Haunted School

You will be working with a partner or two for this activity.

Together you will:

1. Decide what effect to fake in your photograph. Also come up with your group's school appropriate pseudonym or pen name.
2. Make the photograph. Please be very careful with the cameras. Do NOT delete any of the images.
3. With the photograph in mind, create a story to explain the story behind it.
4. Peer-edit each other's stories for grammar, spelling, and sense-making. Make sure that it is convincing!
5. Type your "true" story into Microsoft Word. Save your file on the network drive as your group name, class, and project. For example, groupa501ebook.docx for Group A in class 501.
6. Proofread your story one more time.
7. Insert the image you created. The total story, including the image, should be at least one page. Use size 12 or 14 font, 1" margins, and a "normal" font. If you don't know if the font is "normal" enough, ask your librarian. It should be easy to read your story.

You are to be respectful of all classes. Your teacher might let you take a photograph in another part of the building, but you will need to do so quickly and quietly so that others can use the camera.

What effects can we make?

Orbs:  Orbs look like balls of light. You can create these with dust or water droplets. You will need to use the flash for this effect. Simply stir up dust or spray some water from a spray bottle. Be VERY CAREFUL not to get the camera wet when doing this.

Blurry figure:  You will need to have your teacher smudge the lens for this effect. Doing this will make the subject of your photograph appear to have blurred edges and he/she will look like he/she is glowing.

Mysterious shapes:  You can use cellophane when using the flash to make it look like there is a mysterious shape in the image. You can even make it look like the shape has a tail of sorts. Hold the cellophane close to the flash when snapping the picture. Hair in the way can also look rather ghostly!

Strings of energy:  Use ... string! Dangle a bit of string in the way of the lens when snapping the picture to make it look like there is a string of energy in the air. You can use silly string for a similar effect--just not in the school. Sorry!

Ecto-mist: Blowing out a match or candle puts smoke into the air. This can look extremely ghostly. Please, only do this one with adult supervision. Steam will also create a similar effect.

Motion blur:  You will need to use an extended shutter speed for this one. On your teacher's camera, you will use the museum setting. Have someone walk toward the camera, but slightly at an angle, while taking the photograph. Remember that your real faces cannot be shown!

*You may also use photo and paint software to enhance images, but this might not be available on school computers.