Photography Workshop for 4-H Students (pre-registered students only)

Bone Creek Museum is partnering with the 4-H Extension Offices of Butler and Colfax counties to offer a photography workshop for students led by RJ Kern of Minnesota. Participants will build pinhole cameras and create original photographs in a darkroom setting.

“Exploring Light, Optics, and Storytelling” invites learners to slow down, observe carefully, and rediscover the magic of early photography—when creating an image required curiosity, patience, and invention.

Participants will explore how a simple light-tight box with a tiny opening became the foundation of photography as we know it today. Along the way, students will connect science, creativity, and personal storytelling through hands-on experiences with light, exposure, and image-making.

More than just a science activity, this workshop highlights photography as a powerful form of human expression. Participants are encouraged to bring a personal photograph or small keepsake to incorporate meaning, memory, and storytelling into their work.
Through the slow and thoughtful process of working with light-sensitive materials, students will discover how every photograph begins with attention, creativity, and connection. This unique experience blends art, science, history, and reflection into an unforgettable hands-on learning opportunity.