With the COVID-19 Pandemic surging again, Estill County 4-H decided to create a virtual photo Friday series for the youth in the county.  This is a full program year series, that hopefully can grow and develop into an in-person series.  Each Friday, we release one or two of our Photography Classes that are county and state fair eligible on our Estill County 4-H Facebook page.  By the end of the program year, youth will have several photos to choose from to enter in the fair.  Topics have included events in our community, music, instruments and art utensils, and crops.  4-H aged youth are able to submit one photo per class, no later than the date given each month.   Photos are then displayed on our Facebook page and 12 photos (once this series is over) will be chosen for a future Estill County 4-H Calendar.  Photos are judged on Focus, Exposure, Lighting, Composition, Inters and whether the youth submitted the following information which must be included:  Class, Subject, Location, and Equipment used.  Knowing these terms and requirements can be confusing, we’ve created some small videos that follow along with the Photography Curriculum.  This is a method that can help youth better understand the art of photography, where we do not have a current volunteer to lead a club.  Overall, we have had approximately fifteen youth participate weekly to submit photos.   This program has been able to give youth an opportunity to discover how to take fascinating photographs, learn about photography as an art, a science and a communication tool, and observe and enjoy their surroundings in a photographic world. 

We have received a lot of awesome feedback about the program, one parent personally messaged us and said:

“I have to tell you, I’m so excited to send in the pictures for this week’s photography series. The girls did so good with their grandpa playing his instruments.” and “I’m so glad we had this opportunity that we didn’t know we needed.”

Photo by: Addilyn Leach