“Canon Junior Photographers” was held at Shoei Elementary School in Teshikaga-cho, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido, on Monday, May 30, 2005. All of the school children, a total of 13, took part in the event as part of their class-work.

After receiving instructions on how to operate a digital camera, each child received one, and took photos in the schoolyard. In the large schoolyard many flowers were announcing the coming of spring; dandelions, tulips that they had planted and cultivated, Ezo cherry trees that had begun to bloom at last, and others. The children were crazy about pressing the shutter.

After taking photographs, they enjoyed viewing their photos shown on a screen. They also held a photo review meeting, and listened to Yokoyama comments on each of their photos. Finally, each child got a favorite picture printed, put it in a picture frame, and went home with it

Many flowers are in bloom in the schoolyard.

Children put their cameras on the ground to take photos.

Is there something in the trunk?

“Canon Junior Photographers” was held at Teshikaga-cho Biruwa Elementary School, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido, on Wednesday, June 1, 2005. A total of 16 schoolchildren took part in the event as part of their class-work.

After receiving given instructions on how to operate a digital camera, each child got one and went to the schoolyard, in which white narcissuses and yellow dandelions were blooming. Each child took a photo of the natural surroundings in his or her way, lying on the grass, or looking down from an elevated place.

At a photo review meeting after the shoot, the children’s photos, which were filled with their cheerful spirits, were projected on the screen one after another. The instructor and the staff were impressed with their natural and genuine work.

Children photographing in a free and easy manner in the open air.

Children lie on the grass to take photos of flowers.

A boy slides and takes a snapshot of his friend.

“Canon Junior Photographers” was held at Teshikaga-cho Kawayu Elementary School in Hokkaido on Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3, 2005. All the school children, a total of 55, took part in the event as part of their class-work.

After receiving given instructions on how to operate a digital camera, each child got one and went to the schoolyard. There was a red motorized lawnmower on a yellow field of dandelions, and the children took photographs, fascinated by the bright colors of the subjects. In the thicket at the back of the school, where Ezo deer are sometimes seen, the children enjoyed taking photos of the barks of white birch trees, or friends from the top of a fallen tree, while listening to woodpeckers pecking.

At a photo review meeting after the photo session, they had their favorite photos projected on the screen. They also gave a talk about their feelings at the time of the shoot.

A bright red lawnmower is popular among the children.

A child climbed a rope in the grove to take a photo.

The playground equipment gives a fresh feel today.

“Canon Junior Photographers” was held at Kushiro Marsh, Hokkaido, on Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24, 2005. On the 23rd, 13 children took part in the event around the Onnenai Visitor Center and the Onnenai Promenade, while on the 24th, 10 children participated in the program around Lake Toro Eco Museum Center and the Phytoncide Forest. As this project was conducted in cooperation with the conservation office of the East Hokkaido Coastal District of the Environment Ministry, a nature conservationist working at Kushiro Marsh lectured on nature in the area.

At the field photographing meeting, the conservationist guided the children around, telling them the names of insects and plants. The children were eager to take photos of the nature around Kushiro Marsh. In the field there were large butterbur leaves, Calla palustris (Himekaiu) flowers, grasshoppers, tiny insects, etc. The children tried to photograph the world of nature through their cameras honestly and sensibly.

After coming back to the Visitor Center, their works were projected on a screen for review. In the end, Mr. Yokoyama presented each child a print of his or her favorite photo. They looked happy taking their photos home.

Children listen to a conservationist talk before departure.

Children intent on taking pictures along the Onnenai Promenade.

Children taking pictures in the Phytoncide Forest near Lake Toro.

Children taking pictures of Lake Toro in light rain.