If you like to expose your 5-year-old to photography, give him more than a 5megapixel

K is invited by a photographic society to do a big lecture in a few days. He organised hundreds of photographs and since he only has two hours to talk, he tried to time his projection show by practising in front of us in our bedroom.

After discussing landscape photography and droning on about medium format cameras, 6x7s, 6x6s, macros, digital, etc, the boys started to fidget. Ten minutes into the 'lecture', my 5-year-old Zak started 'interacting' with K.

K: 'This is the original shot... as you can see in the conversion...'
Zak: 'Rubbish!'

K: 'By changing the depth of field and by adjusting the angle...'
Zak: 'Borrrringgg!'

K: 'This example of documentary photography shows not only the 'feel' of the scene...'
Zak: 'Pure rubbish!'

Patiently, K kept on while I listened attentively. He didn't succumb to Zak's rude distractions because he was concentrating on the timing of each slide. At the end of each segment, he would pretend to ask us if we have questions. Expectedly, Zak would raise his hand, not to ask, mind, but to comment. 'Daddy, I have something very, very important to tell you.' K, aware that it's another senseless ruse, said, 'Tell me later, ok?'

And then K kept on showing us all the photos and after an excruciating 90 minutes, he said to us, 'That was it. Hmmm. One hour and a half! I'll show you the travel ones...'

But Zak had had enough. He moaned and muttered under his breath, 'stupid photography!'