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! TRICK PHOTGRAPHY

CREATING LIGHT STENCILS WITH STUDENTS _______________________________________________________________ !Contributed to the Library as Incubator Project by youth librarians Michael Cherry and Charles Sutton. Michael Cherry is the Teen and Youth Librarian at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library. Charles Sutton is Youth Services Librarian and Youth Department Supervisor. !!Light stencils are the art of manipulating and controlling the shape of light using small, handmade boxes. Stencils can be photographed using a digital camera and tripod. The project is a unique way to introduce trick photography to students. !!Materials !

• DSLR camera • Tripod • Black construction paper • Tin foil • Scissors • Stencil images • Pencil • Ruler • Flashlights • Shoebox • Cardboard (If creating your own box.) • Duct tape • Scotch tape • Darkened room • Optional:

HDMI cable Monitor External flash !

Method !• Have teen volunteers cut stencil images and create the stencil boxes. Shoeboxes could be used or

teens could create their own using cardboard, ruler, and duct tape. There are videos available on

YouTube, such as the tutorial by Noctography, which explain how to create a do-it-yourself light stencil box. Other step-by-step instructions could be found on the site PetaPixel.

• Introduce the program by discussing shutters speed as they relate to long exposure photography. Provide various examples.

• In a darkened room, experiment with different stencil designs using the boxes and flashlights. Stencil designs could include skull and crossbones, spiders, doves, and other symbols.

• Shine the light source through the back of the box, while exposing the photograph. To make multiple stencils in one image, turn the flashlight on and off as you move around the room, or change stencils. !

Enhance your program !• Make available books about stencil art. This could include anything from traditional paper

stencils, to the street art of Shepard Fairey and Banksy. • Attach the DSLR camera to a monitor using an HDMI cable. Students will be able to see their

light stencils as they are photographed. • Animate your light stencils! To animate your light stencil, take several photographs of the stencil

at a long exposure. Each time a new photograph is taken, move the light stencil to the right of the previous shot. Do this several times, until you have moved out of the camera’s viewfinder or frame. Then, upload your light stencil photographs into animation software. You will be able to play the photographs as an animated sequence, through stop-motion photography.