Weekly Challenge #4 - Light & Shadow Play

This week we will playing with light & shadow to create interesting photos or videos. Please watch the intro video below.

To recap, we are playing with reflections, light bouncing from one object to another, and shadows, areas where light is blocked and a dark silhouette forms.

For this week choose one or more of these options:

1. Go on a light/shadow scavenger hunt. Find interesting shadows and reflections around your home. Take pictures/video of what you find. Try to find 5 or more examples.
2. Make shadow graffiti! Create a shadow that you can "paint" onto various areas of your home. Take photos or video.
3. Create a shadow/light still photo. Try different backgrounds. Take a picture of what you make. 
4. Create a shadow theater. Film a short video of your creation.

Here's some examples below.

#1 - light/shadow scavenger hunt

#2 - shadow graffiti

I've played with some shadow graffiti examples around my house. See the examples in the slide show below.
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#3 - Shadow/Light Still Photo
Create an art piece that uses light, shadow, and/or reflection. Photograph your creation. Try using a tablet as backdrop (turn up the brightness as high as it can go). Play with different backgrounds, light angles, and characters. See the video below.

Here's a collage of my still-life photos with different tablet backgrounds.

If you want to use the shadow theater set-up I have a template below. This can be used for both the still life and the theater options. It's great if you can print it onto cardstock but you can  make it work on paper too. 

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#4 - shadow theater
Using a set-up similar to the the still life option, create a short video. Make your shadows move and talk.


As always, please send me a photo or video of your creations! My email is [email protected]. Also, The Exploratorium is collecting photos and videos of light/shadow creations from around the world. Feel free to share on Twitter using their hashtag, #LightUpOurDays, and our own, #sfbrandeismakes.

​Optional Lesson Extensions

• Use your still life set up to create a stop motion shadow movie (Shout out to Henry in 1st grade for this idea!)
• Try one of the options you haven't yet explored. 
• Use your shadow work as the inspiration for a short story or poem.
• ​Read My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson. Why does his shadow behave as he describes?
• Explore some of these incredible examples of shadow theater. Let them inspire you.