Prompt
Create a 3D structure from a cut-out cardboard shape, explore the interplay between light and shadow, and observe how adding elements alters the shadow's form.

Materials Needed:

• A piece of cardboard (approx.A2)
• Pencil
• Scissors or craft knife 
• Glue or tape
• Flashlight
• Ruler
• Paper for sketching

Steps:

1. Sketch Your Shape (5minutes):
   Begin by sketching a simple shape (e.g., a star, heart, or geometric pattern) onto your piece of cardboard.

2. Cut Out the Shape (5 minutes):
   Carefully cut out the shape from the cardboard, making sure to keep both the cut-out piece and the negative space (the hole left behind).

3. First Light Projection (10 minutes):
   Place your cut out in front of a flashlight or lamp in a darkened room. Observe the shadow it casts on the wall or roll of paper.

4. Build Around the Cut-Out (20 minutes):
   Use the cut-out piece and other cardboard scraps to build a 3D structure around the negative space. Be creative in how you attach and layer the pieces to create depth and form.

5. Second Light Projection (10 minutes):
   Place your 3D structure in front of a flashlight or lamp in a darkened room. Observe the shadow it casts on the wall or a piece of paper. Compare the new shadow to the original one. Notice how the addition of the cut-out piece alters the shadow’s design.

6. Document: Create a post in the responses tab with 2 of your photographs
   

Deliverables:

1. A completed 3D structure.
2. Photos of the shadows before and after adding the cut-out piece.
3. A short reflection on how the addition of the cut-out piece influenced the shadow.

Total Time: 1hour

Description

In this exercise, you will explore the creative possibilities of slow shutter speed photography. You will experiment with different types of lights to create unique and visually stunning images.

Instructions

• Begin by sketching or discussing with a partner the types of light movements you want to create. Think about shapes, patterns, or even writing words with the light. Consider how you might move together if working in pairs.
• Set up your camera on a tripod or stabilize it. Set the following settings to your camera RAW MANUAL NOISE CANCEL f22 iso 100 shutterspeed "8 
• Choose a Dark Location: Turn off the lights or cover windows to make the room as dark as possible. The darker the room, the more vibrant the light painting will be
• Experiment with different light sources, such as a flashlight, LED lights with switches, or a string of lights, and play with the movement of the light source to create different patterns and shapes.
• Take multiple shots and try different camera angles, exposures, and shutter speeds to achieve different effects.

Deliverables

• Select your best images and edit them as desired.
• Create a blog post to share your images on the platform with a brief description of your process and what types of lights you used.

Materials and Tools

• Camera with manual control settings
• Tripod / way to stabilize your camera
• A variety of light sources (flashlight, LEDs, string lights, etc.)
• Editing software (optional)

During this studio we redesigned the breath sensing flower to make it smaller and more manageable to hold while in use. The first iteration of the this studio’s flower had small petals that did not poke people in the face while they have the flower close to their face. In order for the smaller flower to close we had to redesign the center pin that connects to the petal frames. We moved the attachment points for the petals frames out closer to the petals, but this version of the flower was still not able to close completely.

For the second iteration of the flower we modified the center pin to allow the flower to close, and we also added a locking mechanism to hold the flower open or closed. We moved the attachment points on the center pin down and in towards its center. This helped the flower to close but the petal frames hit each other, causing some of the petals to overlap. The locking mechanism that we added to the flower is very simple. The center pin had two small divots in it, and the flower base had a spring loaded ball in it. As the center pin is pushed up or down, the ball snaps into the divot. The center pin can then be pushed passed the ball easily.

The third iteration of the flower added fillets to the pieces, as well as a cone to direct breath towards the breath sensor. For this iteration, we refined the design of the flower by adding fillets to the base and center pin. These help make the pieces stronger so that they will not break as easily in the wind. The cone that we created snaps onto the top of the center pin, and has space for the breath sensor to sit at the bottom. It directs peoples’ breath down to the sensor, and it also reduces noise that would be picked up by the sensor otherwise.

The current flower now has lighting, a transparent cone, and tapered petal frames. We added lighting to the flower by placing an LED upside-down in the breath cone. In order for the light to diffuse evenly throughout the entire flower, we printed the breath cone out of transparent filament. This not only allows light to pass through, but it glows when the flower is open. To make the flower close completely, we made the tops of the petal frames thinner so that they would not hit each other and cause the petals to overlap.