Cool Stuff to Photograph

This excellent beginner’s guide encourages kids to use cell-phone and simple digital cameras to capture their worlds. (A blurb highlights etiquette and provides a reminder to ask consent before taking and posting pictures.) Each spread—made up of brief sections of text, extended captions, and a wealth of illustrations and photographs intended as examples—has a specific focus. Topics include lighting and framing, as well as more advanced compositional techniques such as “the rule of thirds” and angle shots. The volume closes with sections on photo editing and creating “camera-free photos.” Text boxes offer “Cool Idea” suggestions and “Did You Know” photo trivia (“One of the first selfies was taken in 1914 by Anastasia, daughter of the last Russian emperor. The 13-year-old used a mirror to take the photo”). Back matter contains a glossary, Web sites for more information, and an index.