Nicholas Rumble gives some camera tips to Flemington School children Jahlea Foster (left), 10, Hannah von Dadelszen, 10 and Jordan Hall (11, obscured). Their story was about creatures making friends and the aim was to help young children starting school to also make friends. Photo / Nicki Harper
Nicholas Rumble gives some camera tips to Flemington School children Jahlea Foster (left), 10, Hannah von Dadelszen, 10 and Jordan Hall (11, obscured). Their story was about creatures making friends and the aim was to help young children starting school to also make friends. Photo / Nicki Harper
Cameras at the ready, about 20 children from six Central Hawke's Bay primary schools went on a nature adventure this week, documenting their escapades for their own books that will be published.
Organised by CHB Literacy Group, the action took place in the wetland area of Argyll East School onTuesday, where the children searched among flax and other native plants for wildlife to photograph and create stories about.
The Waipukurau, Terrace, Flemington, Argyll East and Omakere School pupils also brought toy animals and let their imaginations go wild creating scenarios and taking pictures.
Assisting them was Havelock North author Nicholas Rumble, who is familiar with the time-consuming business of wildlife photography.
Mr Rumble's self-published books include titles such as Kim the Greedy Kingfisher and Sam's First Swim - stories set around the photographs he has crawled through streams and waited long hours to capture.
He was invited to assist with the project to share his camera knowledge.
"I gave them tips such as working with lighting and exposure but really today is all about being creative and getting the children to play with their cameras," Mr Rumble said.
CHB Literacy Group member and Argyll East School teacher Rose Hay said the children then used an iPad app to create their books, which will be published in hard cover - the children receiving one each for themselves and a copy for their school.
