Re: [APML]: Art or Science

[Chuck Vaughn <aa6g@aa6g.org>]

The Astro-Photography Mailing List
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Gregory,

>I got into a huge debate at the studios about this. I defended
>astrophotography as an art form which focused on scientific subjects. I
>was told it was just science.

I don't think they understand science.<g> We're not taking these photos
to prove some theory, gather new data or make some discovery. We take 
them because we like the pictures and probably the technical challenge.
Now if we find an asteroid trail on a photo and go back and take follow-up
photos, carefully measure it's position, determine the orbit and find
that it's not previously known then maybe we've done some science. Taking
a photo of M42 and putting it on your web page is not anymore science than
taking a sunset photo and doing the same.

Chuck <aa6g@aa6g.org>