Activity 1: Looking for Light

Level   

• All

Notes  

• This activity is a good starting point for your exploration of this exhibition. Questions in this discussion are designed to provoke thought and encourage observation. There are not necessarily any right or wrong answers.
• Words in bold are found in glossary.

Purpose   

• To sensitize students to the main principles involved in photography: light and how light creates dimension and depth in the image.
• To provide students and teachers with a common entry point for looking at and understanding photography.

Materials  

• Photographs in the exhibition (or slides)

Procedure  

• Discussion and Observation

1. Introduce the exhibit by telling your students that these photographs were made by students from grade 7 – 12 and are a selection made from 59 students over 3 years of the project and 171 photographs.

2. Gather students around Two Worlds, by Chandra. Ask students what they see in this picture. Encourage thoughtful responses through positive reinforcement and follow-up comments.

• Explore responses, especially those that speak about light. Discuss what is creating the major shadow and how shadows in general are created.
• What is the light source for this photograph? 
• Are there other shadows in the photograph? Where are they?
  Where is the darkest shadow? What is the brightest spot? Where does your eye go first? Find a tone midway between the brightest and darkest spots.
• Is this a bright sunny day, or slightly overcast? How can you tell?
• What do you think the title Two Worlds means? What kind of a mood does this photograph create?

3. Move to the photograph of two aboriginal children called My Cousins Salomon and Moranda  by Rommel.

• Is the sunlight shining from the same direction as the photograph Two Worlds ? How can you tell? 
• Continue discussion along the same lines as above.

4. Send students into the exhibition with the following tasks:

• Find the one photograph that is of low contrast ( Shadows, by Jessi). It has no real black and no white but lots of middle greys.
• Ask what has created the shadow and from where that person might be standing in relation to the light source and the photographer.
• Compare Shadows to another photograph that is a full tone (any other photograph). What tones are missing in the low contrast image?
• Find the brightest and the darkest spot in each photo. Find a tone that is midway between the two.
• Think of a word that describes the mood in each photograph. 
• Have a few students share their findings with the large group. 
• Discuss the following question with the group: What would different lighting conditions do to the photograph?…overcast, bright sun, the sun coming in from a different angle, the sun coming from behind?

Evaluation 

• Level of student involvement.
• Thoughtfulness of responses.
• Demonstrated understanding of light and shadow in photography.

Curriculum Connections 

• Visual Art
   

– Introduction – The Art of Seeing – Camera Equipment and Darkroom – Gallery –
– Educational Resources – Through the Lens – Whyte Museum –