Picture-perfect

Tell me a little bit about what you want for your first shot, Brown asks.

A chair, Mikayla replies, as she surveys the scene. And funny hats.

The strap on the camera Mikayla will be using is much too long: The camera is dangling down below her waist. Adjustments must be made immediately.

Meanwhile, the model -- Mikaylas brother, Damon -- rolls around on the floor, digging oversized Legos out of a WALL*E backpack.

Mikayla is 10; Damon is 4. But this is not playtime. Mikayla, a fifth-grader in the North West Initiatives Literacy Through Photography program, is preparing to compete against adult amateur and professional photographers in the Perspective 2 Studio Photo Contest.

She was recommended for the competition by her instructor, Jeana-Dee Allen. Shes the most dedicated student, Allen said. Shes come to every single class, and she wants to learn anything and everything. If you ask her what is an abstract shot and what is a wide-angle picture, she can tell you.

You look at a kid and you can see the magic in there, and you need to feed that magic. So when Lynn said shed sponsor a student from the class in the competition, I instantly said, Mikayla.

Youwanna put on a silly costume? she asks Damon, as he takes his place infront of the stark white backdrop. Damon shakes his head. Pleeeease?Mikayla coaxes. Damon acquiesces.

Later,when Damon becomes a bit grumpy while posing with his dad, Mikaylaknows exactly how to refocus his attention. She grabs a couple ofcushions out of a nearby trunk and tosses them to Damon. Pretendyoure having a pillow fight, she suggests, and within seconds Damonis squealing with laughter.

Shes kind of a natural, comments Jamie Miller, a North West Initiative volunteer whos helping out with the shoot.

Duringa break in shooting, Mikayla explains she took the class to learnabout photography what it is and what it does to change the world.

Althoughshes only been taking pictures for a few months, shes already wellacquainted with both film and digital cameras. Outside of the studio,Mikayla says she likes to look for photo opportunities in nature.

Soits not surprising Mikaylas eyes are drawn to a collection ofmulticolored silk-flower leis that happen to be hanging on the costumerack. She knows exactly how she wants to use them. Giving half of themto Allen and theother half to Miller, Mikayla positions herself on the floor in frontof Damon. On the count of three, Allen and Miller toss the leis intothe air above Damon, who beams as the necklaces rain down around him.Mikayla eagerly snaps away.

He likes to make funny faces, and hes a good brother, Mikayla says of Damon. And he shows a lot of personality.

Damonsmodeling career may be short-lived, but Mikayla insists shes planningto take pictures until Im old enough not to do it anymore.

Sheloves using her pictures to augment her writing. It shows what yourewriting about, she says of her photos. It shows detail. You can stillput detail in your story, but if you dont put the detail in your story, then the pictures can show the details.

Allenwill help Mikayla choose two shots from the two-hour studio session toenter in the contest. A panel of judges will score the entries based oncreative use of lighting, set design and overall creativity; cashawards and studio memberships are among the prizes. The winners will beannounced during P2s Gallery Walk Open House on Sunday, March 7.

Brownsays shes impressed with Mikaylas ideas and her knowledge of how touse the camera. Shes going to see things in a whole different waythan our adult minds, she said, as she watched Mikayla prepare foranother set-up.

But when shes not thinking about framing, lighting and art direction, Mikaylais also very much a 10-year-old. As she and Damon exit the studio atthe end of the shoot, Damon pushes through the swinging door, whichflies back and stops just short of hitting Mikayla.

Damonnnn! Mikayla says, sharply. Im telling Mom!

Perspective 2 Studio Photo Contest

Open house noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 7, at Perspective 2, 319 E. Grand River, Lansing; winners announced at 2 p.m. (517) 853-5880 www.perspective2studio.com