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Writer's pictureSabya Challa

Photography Merit Badge

Here’s the definition of what a merit badge is from the Scout Book : “Scouting offers more than 135 merit badges, each of which provides an instruction to a different topic. Many of these badges cover Scouting skills...”. But to put it in a more deep way, it’s the beginning of the path to a new passion, or a hobby, or maybe even a career! It’s the chance to explore something new about yourself! Since merit badges are important in Scouting and useful during adolescence, I thought I’d help you in your decision of which merit badges to take next year at summer camp! And I’ll do that by writing this article as a preview of a merit badge I took, enjoyed, and recommend : Photography.


If you can appreciate the value of a special photo (with or without people in it) and understand the meaning behind it, then the Photography merit badge is for you. And trust me, this merit badge will change the way you look at the world if you’re obsessed like me :)


In this merit badge you will :

  • Learn the parts of a camera.

  • Learn how film and digital cameras work.

  • Learn about lighting.

  • Learn the difference between a snapshot and a photograph.

  • Learn about the 3 main factors in enhancing a photo : exposure (iso), aperture (f-stops), and shutter speed. Learning to use these 3 components gives you so much more control over your photos.

  • Learn some different methods to capture a subject. (If you didn’t know already, the subject is what you’re taking a photo of.) These methods are called compositional techniques. The 4 compositional techniques you will learn in this merit badge are depth (shows distance), leading lines (leads the viewer's eye to the subject), the rule of thirds (split the photo into thirds horizontally and vertically and place subjects on the lines), and frame-using (using brackets to frame subject). There are again multiple types of depth like ‘angle of view’ and ‘stop action’ but that’s something you’ll dive into more if you take the merit badge. Let me show you an example of how I used these techniques.


Glistening

Glistening w/ Rule of Thirds


The Glistening is an example of depth, leading lines, and the rule of thirds. The flag is the subject whom the pole as a line leads to. At the same time, the depth of the incredibly large flagpole is shown. There is also a ray of sunlight peaking through the pole. All along, the pole is aligned with the left-most "third" line in the rule of thirds.


Inception

The Inception is an example of frame-using. It's a photo of the reflection of a tree with mushrooms growing out of it. I called this one the inception because it's a bit confusing to the eye just like the actual movie. :)


Deer in Headlights

The Deer in Headlights is an example of leading lines. There is a hiking path leading to the deer, passing it, and leading to a meadow.


Blues

The Blues is an example of depth in the wood and stem of the feather.


  • Learn about ‘focus’.

  • Create and present a powerpoint presentation with a series of photos and very few words to tell a story. (Mine was titled “Living in the Moment” and it was about how Camp Royaneh gave me a chance to do so many amazing things like rediscover nature, shoot a rifle, and so much more.)

The most important thing about the photography merit badge is the purpose of photography itself. It allows you to be creative and capture the important moments! And during every second of it (except for the test :), it's so much fun. So if you're interested in this preview, take a phone or digital camera, start taking some pictures, and try out the Photography merit badge!


Hope this helps,

Sabya Challa




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