are covered in small bubbles. — Annika B. of Dakota County 4-H submerged colored pencils in carbonated water and utilized a tripod and an LED light to capture this image. She utilized color theory, captured the crispness of the bubbles and provided a sense of depth with the visible waterline.

Tell your story using photography!

What can you do?

In the photography project, you can:

Learn about equipment basics, taking sharper pictures, lighting and flash techniques.
Explore photo composition, approaches, sequencing and evaluating photographs.
Use multiple cameras and even assemble a whole production team.

These are just some of the many ways you can participate in this project.

Upcoming events

Dec

4-H drone photography

7 - 8 p.m.

Webinar

Project information

Project resources

Get started with 4-H'ers in your area

Contact your local 4-H office for more info.

Get started on your own

Begin your project learning using the following:

Try different genres

Portraits: Photograph people alone or in small groups.
Photojournalism: Display 3-5 photos together with captions. Together, they tell a story.
Close-up: Print three images taken with a normal lens, macro lens or microscope.
Light experiment: Take three photos of the same thing in different kinds of light.

Record keeping

Reflect on your project and what you've learned using 4-H record keeping.

Project opportunities

Girl holding photo of pig that is surrounded by water droplets. — Emily H. of Isanti County 4-H won a purple ribbon at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair for her portrait of a pig that was taken on a cell phone.

Participate in photo activities

To take your photography skills further, you can participate in photography challenges and contests offered throughout the year.

Past entries and grand prize winners

Take a look at past entries and grand prize winners for inspiration in our photography challenges guide.

2024

"A Day in the Life" Photography Challenge

Other ways to get involved

Enter your photos into a competition.
Use your photography skills to help a local nonprofit organization tell its story, advertise its services or win a grant.
Organize a field trip to a local business to see how they use photography to publicize their work.
Teach a workshop on photography or image editing at a day camp.

For adult volunteers

Photography project resources for volunteers

Find training, camera kits and more support for volunteers on our 4-H Volunteer Resource Center site.

Interested in getting involved as a photography project volunteer?

Contact your local 4-H office or learn more about volunteering in 4-H.

Fair information

Showing at the fair

What does it mean to show at the fair?

For 4-H'ers, local and state showcase events (like the Minnesota State Fair) are not just fun events. They provide youth opportunities to exhibit the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year– and to continue their learning.

Contact your local 4-H office for photography project showcase opportunities near you.

Exhibit ideas and judging criteria

Get exhibit ideas and find out what the judge is looking for in the evaluation sheet and rubric.

Review the purple ribbon photographs guide for inspiration and examples of what photos have been successful in past competitions.

How to prepare your photos for the fair

How to prepare your photo exhibit for the fair (slideshow)

Other information

Talent release form in English and Spanish You will need to have these signed by people who appear in your video if it will be displayed at the fair or any other public place.

Contact

Cora Rost, Extension educator with Minnesota 4-H Photography Project Development Committee (PDC), [email protected]

Reviewed in 2024