Dec 14, 2020 08:00:00

What are the photo editors of scientific magazines doing to make photos look impressive?

When a researcher or writer publishes an article summarizing the research content in a scientific journal, we will prepare not only sentences but also photographs to make the content easy to understand and to interest non-expert readers. .. Emily Patterson, a photo editor in charge of photo for articles in the science magazine Science, reveals the concept of taking the photos used in science articles.

Mundane to memorable: transforming pictures | Visuals

https://blogs.sciencemag.org/vis/2020/12/04/mundane-to-memorable-transforming-pictures/

The image below is a photograph of a subject in an 'experiment to determine the amount of sweat' conducted at the University of Wollongong , Australia. In introducing the experiment to Science, Patterson told the University of Wollongong media team, 'Keep the composition of the photo,' 'Soften the lights and add highlights,' and 'Dark and transparent the background.' I gave instructions such as 'make the capsule and wire stand out' and took a picture for publication in the magazine.

And the article '

Heat is killing more people than ever. Scientists are looking for ways to lower the risk ' published in the November 13, 2020 issue of Science, which introduced the experiments at the University of Wollongong . Many people are dying. Scientists are looking for ways to reduce the risk of heat.) ”Is below. By shining red light on the subject, the points related to the research theme of 'high temperature' are visually expressed. In addition, the success of shooting the moment when sweat flows down emphasized the content of the article 'Heat and sweat'.

The image below is a photo of a

metamaterial sheet being studied at the University of Colorado at Boulder , which was actually published in the treatise . This metamaterial sheet increases the efficiency of radiative cooling by reflecting electromagnetic waves from the sun without consuming electricity or water.

Patterson asked Glenn Asakawa, a photographer at the University of Colorado at Boulder, to use it in the November 13, 2020 issue of Science's article, '

Cooling in a warming world. ' The photos taken are below. Mr. Patterson instructed Mr. Asakawa to 'cast a shadow with the sheet taut to capture the sunlight reflected by the silver metamaterial sheet.' At the time of shooting, Colorado was hit by early snowfall and wildfires, and it was not known if the sun would shine enough, but Mr. Asakawa was lucky enough to aim for the moment when the sun was clear and succeeded in shooting.

The cover of the December 4, 2020 issue of Science, which introduced a paper on plant root growth models, featured photographs of stained plant roots. Mr. Patterson, who supervised this photo, said that he thought of two concepts: 'expressing how the complex roots of a plant compete for space' and 'abstractly depicting the roots of a plant using a macro lens'. The image below is a photograph of the roots of a plant dyed by photographer Miquel Ponce.

And the following was taken based on Mr. Patterson's concept. Mr. Patterson only sent instructions, and it was Mr. Ponce who actually interpreted the instructions and photographed, 'By Mr. Ponce's creativity, the roots under our feet unfold'invisible' It drew readers' attention to the drama, and infused it against the backdrop of a swirling atmosphere of mystery and conspiracy, 'says Patterson.

'I work with photographers to effectively convey important parts of the image in order to make the research and new technologies covered in the article look interesting,' said Patterson. By eliminating the part that becomes, and making full use of the composition and light, the information that we want to convey in the end becomes clear. '