Unleashing Creativity: Exploring Light and Reflection in Our STEM Club's Glow Session

Light has a unique way of sparking curiosity and creativity. At our recent STEM club session, we focused on the fascinating world of glowing materials and reflective surfaces. This hands-on experience gave participants a chance to explore how light interacts with different objects, including a special highlight: a highly reflective 3M Superman 'Kryptonian' costume fabric. The session wrapped up with two engaging activities—light paintings and a basic slitscan experiment—that allowed everyone to experiment with light in creative ways.

Discovering the Magic of Reflective Materials

The session began with an introduction to glowing and reflective materials. One standout was the 3M Superman 'Kryptonian' fabric, known for its intense reflectivity. This fabric reflects light so well that it almost seems to glow under certain lighting conditions. Participants observed how light bounced off the fabric’s surface, creating bright highlights and sharp contrasts.

This part of the session helped everyone understand the science behind reflection and how materials can manipulate light. The fabric’s unique properties made it a perfect example of how engineers and designers use reflective materials in costumes, safety gear, and more.

Creating Art with Light Paintings

After exploring reflective materials, the group moved on to light paintings, a favorite activity that never fails to inspire. Using long exposure photography and various light sources, participants created stunning images by moving lights in front of the camera. This technique captures the path of light, turning simple movements into vibrant, glowing artwork.

The process encouraged experimentation. Some used flashlights, others tried glow sticks or LED lights. The results showed how light can be shaped and controlled to produce different effects. This activity combined art and science, demonstrating how technology can enhance creative expression.

Experimenting with Slitscan Photography

The final activity was a basic attempt at slitscan photography, a technique that captures time and motion in a single image. Although the setup was simple, it introduced participants to a complex concept in photography and image processing.

Slitscan works by scanning a narrow slit across a scene over time, creating images that stretch or distort moving objects. This crude experiment sparked curiosity about how cameras can manipulate time and space, opening doors to more advanced projects in the future.

Encouraging Exploration and Creativity

This glow session was more than just a fun evening. It showed how science and creativity go hand in hand. By exploring light and reflection, participants gained a deeper appreciation for the physical world and the technology that captures it.

The hands-on activities made abstract concepts tangible. Everyone left with new ideas and inspiration to explore light in their own projects. Whether through reflective fabrics, light paintings, or slitscan photography, the session highlighted the endless possibilities when science meets imagination.