Do you ever think back to occasions when you shared fun times with others? As you reflect on people and places, do you sometimes find it difficult to recall the details? Do you try to remember faces, but too often only have a foggy picture in your mind?

Taking snapshots can fill in those details and make past events seem real again!

Pictures are a great way to capture memorable events, breathtaking scenic views, and friends and family. Taking pictures can provide an animated and exciting record of people you have known, places you have seen, and experiences you have shared. Photographs reinforce your memory and provide details you would not otherwise recall.

Choosing a Camera

Only a few short years ago, a pricey 35mm camera would use film that would provide a maximum of 36 exposures. These pictures had to be developed after the entire film had been exposed—usually requiring weeks between the time when the photographs were taken to when they were returned.

Not anymore! Digital cameras available today are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Many store up to 200 high-resolution digital photos—and they are immediately available for review in the camera’s viewing port.

If you don’t like the photo, you can immediately delete it, freeing up memory for other pictures. Digital photos are easily transferable through email, and can be viewed on a computer or some television screens.

Whether you use a new digital camera or the traditional type with film, taking pictures can be rewarding, educational and a lot of fun!

Learn to Take Different Types of Pictures

Capturing pictures of people, animals and scenic beauty, or snapping photos of manmade architectural wonders demands skill and experience—and lots of practice! You can develop this skill by taking and reviewing many pictures, showing them to others, and asking for their opinions.

Don’t forget to record some of God’s marvelous creation when outdoors. You may notice a chipmunk, a handsome bobcat or perhaps a small bear. Snap a picture! You could run into a mountain lion and, well…in that case, you probably shouldn’t be too concerned with snapping a photo (that is, unless it’s in a cage)!

Family pets also make great animal photographs—and they will often pose and “smile” for you while you take their picture.

Try taking interesting scenery pictures. For example, your eyes might be drawn to a majestic, tall stand of trees near the horizon. Take a photograph to remember months later! For your education, battlefields, such as Gettysburg or Saratoga, offer opportunities to record historic, scenic pictures.

Perhaps you will find yourself near a rushing mountain stream cascading through a small canyon of rocks, surrounded by vibrant and exploding colors of foliage. The sound of the water combined with a gentle breeze provides a surreal panorama of sight and sound. A digital camera—or even better, a digital camcorder—will capture this scene with a few clicks and a little artistic scrutiny!

Capture the essence of God’s Feast of Tabernacles by taking action photos. Bring your camera along during a hike with other teenagers and snap pictures of the exhilarating experience.

Record the happy faces of children participating in Family Day. Take a few pictures of friends and family members eating at a restaurant. You might consider shooting a photo of friends playing chess, swimming in a pool or playing sports.

Have your friends stand together as you snap a picture of their smiling faces. Take pictures of your family members and later compile them in a scrapbook, or perhaps store them on a CD. You’ll find that people will usually be cooperative and often appreciate having their photograph taken.

If you see an extraordinary building, refined in its design, cleverly thought out and wonderfully constructed, take a few photos to enjoy and study later. Photographs of renowned manmade structures such as the Tower of London, the United
States Capitol building or the Eiffel Tower are keepsakes if you ever travel to those places.

George Bernard Shaw, a noted art critic, once said, “The photographer is like the cod which produces a million eggs in order that one may reach maturity.” So, take lots of pictures of all types, and don’t worry about those that do not quite measure up to your expectations. Whatever the photo might be, the pictures you create will be there to share and enjoy with other people for many years to come.

You could have some of your shots published in AMBASSADOR YOUTH. Mail your photos to: The Restored Church of God, P.O. Box 23295, Wadsworth, OH, 44282; or email them to YouthServices@rcg.org.