Unit Plan: Copy Stand Teaching Unit

GRADE LEVEL: Adjustable for grades 6-12

DEFINITION: Taking a photograph of a photograph and making new negatives.

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this unit, students should be able to:

• Use a copy stand for the preservation of historical objects.

• Operate a 35mm camera with a macro lens.

• Use macro photography to create additional close up photographs of portions of larger historical photographs.

• Use macro photography to uncover and print details in historical photographs not visible to ordinary vision.

EQUIPMENT:

• A 35mm camera should be used, such as a Canon EOS Elan 2 with a macro (50mm 1:2.5) lens for 5x7 or smaller photographs and macro (100mm 1:2.5) lens for larger photographs (more inexpensive close up lens filters can also be used--see below).

• A commercial copy stand is the best to use (Testrite manufactures several popular models), but you can make your own copy stand that will allow the camera to move up and down in order to copy any size print.

• A set of 2 or 4 (preferred) photo flood lights.

• An 8x10 piece of glass, a quarter inch thick, to place over the photograph. Note: Be careful to adjust the lighting to remove any glare from the glass.

AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO SET UP:

• Buy a used 35mm camera. Often good cameras ($50-100 range) are available in pawn shops or used camera stores. Before you buy the camera, shoot a roll of film in the store. Leave the camera, process the film at a one-hour photo lab, and if the photographs are acceptable, purchase the camera.

• Buy a set of stackable closeup lenses at your local camera store for $30-40 compared to $400-500 for a true 50mm macro lens. Avoid consumer macro zoom lenses.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Attach the camera to the stand so it moves up and down.
2. Place the photograph on the base and adjust the camera so that the photograph is in focus and no edges are showing in the view finder.
   
3. A piece of glass must be placed over the photograph you are copying. This will keep the image flat.
   
4. Turn on flood lights after focusing the shot.
   
5. Check for a glare on the glass. If glare is visible, adjust the light position to remove the glare.
   
6. If you have an automatic camera, take the photograph. If you are using a manual camera, check the through-the-lens meter for acceptable light conditions and then take the photograph.
   
7. Process the film (click here for darkroom instructions) or take the film to your local photo lab.