Explore Circles of Light

Read About a Photograph by Henry Holmes Smith

Look at this cool photo with four circles of light! But wait, these aren’t just random shapes. The artist, Henry Holmes Smith, played with light using special wire grids. The result? It’s like a magic trick for our eyes—the light and shadows make cone shapes and grid patterns.

Imagine you have a flashlight, and you shine it through different shapes. That’s what Henry did with his art. He reminds us that even simple things, like light and shadows, can be turned into amazing art with a dash of creativity.

Next time sunlight comes through your window, pay attention to the shadows it makes. These are hidden shapes waiting to be discovered!

Look closely at Circles of Light.

• Where do you think the light is coming from? How can you tell?
• What can we learn about light and shadows by studying this picture?

A photograph is a ‘light drawing’ or a picture made by recording an image on a surface sensitive to light.

A dark area or shape formed when an object blocks light from a source, such as the sun, creating a contrast between the illuminated and shaded areas.