Photography and Place; the Garden room

Last week on two different days, small groups came from the Garden room (3's, younger 4's) to the Studio to investigate new aspects of photography. These children have explored the digital camera, taking many of their own photos and learning things that the teachers didn't know, like how to play music and a slide show on the camera. Avery visited from her class.


Their Teacher Cris brought a group on Tuesday to look at a 35mm camera and film. A parent (Melissa) had donated an old camera, so the children were familiar with the lens opening and other parts, but they had not put film in the 35 millimeter or taken any pictures. I will post more on this after I bring the processed film back to them.
We wanted to somehow let the children in on the developing process, without having to find a darkroom. Cyanotypes (also known as Sunprints or blueprints) are a way of developing a picture just with water, in daylight.  I got some chemicals from Rockland Photographic (http://www.rockaloid.com), mixed and painted the chemicals on 2 big pieces of paper at home, and brought them in. We had to work fast so the bright sun wouldn't expose the paper before we could get the objects in place.The children found natural items to make one picture, and Greta and Adelina lay on the other to make a picture of themselves. Some bugs crawled around on the sheet with the pinecones. We will try this again!
Here is what the children had to say about the experience;
Greta:  It's me and Adelina

Oliver:  No, it's kind of magic.  It's regular green paper.
        We get shadows and put on the hose and it makes the shadows stay and makes it get blue.

Lukas: there are bugs on there (did the bugs show on the picture, or is Lukas remembering them?)

Oliver: it's kind of magic