•Disposable 35mm cameras

•Point-and-shoot cameras (35mm or digital)

•Professional cameras(film or digital)

•Student-made pinhole cameras

This is a fun activity for those really interested in photography and optics. It is also very inexpensive, but requires more time and is not really suitable for snapshot work.

•Disposable 35mm cameras

•Point-and-shoot cameras (35mm or digital)

Disposable cameras are a great way to get started with this kind of project, as they are low-cost and almost indestructible.

Point-and-shoot 35mm’s are a step up in terms of image quality, and more options for use.

The main downside here is that developing and printing the film from these cameras can add up to quite a substantial bill if you are working with 20+ students. One possible alternative with non-disposable cameras is using black-and-white film that can be developed by the students themselves. All that’s required is a dark place to transfer the film from the cassette into a tank. The tank with developer, stop, and fix chemistry can then be used in the light. This can be very low-cost, but time intensive. It’s great for teaching the basic process of pre-digital photography.

•Professional cameras(film or digital)

These are typically more expensive cameras with more controls and options for a more professional look.

NOTES: Before digital became popular, Polaroid was a great way to go, as it gave instant feedback to the student. You also had a print immediately. The main drawback is the expense – around $1.00US per shot.

With digital, you can have the feedback immediately, so that you can retake if necessary. With many current systems, you can plug the camera or the memory card directly into a printer or a computer and have a print in a few minutes. Since the photo is already digitized, it can also be used in the software programs listed below. That way, books, exhibits, presentations, web pages and many other products can be generated.

File Attachments:

1.Expression cameras.doc