Look Through the Lens with the Museum of the Great Southern’s interactive school holidays exhibition

The Museum of the Great Southern has curated a school holiday program to help keep children entertained over summer.

The free Through the Lens program is running in the Discovery Centre, with activities designed to appeal to children and adults alike.

There is an exhibition of vintage camera equipment, a collection of insects and interactive displays that explore the way humans see light and colour

“We want people to explore their world and be curious about the things that they see,” museum manager Catherine Salmaggi said.

“You don’t need to have expensive photographic equipment or your own darkroom to get started in photography.

“In just five minutes we can show you how to turn everyday objects into a micro-eye that you use to take close-up photographs and videos of the insect world.”

From January 4 to 8, free insect photography workshops will teach people how they can take close-up photos of curious critters.

From February 1 to 3, the sun will be in focus as guests learn how to harness solar power to create silhouette artwork.

A pinhole photography workshop on January 19 and 21 will show people over the age of 12 how to make their own working pinhole camera.

Ms Salmaggi said staff would draw on the history of photography to inspire minds over the holidays. “From the late 1830s to the 1880s photography was the reserve of the professional and wealthy,” she said.

“This changed in the 1880s when Kodak released a camera that was both affordable to the general public and simple in its operation.

“The explosion of photography that then took place has created a fascinating historical record as people were able to document their everyday life.

“It is this record that is of incredible value to historians and researchers.”

For more information, visit museum.wa.gov.au/holidays.