New and Upcoming Articles
Two pieces: The Physics of Photography and Writing an (accurate) wildflower guide is a pain in the …
How things are going today in Fairbanks:
Winter storm warning for today, and still no above freezing temps in the 7-day forecast. Winter is really holding on tight this spring! The front yard sure looks pretty, although we’ve had this same view since October.
I haven’t had much to update recently because I’ve been laser-focused on getting a new article series out shortly (less than a month from now). Once that’s done, I’ll be able to get back to taking more pretty photos and writing some less serious things. For now, here’s my teaser for what’s coming up:
Unravel the Physics Behind Photography in My Upcoming Articles!
Are you ready to take your photography skills to a whole new level? Dive into the world of the science photography with my upcoming series, From Light To Image: A Journey Through the Physics of Photography! This comprehensive exploration will help photographers of all skill levels better understand the fundamental principles that govern the art and science of capturing stunning images.
In this informative series, I will cover the intricacies of light and how its intensity influences the final exposure of your photographs. Delve into the importance of energy transfer from light to your camera's sensor, and learn about the crucial role that aperture and shutter speed play in controlling exposure. Uncover how these elements combine to create the perfect photograph and how dimensional analysis (used frequently in physics and mathematics) can help you visualize the physics behind these concepts as I develop a physical definition of exposure.
I will also explore the concept of sensor sensitivity and its impact on the final image's brightness or darkness. Discover the missing piece in the photographic definition of exposure and how it can transform your understanding of the art.
With clear explanations, engaging examples, and a touch of humor, this comprehensive guide promises to be a valuable resource for photographers looking to elevate their craft. Watch for the full article coming soon on my website https://www.lwpetersen.com.
In the meantime, ensure you're subscribed to my newsletter for updates and exclusive content. I can't wait to share this insightful piece with you, and I'm confident that it will inspire you to see photography through a new lens!
Stay tuned, and happy shooting!
Writing an (accurate) wildflower guide is a pain in the …
My latest article highlights some of my frustration in writing my wildflower guide. I’m really hoping to self-publish my first edition field guide before next spring, but there are a lot of wrenches getting thrown around in that world.
The latest hit taken was while updating my article for the eightpetal mountain avens (Dryas octopetala). While re-writing my identification section, I discovered that at least some of the photos I had used were actually a different species entirely. Granted, it was an incredibly similar, almost identical-looking species that actually used to be considered a sub-species.
Long story short, what I had planned on being a 2-hour re-write, turned into an over 20-hour long ordeal. I managed to fix that article, but now I need to write another for the other species. If you are following me or subscribing at all for my wildflower posts, I highly recommend you check out both articles.
My post Writing an (accurate) wildflower guide is a pain in the … gives a lot of insight into what goes into researching and writing these guides. I’m finding more and more how other online and print guides are frequently inaccurate. As I slug through online and print sources, the number of guides and articles with the same copy-and-paste (incorrect) content is staggering. Part of the reason I write articles like this is to be transparent about my process and research so that you can decide how trustworthy of a source I am for this information.
The article on the eightpetal mountain is one of my longest and most detailed posts yet in the guide. There’s some fascinating history behind the flower and its use in science. Dryas octopetala is used in climatology and paleoecology because its pollen is frequently found in ice cores and sediment samples. The pollen helps scientists learn more about ecology and climate during cooling and warming periods at the end of the last ice age and glacial retreat.
It’s a beautiful flower in the rose family that I frequently see entirely covering the ground on alpine ridges here in Alaska. If you want to learn more about it, click the image below!
Timeline
Here’s a bit of my projected timeline for some of these (bigger) projects to give you a sense of when to expect them.
April 26, 2023 - The first online series of articles on the Physics of Photography covers exposure and how camera settings control the final image. This will be followed soon after by a second series on light.
August/September 2023 - Announcement of self-published Alaska Wildflower Guide 1st edition. As long as I am on track for a late winter or early spring publication, I’ll launch an Indigogo campaign where you can pre-order book copies.
November/December 2023 - Announcement of Fairbanks Area hiking guide 1st edition. I’m hoping for publication before the winter of 2024.
January 2024 - Semi-completion of the online Physics of Photography Guide. Announcement of book publication expected time (estimated to be early in the following year).
Soon to follow will be the much more expansive Alaska Wildflower Guide 2nd Edition and my Alaska Hiking Guide.
Of course, these are only my most significant projects culminating in printed publications. There’s a lot more in the pipeline for online writing and photography.
Make sure you’re subscribed to this newsletter for frequent updates on all projects. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help support me on these projects. I also have supporter memberships available on Patreon and memberships or one-off donations on Ko-fi.