Teach With Bigshot
Bigshot can be used to develop a variety of learning programs − in-class lessons, after school activities, weekend workshops or even holiday projects. It can also be a fun experience shared between family members. Here, we present some ways in which the content on this website can be organized into topics. Each topic includes concept learning, building activities, and a quiz. We share these ideas to help mentors get the most out of Bigshot with the least effort. But, we must emphasize that these are just a set of ideas and there are numerous other ways in which teachers may use Bigshot. In fact, if you have a great idea that worked well, or even just a comment, please do share it with us (teach@bigshotcamera.com).
| - Learn | - Fun fact | - Activity | - Quiz | - Advanced | - Video |
Click each topic to expand.
Introduction to Cameras
What is a camera? How do photographs influence our view of the world? Explore both questions through discussion and hands-on projects.
Famous Photos
A picture is worth a thousand words. Photographs shape our sense of history and document our lives.
The Simplest Camera
The simplest camera works with nothing more than a dark box and a tiny hole.
Build a Pinhole Camera
Build a simple camera with household materials.
Fun Facts About Pinhole Cameras
Enjoy some startling real-life examples of pinhole imaging!
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Exploring Color
From the vibrant shades of a rainbow to the vivid hues of flowers, our world is filled with rich colors. Explore the nature of light and how we perceive millions of colors.
Newton and Seven Colors
Newton's discovery that white light is a mixture of many colors − the colors of a rainbow.
Courtesy: MadDogScience, Youtube.
Spin a Color Wheel and See White
A hands-on project to confirm Newton's hypothesis that mixing the colors of a rainbow produces white light.
Light as a Wave: Part 1
A brief video explaining the nature of light as a wave.
Credit: Derek Owens, Youtube.
Light as a Wave: Part 2
Different colored lights correspond to different wavelengths.
Credit: Derek Owens, Youtube.
Visible Light Spectrum
Light that is visible to the human eye is in fact a tiny portion of the range of electromagnetic waves.
Credit: Derek Owens, Youtube.
Millions of Colors from Three Primary colors
Humans actually sense only three colors − Red, Green and Blue. But, these primary colors can be mixed to perceive millions of colors.
The First Color Photograph
The first color photograph, taken in 1861, is a combination of three black and white photos taken with the three primary color filters, respectively.
Lilac Chaser Illusion
The eye and the brain can trick us into seeing colors and patterns that aren't there.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Mirrors and Reflection
Mirrors reflect light rays − bounce them off their surface − to create images. This simple phenomenon of reflection allows us to see things that would be impossible to see with the naked eye.
How Mirrors Work
The mechanics of reflection at work.
Credit: AMomentofSciencePBS, YouTube.
How Mirrors Are Made
A short video of how mirrors are manufactured.
Credit: Discovery Channel, YouTube.
Build a Periscope
Make a simple device to see around corners using mirrors.
Build a Kaleidoscope
Create beautiful patterns with mirrors.
Mirror Maze
Be sure to visit this popular attraction at amusement parks. It's a maze made entirely with mirrors. Credit: Bethany Bryan, YouTube.
Making an Image with a Lens
Lenses bend and focus light to form images. Learn how lenses work and build a simple lens-based camera.
Refraction of Light
When a ray of light passes from one clear material to another, it bends at the boundary.
How Lenses Work
Clear glasses can be shaped to converge or diverge light.
Image Formation with Lens
A thin convex lens can be used to capture photos.
Build a Lens Camera
Build your own lens camera using simple components.
The Mammoth Camera
The giant camera built by Robert Lawrence in 1900.
Aperture and Focal Length
Explore two important properties that guide the design of camera lenses.
Focusing an Image
Play with the aperture and focal length to create a sharp image.
How Are Lenses Made
Blending art and science to make camera lenses. Credit: Discovery Channel, YouTube.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Recording Images
Point, shoot, and you have a photograph. It is a process we take for granted. But how does light get converted to a picture that we can see and hold? The journey from the Camera Obscura to film to digital photography is a fascinating one!
Heliography
A light-sensitive plate that records and image.
George Eastman: The Wizard of Photography (Part 1)
Documentary on George Eastman and his revolutionary impact on film photography. Credit: PBS American Experience. YouTube.
George Eastman: The Wizard of Photography (Part 2)
Documentary on George Eastman and his revolutionary impact on film photography. Credit: PBS American Experience. YouTube.
George Eastman: The Wizard of Photography (Part 3)
Documentary on George Eastman and his revolutionary impact on film photography. Credit: PBS American Experience. YouTube.
Electronic Image Sensor
In digital photography, film is replaced by electronic image sensor.
Pixel
A pixel (short for picture element) is the basic unit of an image sensor.
Image Sensor: A Grid of Pixels
A complete image is captured by pixels arranged in a rectangular grid.
Sensing Color
Image sensors are color blind. By using a simple trick with primary color filters, we can capture full color images.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Human Eye
The eye, our "window to the world," is a fascinating organ. Modern cameras are inspired by the design of the eye and mimic its mechanisms in many ways.
Design of Human Eye
Explore the anatomy of the human eye.
Make an Artificial Eye
Build a simple device that mimics image formation in the eye.
Find Your Blind Spot
Everyone has a blind spot in their field of view.
Visual Illusions
Things are not always what they appear to be. Certain patterns and designs trick the brain to produce illusions.
Color Blindness
Some people cannot see certain colors. This alters the way they perceive the world.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Displaying Images
Showing images has become important part of our communication. Displays are found in watches, cameras, cell phones, TVs and many other gadgets. Explore how the display technology has improved from simple slide projectors in 1600s to modern flat liquid crystal displays (LCD).
Make a Slide Projector
Build a simple device to project images onto walls.
Magic Lantern
The simple projector we built above was thought to be magic in 1600s.
What are Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)?
Introduction to modern displays used in computers and smartphones.
Polarization of Light
The phenomenon of restricting the plane of light waves to a certain orientation.
Controlling Brightness Using Polarizers
A polarizing filter coltrols brightness by allowing only a portion of light to pass through based on their orientation and the polarization of the the light.
How Liquid Crystals Work?
Liquid crystals control the polarization of light passing through them.
Design of an LCD
Visualize the structure and working of a single LCD pixel.
Taking an LCD Apart
Bill takes apart an LCD monitor and shows how it works. He explains how it uses liquid crystals, thin film transistors and polarizers to display information. Credit: Bill Hammack. YouTube.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Generating Power
Explore the intriguing interplay between electricity and magnetism. Make magnets using electricity and generate electric current using magnets.
Make an Electromagnet
Make a simple iron nail behave like a magnet by running electric current around it.
Fun Facts about Magnets
A couple of interesting facts about magnets.
Make A Simple Electric Generator
Generate electric current using magnets and wires to make a light bulb glow.
World's First Electric Generator
The world's first electric generator built by Michael Faraday. Credit: Veritasium. YouTube.
What is a Dynamo?
Learn how small electricity generators work.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Making Things Move
A motor combines the effects of electricity and magnetism to generate mechanical force. This force can be used to rotate things. Gears help speed-up or speed-down this rotation.
Make an Simple Motor
Make a coil spin using magnets and electric current.
Gears
See how gears are mostly used to transfer the rotation about one point to another.
Gearbox
A train of gears of different sizes can be used to increase or decrease the speed of rotation.
Quiz
Fun questions to see how much you have learned.
Build Bigshot
The moment you have been waiting for! Build your own Bigshot. In the process, reinforce and apply the concepts learned in the above topics.
Build Bigshot Camera
Carefully follow steps to assemble the Bigshot camera.
Bigshot Components
Identify and learn what each electronic component does.
Bigshot Firmware In Action
Visualize what happens inside the camera when the shoot button is pressed.
Photography
Many of the photos we shoot tend to look similar. This is because we approach subjects in much the same way with every shot. Eventually these photos will start to look uninteresting. Here are some of the tips to keep in mind while composing your photos.
Basic Photography Tips
Experiment with your camera. Shoot from different angles. Shoot from closer or farther. Play with lighting. Try different lenses.
Rule of Thirds
A simple rule for framing photos that yields visually pleasing results.
Taking 3D Photos with Bigshot
To achieve a strong 3D effect, shoot 1-4 feet away from the subject.
Photo Shoots
Use Bigshot to create stories with pictures. Each photo shoot can focus on a theme or subject of choice. Be sure to use all three settings for your pictures − normal, panoramic, and stereo. Some popular photo shoot themes are:
- Street photography: Type of documentary photography that captures candid moments of people in public spaces, such as streets, parks, malls and gatherings.
- Landscape/Scenery: Show different spaces in the world−some vast and magnificent, others small and intriguing.
- Portraits: Capture the personality and mood of a person by focusing on the expression on his face.
- Nature: Take pictures outdoors−of animals, plants, scenery, natural elements−to display the beauty of nature.
- Our Backyard: Document what is present in your own backyard. It can be more fun than you think!
- Photo essays: A series of photographs that tell a story.
Photo Exhibition
Discuss the variety of pictures taken by the group. What makes some of them special? Why? Then curate the best photos and write a few lines on each, giving them titles and briefly explaining the photographer's artistic vision. Hold your own "exhibition" to proudly showcase the best pictures of each member of the group to family and friends.
