GEOPHOTOGRAPHY

Within all major fields of science, new fields, subdisciplines, and methodologies develop and evolve over time to the point where new descriptors are coined and applied (geoinformatics, nanogeoscience, microgeochemistry), and new divisions of scientific societies created. Examples of the latter are Geoscience Education and History of Geology, two divisions of GSA, which employ specific methodologies (educational science, historical analysis) to better convey an understanding of geology, and reveal the past history and evolution of the science. Essentially, when there is sufficient identity, interest, or utility, new fields or aspects of a science become recognized.

I assert it is long overdue to recognize the field of geophotography, which has obvious analogies to, but is much broader than, the decades-old field and term astrophotography. In light of the triumvirate of vastly more sophisticated and readily available image processing software compared to even a decade ago, affordable high-resolution digital photography and high quality optics, and legal and ethical issues, there are very ample subjects to be collectively treated under the umbrella of geophotography. An advantage of defining and delineating geophotography is that it allows attention to be drawn to the tools and techniques that give the best results without each geologist necessarily becoming an all-around expert photographer.

A proposed initial definition of geophotography is: Photography applied to recording natural or simulated geologic features and processes in an essentially realistic fashion in visible or near-visible light for some educational or technical purpose. This limits the field to methods that are popularly considered photographic and excludes purely artistic endeavors, while indicating that the object of the exercise is to record geology with a specific purpose in mind.

Good geophotography involves good equipment and photographic technique, an understanding of the geology, photographic software, and specialized methods or considerations. There are numerous legal, ethical, and insurance issues, but also some advantages, for the geophotographer. There are numerous obvious extant specializations. A fundamental goal ought to be the propagation of knowledge to help geologists become better geophotographers.