Scientific photographers document natural and experimental phenomena for educational or research purposes, using techniques such as micrography and imaging in non-visible areas of the spectrum. They must carefully develop and process images without altering or obscuring data, and may manipulate the environment to obtain clear and useful images.
A scientific photographer documents natural and experimental phenomena for educational or research purposes. The focus of this field in photography is the accurate and detailed recording of scientific data. Composition, lighting, and similar issues are of concern, but non-artistic requirements can dictate the best framing and presentation of the image. As many scientific phenomena are visually appealing, some scientific photographers blur the line between art and science and can produce works that are considered both aesthetically pleasing and scientifically useful.
Some scientific photographers record experiments. This documentation includes conditions for photographing in the laboratory, as well as during each stage of the event. Depending on the nature of the experiment, it may be necessary for a scientific photographer to use techniques such as micrography, where images are taken through a microscope. Experimenters use photographs in their publications to illustrate how the work was done and to show their results.
Others may take photographs for illustrative purposes. Scientific texts benefit from having photos to accompany their information, and images are also used in reference materials such as flower keys for botanists. These images require the use of optimal sample samples for the most accurate reference images. News publications may ask science photographers to document phenomena of interest to a story, where the images need to be informative and interesting to members of the public.
Another occupation for a scientific photographer might involve imaging for further research and scientific understanding. Rosalind Franklin, for example, used the X-ray crystal paragraph to highlight the major components of DNA structure. Her work contributed significantly to the understanding of human genetics. As she illustrated, scientific photographers can work with energy in the non-visible areas of the spectrum, including infrared, ultraviolet and other forms of radiation, to develop detailed images that generate valuable information about the natural world.
After taking pictures, the scientific photographer develops and processes them carefully. Photographers don’t want to alter or obscure the results with their images and should be careful with activities like color pass filtering to ensure they don’t remove or confuse data. They are also concerned with issues such as focus, composition and style, as these can make the difference between a clear and understandable image and one that is boring and uninformative.
Working as a science photographer requires an understanding of science and photography. The photographer may need to manipulate certain aspects of the environment without interrupting the science of taking pictures in order to obtain clear and useful images. This can include simple steps like moving a swatch onto a colored background to create more contrast so the resulting image stands out. Photographers can use a variety of cameras, lenses and filters to capture different phenomena of interest.
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