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Photography

The 4-H Photography project will help you learn how to use a camera to capture images on film. Explore flash techniques, lenses, shutter speeds, and more.

Create a project plan and record your project successes.

Information for Project Leaders

Leader pages correspond with each activity sheet and are for use by project group leaders.

Additional Resources

Follow the links below to find some great online resources for your project. Surf around and see what you can learn!

  • Volunteer to take photos of a family reunion, special event, or the community.
  • Volunteer to organize and label photos for your family.
  • Frame photos you’ve taken and give them as gifts.
  • Take photos of historical sites in your community for an exhibit or scrapbook.
  • Conduct a workshop to teach kids about photography.

State 4-H Photo Search Contest

Junior high and senior 4-H members have the opportunity to portray their 4-H involvement on film through the 4-H Photo Search activity. Each county is eligible to enter up to ten entries for state judging. Contact your 4-H Extension agents for due dates.

Photo Search Entry Procedure

  1. The county Extension agent in each county will be responsible for selecting and submitting up to ten entries to submit for state judging.
  2. Members are to submit their entry by the county due date. Check with your local UT Extension office for the county due date.
  3. The ten winning entries will be displayed at State 4-H Roundup. Eight-inch-by-ten-inch prints will be made of the winning entries. Photos will be posted on this webpage (see below) for approximately one year.
  4. The general rules and entry form can be found on the Forms and Materials page. This form contains an optional clause that would give UT Extension the right to use pictures in publications, publicity opportunities, etc.

Photo Search General Rules

  1. Any junior high or senior 4-H member may submit entries. The member making the entry must have taken the photo(s). 
  2. Each entry will consist of:
    1. * A photo print (no larger than 5 X 7) with the member’s name, county and title of the photo on the back of the photo (preference: a typed label).
    2. * One completed entry form per photo must accompany each photo entry.
    3. * An electronic JPEG file for each photo sent to your county 4-H agent by email. Ask your county agent for an e-mail address you can use to send the photo JPEG file(s).
      — The electronic file name should consist of the region initials, the county name, the contestants initial followed by a number. Please keep numbers in sequential order. For example, Kimberly Ann Smith , from Jefferson Co, Eastern Region is submitting three (3) photos for the contest. The photo files should be labeled as follows: ER Jefferson KAS_1.jpeg; ER Jefferson KAS_2.jpeg; and ER Jefferson KAS_3.jpeg.
  3. Photos should relate to 4-H involvement. Entries may be a single photo or a series of no more than four (4) photos. A series may be “before and after” or “how-to-do-it” sequences.
  4. Photos should not be mounted on any paper or matted.
  5. Entries will be judged on quality and message. The picture might depict:
    1. * 4-H project work
    2. * 4-H exhibits, shows, fairs, etc.
    3. * 4-H leadership/citizenship
    4. * 4-H Leisure education, camp, etc.
    5. * 4-H Human interest and other
  6. All entries will become the property of Tennessee 4-H Youth Development and will not be returned to the 4-H member unless otherwise requested.

Failure to meet any of the entry procedures or general rules will disqualify the photo search entry.

2020 State 4-H Photo Search Winners

(Click on the link to view the photo.)

  • Tennessee 4-H Youth Development
  • 2621 Morgan Circle, 205 Morgan Hall
  • Knoxville, TN 37996-4510
  • P: 865-974-2128
UT Extension 4-H Youth Development logo