THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHING ROCKS

The old maxim that "A picture is worth a thousand words" is well tried and tested in the geological technical literature: photographs are one type of illustration used by geologists to communicate their science, especially in papers involving field studies. These photographs are usually of some arcane feature, perhaps a restricted view of a particular rock outcrop, often bristling with scales and arrows used to emphasize fine details. As necessary and appropriate as such photos are, they are not generally exciting for a layperson. Yet, as geologists, we would all agree that geology is beautiful. Photography is one important way in which we geologists can communicate that beauty to non-geologists, especially in an educational setting.

Of course, many beautiful photographs of geological subjects have been used in texts, and there even exist a few artistic books on the subject - but very few compared to the number of books (both didactically or artistically oriented) on the popular photography of other natural history subjects such as flowers or birds. Given the seemingly unfashionable nature of photographing rocks (at least outside the US southwest), it is perhaps understandable that relatively few geologists spend the time to take those extra "artistic" photos that might be used in outreach activities. And it is similarly no surprise that relatively few photographers approach landscapes with a geological perspective.

Through several of its activities, the Atlantic Geoscience Society has been making efforts to improve photographic awareness within the geological community - for instance by producing a book, The Last Billion Years, that contains many beautiful images. More innovatively, the society is also trying to improve the geological awareness of the local photographic community through competitions and a joint annual field trip with the Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia. These activities benefit both groups: the geological community gains better images for use in outreach activities; and photographers have the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective. And this gives all of us a greater appreciation of the beauty around us.