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#PhotoFestival21 - Day 10 : Up

#PhotoFestival21 - Day 10 : Up
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Take five photos looking upward: sky, tree canopy, tall building, ceiling patterns, and a close up of leaves, then make a collage showing perspective differences.

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Step-by-step guide to #PhotoFestival21 - Day 10: Up

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What you need
Adult supervision required, coloring materials, glue stick or tape, plain paper, ruler, scissors

Step 1

Ask an adult for permission and tell them where you will go to take your photos.

Step 2

Stand in a safe spot and point your camera or phone straight up to take a photo of the sky.

Step 3

Stand under a tree and aim your camera up through the branches to take a photo of the tree canopy.

Step 4

Stand at the base of a tall building and look up with your camera to take a photo that shows how tall it is.

Step 5

Go indoors and point your camera up at the ceiling to take a photo of any patterns lights or beams make.

Step 6

Hold your camera close to a leaf and take a close-up photo from below to show veins and details.

Step 7

Look through your five photos and pick the clearest most interesting photo for each subject.

Step 8

Decide whether you will make a paper collage or a digital collage.

Step 9

If you chose a paper collage ask an adult to help print your photos and then cut each photo into neat shapes.

Step 10

If you chose a digital collage open a collage app or photo editor and import your five chosen photos.

Step 11

Arrange the five photos on your paper or in the app so the different perspectives (close big vs distant small) are easy to see.

Step 12

Fix the photos in place by gluing or taping them down or by saving/exporting your digital collage.

Step 13

Add a title or small labels using markers or the app text to explain each perspective.

Step 14

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

If I don't have a printer or a collage app, what can I use instead to finish the collage step?

If you don't have a printer or app, skip printing by making a paper collage directly from your phone screen (trace shapes onto paper and cut them) or use a library/print shop to print the five chosen photos for cutting and gluing.

My photos are coming out blurry when I point the camera straight up or take a close-up of a leaf—how can I fix that?

To avoid blur when pointing up or doing leaf close-ups, steady your camera or phone on a flat surface or against a wall, tap the screen to lock focus on the branches or leaf veins, and increase daylight or use a flashlight before retaking the photo.

How can I change this activity to suit a 4-year-old, an 8-year-old, or a 12-year-old?

For a 4‑year‑old, have an adult hold the camera, choose the clearest photo, and help glue pre-cut shapes; for an 8‑year‑old let them take the five photos and cut simple shapes with supervision; for a 12‑year‑old encourage using a collage app to arrange photos, add labels with the app text, and export for sharing on DIY.org.

What are some fun ways to extend or personalize the collage after I've glued or saved the five photos?

Personalize your collage by adding a title and small labels with markers or app text explaining each perspective, experiment with different times of day to retake the same five shots, or add drawings and stickers around each photo before sharing on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to #PhotoFestival21 - Day 10: Up

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Photosynthesis

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Facts about photography for kids

✂️ Collage was popularized by artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century, mixing materials for fresh perspectives.

🔬 A close-up of a leaf can reveal veins and stomata, tiny pores plants use to exchange gases and 'breathe'.

🏙️ Shooting from below is called a "worm's-eye view" — it makes buildings and trees look taller and more dramatic.

🌳 The forest canopy acts like its own bustling ecosystem, home to many plants, insects, and animals you rarely see from the ground.

🌌 The sky looks blue because tiny air molecules scatter shorter (blue) wavelengths more than red (Rayleigh scattering).

How do you do the #PhotoFestival21 Day 10 'Up' activity with kids?

Start by explaining the challenge: take five upward photos (sky, tree canopy, tall building, ceiling patterns, close-up of leaves). Pick safe spots and try different angles—stand under the tree, lie on a blanket, or tilt the camera. Encourage kids to look for lines, shapes, and light. After shooting, use a phone or computer collage app to arrange the five images side-by-side so you can compare perspective and discuss what looks nearer or farther.

What materials do I need for the 'Up' photos and collage?

You need a smartphone or camera, optional tripod or stable surface, comfortable mat for lying down, and sun protection. For the collage, use a free app (e.g., Google Photos, Canva) or printouts, scissors, and glue for a paper collage. Bring water and adult supervision for outdoor locations. No specialized gear is required—simple items and safety precautions are enough to create a striking perspective collage.

What ages is this 'Up' photography activity suitable for?

This activity suits a wide range: toddlers (2–4) can participate by pointing and observing with an adult taking photos, preschoolers (4–6) enjoy simple framing with help, school-age children (7–11) can shoot and assemble collages with limited guidance, and teens (12+) can explore advanced angles and editing. Always supervise near roads or high places and adapt complexity to the child’s attention span and motor skills.

What are the benefits and variations of the 'Up' photo collage activity?

Benefits include improving observation, teaching perspective and composition, encouraging outdoor exploration, and boosting creativity and discussion about nature and architecture. Variations: make a black-and-white series, focus on textures or shadows, try night-sky or seasonal versions, or create a classroom-wide mosaic. For safety, avoid climbing or standing under unstable branches; use grown-up help for high-angle shots.
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#PhotoFestival21 - Day 10 : Up. Activities for Kids.