Because Yutaka Elementary School is located in a rice-producing district in Ibaraki Prefecture, there is an expanse of rice fields behind the school. With a fresh wind blowing through the school building, the school’s atmosphere is refreshing. The occasion was favored by fine weather. Under the sunlight, which made us think of the midsummer sun, lively children enjoyed the photography class.

This time, the photography session took place in the schoolyard and rice fields behind the school. The schoolyard was full of interesting subjects, such as a tall Chinese jujube tree, wisteria trellis, rabbit hutch, and birdhouse, and even a small snake showed its head in the grass. In the rice fields behind the school were crawfishes and river snails hiding in the mud, and lots of small frogs were swimming in an irrigation canal. Some children were good at finding small living creatures to photograph, while some others took photos of snowy herons in a distant field. Each child enjoyed photographing whatever subjects they wanted. One child, intent on chasing a frog, caught a decisive moment and looked happy, while another showed everyone, with a look of delight, an unexpected discovery in his photo. Each was in a happy mood as a first-class photographer.

At the presentation meeting, a group of three girls, all camera club members, was the first to give a presentation. Then, sixth and fifth graders followed them, showing works they thought were good. They all enjoyed a stimulating time, surprised or impressed at their friends’ works.