Photographers are slaves to light, David Berg told a group of young people attending a workshop on the beach at the St. Croix Environmental Association Southgate Coastal Reserve. He pointed out spots where the late Saturday afternoon light was perfect.
“Light is the key for the beauty of the photo,” said Berg, a noted local photographer.
Berg told the four children to look at light through grape tree leaves and to look at the light dancing on the sea. He suggested they try different angles and note reflections.
A little blue heron, who didn’t mind having his picture taken, was the subject for reflection as he hunted for food in a big puddle. Berg advised the youngsters not to disturb wildlife while trying to capture the beauty of what the subject is doing.
He pointed out how to look at the trees on the beach and how their lines could become angles to the beach line. Foliage can be used to frame their pictures, he said. Berg explained the "rule of thirds" for composition. He said as they walk along they should take note of their surroundings and look for pretty scenes.
“Try to notice shapes and different colors as you walk around,” Berg said. “Take time to pause and look around.”
The children got into snapping pictures of everything as the group walked along the almost deserted beach. A couple of brown pelicans put on a show diving and flying around long enough for the children to get some shots of them in flight.
“This is really cool because we are out in the wild and are learning to be creative,” said 11-year-old Rosie Simpson. “I take photos to create memories.”
She added she likes to take pictures of her friends.
Nathan McGregor, 9, said he learned to take time and focus on his surroundings as he stopped to take pictures of hundreds of tiny shells. He said he inherited the love of photography from his mom. He got a good shot of a pelican in flight with a point and shoot Cannon camera.
Berg suggested the youngsters keep trying different things to get the perfect shot. He added the children were lucky to be in the digital age and they can take as many pictures as they want.
Berg, who was trained at Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging and Arts, is the owner of Blackwood Imaging. He said he has always had an appreciation of art. He got into photography when someone gave him a point and shoot camera when he was laid up after breaking his knee doing martial arts. He has a high respect for art, but he can’t paint or draw so photography was the way to go. He is also a mocko jumbie.
He recently did photography for the National Park System Salt River Visitors Center for the exhibit, "Artifacts of St. Croix’s Past," celebrating Folmer Andersen’s archaeological collection from St. Croix, one of the largest in the Caribbean. He said he had the chance to go through and photograph hundreds of artifacts.
St. Croix Environmental Association sponsored the workshop for youth ages 8 to 12. Carol Cramer-Burke, SEA program director, said they see children with cameras at SEA programs and members decided it would be nice to engage and teach children the art of photography.
