Photographer

Our partner Canon has produced resources to support the Scout Photographer Activity Badge.

How to earn your badge

Choose one of these two options. Then complete all tasks for your chosen option.

Option 1: still photography

1. Choose one of these two activities:
   • Produce 12 photographs (negative or digital), taken by you. They should feature at least two of these techniques: portrait, still life (or similar), land or seascape, sport or action or time-lapse photography.
   • Produce six black and white photographs. Explain the steps you took to create them and the impact of using black and white as an
     alternative to colour images. You could produce high quality prints on photographic paper or present them on-screen.
2. Show that you know the main functions of a digital camera including resolution, digital compression, shutter speed and aperture. Explain how these affect the final image and print. Explain the different types of removable memory available.
3. Talk about different types of photographic devices and the accessories available for them.
4. Choose one of these activities:
   • Describe the process of developing black and white films and prints, including the use of an enlarger.
   • Describe the processes and equipment needed to produce prints
     from a digital camera. Explain how to use editing software.
   • Describe the processes and equipment needed to scan prints or negatives from existing photographs. Explain how to use editing software
   • Describe the basic functions for editing digital images. In particular, explain the differences between cropping and zooming, resizing and stretching, and camera orientation and rotation.
5. Diagnose faults that happen at the photographing, editing or printing stages, like over or under exposure and high or low contrast. Explain the difference between camera shake and subject movement.
6. Show that you know how to care for a camera and accessories.

Option 2: video photography

1. Produce at least two short films from two of these categories. Create a storyboard and script for each of these. You can edit the film 'in camera' or by using simple editing tools:
   • documentary
   • music video
   • drama
   • situation comedy
   • advertisement
   • training film
2. Discuss:
   • the differences between video and still photography. Explain the reasons for choosing one format over another for a range of subjects.
   • problems that can happen when using automatic. Explain how these can be fixed.
3. Show that you understand:
   • camera techniques such as panning, zooming, close-ups, long shots and using additional lighting.
   • production techniques such as editing, how to avoid jumpy cuts and maintaining continuity.
4. Show that you know how to care for a video camera and accessories, such as storage media, batteries, microphones and lights.

Top tips

Whichever option you choose, you should use a camera that allows you to modify settings and use an optical zoom. Most camera functions on smart phones and tablets don't have these features but if you have one that does, you can use it.

! Remember to follow the guidelines stated here