My name is Connie Gill, I am 8 years old and I am Hamish’s daughter. My dad has been trying to teach me photography. On the weekend we went for two walks in the woods near where we live to get some exercise and to take some pictures.
My cameras
I’ve been using two different cameras. One of them my dad bought me, and the other my dad has loaned to me. The little one he got me is a Nikon which is good for quick and easy snaps. The other one that my dad loaned me is a big Pentax camera which Dad says is an SLR camera. I like this one more because it’s better for the close ups I like taking and for making the background look blurry. This is called shallow depth of field. I like this because it gives a nice effect to the picture.
What I’ve learned
My dad has been teaching me about composition. He’s been telling me about the rule of thirds and that sometimes pictures are better with the subject not in the middle. He has shown me that if I press and hold the shutter button halfway down until the camera beeps and the little red square appears in the viewfinder it will still be focused on the thing that I pointed it at, even when I move the camera.
How it makes me feel
After I have taken a really good picture that I really like, it makes me feel really happy. I really like going out to take pictures with my Dad. We call this Connie and Daddy bonding time 😁
Some of my favourite photos so far
These are some of my favourite pictures that I have taken so far.
Thank you for reading my first ever post on my dad’s blog.
51 Comments
Terry B
May 16, 2020 at 4:12 pmHi, Connie.
I feel that I’ve got to know you through all the photos your dad has taken of you over many years and posted here. Some great images, keep it up. Looking forward to seeing your personal style developing and to your next post. I hope you get to enjoy photography as a hobby.
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 6:58 pmThx 😊
Adam Laws
May 16, 2020 at 7:30 pmThis is great Connie, your photo’s are awesome. Look forward to reading about your adventures. Keep on having fun and don’t let it get too serious.
Soloman khan
May 16, 2020 at 8:26 pmAre you sure your dad didn’t do the write up for you 🤔asides i think you are def makjng a good early start..keep up this nice hobby and hopefully 1 day you may see your pictures in magazines.best of luck..ohh btw support the camera from the base with the palm of your hand for blur free pictures 📷
Hamish Gill
May 17, 2020 at 3:32 pmShe wrote it herself – me and her mum went through it with her afterwards to make sure the spelling and punctuation were right. We treated this as an english lesson for her lock down home schooling
Eric Norris
May 16, 2020 at 4:16 pmGreat photos, Connie! Keep it up!
Del
May 16, 2020 at 4:18 pmNice one Connie. It’s good to see the family joining in the fun.
I’ve tried to get my own daughters interested in photography, but so far with little luck.
You have some good pictures there.
Just keep practicing
🙂
Merlin D Marquardt
May 16, 2020 at 4:21 pmVery nice article and photos.
Alexandre Pontes
August 27, 2020 at 4:30 pmKeep shooting! Practice makes perfect along the time. Nice article.
Jeff
May 16, 2020 at 4:28 pmConnie,
When Dad is talking about things you don’t understand or is boring you, please roll your eyes & say to him “Ok Boomer…”
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:00 pmLol, I will
Yair Sachs
May 16, 2020 at 4:30 pmWhat an auspicious start for you, Connie.
Keep it up – we’d like to see more pictures coming from you!
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:00 pmkk
Jack
May 16, 2020 at 4:35 pmHi Connie. I like the last image best. Great use of depth of field and a hint of light on that one-of-a-kind piece of dead wood.
Mark C S
May 16, 2020 at 4:57 pmSuper-excellent Connie, I like seeing your photos. You will probably learn how to develop them too. Keep up the fun and photos. (Ps your Pentax camera look cool).
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:01 pmAlready done 😉 🙂
Richard Byrne
May 16, 2020 at 5:07 pmBravo Connie! You are taking super pictures, and I look forward to seeing many more of them. When you have real favourites, you can think of ways of using them. When I take a picture I really like, I put it on my wall – when I think a photo is funny, and might make a good present for a friend, I have it printed on a mug and send it to them – there are lots of different ideas you could come up with.
Keep on having fun – your Daddy really does know a lot, and I know he enjoys telling you new things.
All the best
Richard
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:03 pmI will send a mug to my auntie Char.
Mike
May 16, 2020 at 5:22 pmYou’re about the same age I was when my dad started teaching me about photography. You’re already better than I was !!!!!! This post made my whole day. Thank you!
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:03 pmnp 🙂
John Foote
May 16, 2020 at 5:52 pmGreat article and lovely pictures. Keep shooting!
John Foote
May 16, 2020 at 5:53 pmP.S. Tell your dad to buy you a Leica. He’ll understand. Not so sure about mom….
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:04 pmOk, I will, and mum will have no clue what it is
Des McSweeney
May 16, 2020 at 6:23 pmvery nice Connie, I am sure you will be better than your dad 😉
Hamish Gill
May 16, 2020 at 7:05 pmAlready am! ;]
Trevor
May 16, 2020 at 7:02 pmWell done, Connie. Very nice pictures. Keep up the good work and post some more pics soon.
Paul B
May 16, 2020 at 7:28 pmHello, Connie! I really enjoyed your post. And your photos are great! Keep up the good work!
Gabi Jamieson
May 16, 2020 at 8:01 pmHi Connie,
My name is Gabi, and I am 12 years old. My dad showed me this article, and I think that it is really cool that you are into photography! My dad also teaches me photography, like your dad. You are a great photographer and you are inspiring!
-Gabi, age 12
Hamish Gill
May 17, 2020 at 3:34 pmNice to meet you, and thank you for reading my thing.
Aukje
May 16, 2020 at 9:11 pmHi Connie, thanks for writing this article, I enjoyed reading it. It seems to me you made a great start in photography, my favorite is the photo of your shoes. Your dad must be very proud!
Roger B
May 16, 2020 at 9:43 pmA sweet story, gave me a big and much-needed smile! You go, Connie: Film is cheap but your images (and the memories they’ll bring years from now) are priceless. Shoot a lot. Try different angles and views. Develop. Repeat. It’s fun!
Brian Sweeney
May 16, 2020 at 10:03 pmWhat a great start to this hobby- and a great way for Daddy-Daughter Days.
You have some great photos here- the talent certainly runs in the family.
jeremy north
May 16, 2020 at 10:39 pmWell done Connie for listening to your dad. Photography is great fun and is the best way to make images which, in the future you’ll always remember making. Keep it up.
Alan
May 16, 2020 at 11:00 pmYes! All kids need leicas. My 3yo daughter hoardes my broken cameras and loves shooting them. This gives me hope!! Good job combining your two loves into one!!
Dave Walker
May 17, 2020 at 12:36 amGood one, Connie! Great to see you here. Just don’t let him throw your negatives away with his own 😉
Hamish Gill
May 17, 2020 at 3:29 pmok, I’ll kill him if he does 😉
Castelli Daniel
May 17, 2020 at 3:09 amHi Connie,
Thanks for your posting and photos. Since I’m drawn to quirky pics, my favorite shot is of the shoes. Our daughter Kate was my darkroom assistant when she was your age: she watched the darkroom clock, kept the multi grade filters organized and complained about the smell. She DID NOT continue to take photos…she went to art school, is a professor of Illustration and an artist. We’re proud of her, just like your Mom and Dad are proud of you (and your sister!)
I hope to see more of your posts. You and your family stay safe & healthy…
Tom Greetham
May 17, 2020 at 9:50 amBrilliant blog post Connie!
It looks like you’ve got a great eye for composition and subject 👍. My favourite pictures are of your Dad taking a picture of you and the picture of the trees with your Dad’s back to you.
You’ve inspired me to get out with my kids and take some pictures. Thank you.
🙂
Hamish Gill
May 17, 2020 at 3:28 pmThe tree one is my fave
Peggy Marsh
May 17, 2020 at 3:02 pmConnie, you need your own blog, this is great and informative too.
Hamish Gill
May 17, 2020 at 3:27 pmThx, I would like to have a youtube channel
steve phillips
May 17, 2020 at 4:59 pmLovely photos Connie. Keep clicking away, but don’t let your dad tell you to spend your pocket money on a Leica…
Chris Andreyo
May 17, 2020 at 6:40 pmExcellent work Connie! Very much like your flower and forest pictures.
Marcelo
May 17, 2020 at 10:57 pmAmazing pics Connie! I really enjoyed reading your post too! Looking forward to your next series, keep up the great work!
jenquest
May 19, 2020 at 9:08 amThis is so good. Congratulations Connie, these images are great. My daughter is also learning to take photographs and understanding composition. She’s almost 7 and I have been teaching her on a Pentax as well. Keep up the reat work.
Hamish – this is great, congrats to you and your wife. The write up is excellent, the images are great and of course the choise of camera too 🙂 My daughter is learning on the K70.
Gor’ bless
Floyd K. Takeuchi
May 19, 2020 at 4:39 pmConnie — You’re off to a terrific start, as a blogger and as a photographer. I am looking forward to following your work in the coming weeks and months. Congratulatios!
Nigel Haycock
May 20, 2020 at 11:05 pmI like your post Connie, it tells us a lot about you and your family; you’re lucky to have a Dad who knows about photography (and he’s lucky to have a daughter who wants to learn). Lovely pictures you sure are learning fast 🙂
Randy Burk
May 21, 2020 at 5:19 pmHello Connie,
I enjoyed reading your story and I especially liked the photographs you shared with us all. Thank you for allowing us to see your part of the world through pictures, as I live in California.
I would like to encourage you, continue to write, sharing your thoughts and feelings with pictures!
Randy
Jeff Werner
August 29, 2020 at 12:17 amWow! Really great writing and beautiful photos!
Alex Vye
August 29, 2020 at 12:25 amReally nice photos – I like the one with the tree trunk on the right hand side and shallow depth of field. Good job.
Rodinal Jones
December 31, 2020 at 12:21 pmConnie, my grandmother gave me my first camera (a Kodak Instamatic – ask your dad what that is) when I was 12 and photography has been woven into my life since then (I am presently 62). I had no mentor such as you have in your dad and there was no internet I could look to for help either. Experimentation and the sheer fun of photography were my teachers and I truly believe that they are the best teachers. Take care to listen to your dad when he attempts to explain the technical aspects of photography but only pretend to listen when he offers advice about composition or any of the ‘artistic’ aspects of photography. You can very quickly learn to take photos like he (or anyone else) does, but you have your entire life to enjoy learning to take photos like Connie Gill. Follow your heart and your own eye.