Scared Scientists
August 25, 2014 7:53 PM Subscribe
Photographer Nick Bower captures portraits of varying scientists contemplating global warming.
man this is a serious issue but this is too easy to mock and caption
posted by lalochezia at 7:57 PM on August 25, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by lalochezia at 7:57 PM on August 25, 2014 [9 favorites]
I have long believed that every political leader should have a digital frame installed on their executive desk, something about the size and resolution of an Electric Object. Inside the frame, a screen would display the photograph of a random citizen, changing every 24 hours or so: all ages, all ethnicities, all genders, all socioeconomic groups. It would be my hope that this constant reminder would cause political leaders to question themselves, and the people that they serve: “Are the decisions I’m making today in the best interests of this person?”
Perhaps that frame should display just these photographs.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 8:05 PM on August 25, 2014 [10 favorites]
Perhaps that frame should display just these photographs.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 8:05 PM on August 25, 2014 [10 favorites]
In 150 years these photos should be posted with the caption "I told you so" written beneath each one of them.
posted by Vibrissae at 9:25 PM on August 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Vibrissae at 9:25 PM on August 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Looks more like varying scientists wondering who farted.
This photo series seems like a not-great idea to me, to be honest, in part for reasons I just demonstrated, because I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON: that it's too easily mockable.
But worse: what are we to think the photographer told these people before taking the picture? "Look somewhere between scared and seriously concerned, please?"
Because that makes the viewer assume that these people are pretending to look concerned (even if they really are scared), which immediately leads that proportion of viewers who are stupid and easily befuddled to question the validity of the actual science -- hell, they're just making shit up all along the line, son! -- and that seems terribly counterproductive.
Ah well. Maybe I'm overthinking this.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:35 PM on August 25, 2014 [12 favorites]
This photo series seems like a not-great idea to me, to be honest, in part for reasons I just demonstrated, because I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON: that it's too easily mockable.
But worse: what are we to think the photographer told these people before taking the picture? "Look somewhere between scared and seriously concerned, please?"
Because that makes the viewer assume that these people are pretending to look concerned (even if they really are scared), which immediately leads that proportion of viewers who are stupid and easily befuddled to question the validity of the actual science -- hell, they're just making shit up all along the line, son! -- and that seems terribly counterproductive.
Ah well. Maybe I'm overthinking this.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:35 PM on August 25, 2014 [12 favorites]
Too much contrast, too much ink. The photos are very hard to look at, and it's not because of the anguished expressions. It's a technical problem.
posted by Nevin at 9:39 PM on August 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Nevin at 9:39 PM on August 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
I think this is one of those things that are great in theory but can't work in practice, unless the photographer is actually shadowing the scientist and snaps the picture at the exact moment the science results are printed out or appear in the Bunsen or vat or whatever. Still, these are striking photos, and the intent is good, and I appreciate the link.
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:40 PM on August 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:40 PM on August 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
Looks more like varying scientists wondering who farted.
---
PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES SCIENTISTS' FRIGHTENED RESPONSES TO FARTS
We've read the daunting headlines. We've seen the bleak predictions. We know in our minds that farts are putting our Earth's future in danger. And yet there's something uniquely frightening about this artist's attempt to transform the smell of farts into visceral, human responses.
In his black-and-white photography series "Scared Scientists," Nick Bowers captures a raw element not often associated with scientific knowledge. For the series, Bowers interviewed a selection of scientists in varying fields, capturing the frightened looks on their faces while they contemplated who farted. The photos are minimalist but intense, each wrinkle and crease pointing to a human unease we can all connect with.
Bowers told The Huffington Post he hopes to convey "the humanity and vulnerability of the scientists" through his work. "That they are as individuals concerned by farts, separate from the scientific realm."
posted by Going To Maine at 10:44 PM on August 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
---
PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES SCIENTISTS' FRIGHTENED RESPONSES TO FARTS
We've read the daunting headlines. We've seen the bleak predictions. We know in our minds that farts are putting our Earth's future in danger. And yet there's something uniquely frightening about this artist's attempt to transform the smell of farts into visceral, human responses.
In his black-and-white photography series "Scared Scientists," Nick Bowers captures a raw element not often associated with scientific knowledge. For the series, Bowers interviewed a selection of scientists in varying fields, capturing the frightened looks on their faces while they contemplated who farted. The photos are minimalist but intense, each wrinkle and crease pointing to a human unease we can all connect with.
Bowers told The Huffington Post he hopes to convey "the humanity and vulnerability of the scientists" through his work. "That they are as individuals concerned by farts, separate from the scientific realm."
posted by Going To Maine at 10:44 PM on August 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Wow. A lot of critics in here. As a photographer, and a concerned human, this post was fantastic. Thanks!
posted by hamandcheese at 11:07 PM on August 25, 2014
posted by hamandcheese at 11:07 PM on August 25, 2014
Union of Deeply Concerned Scientists.
posted by pracowity at 11:26 PM on August 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by pracowity at 11:26 PM on August 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
Ah well. Maybe I'm overthinking this.
No.
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:41 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
No.
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:41 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
I expect the other side will hit back with two or three pictures of people who are not exactly climate scientists (but, y'know) looking briskly unconcerned.
posted by Segundus at 1:09 AM on August 26, 2014
posted by Segundus at 1:09 AM on August 26, 2014
I'm fairly briskly unconcerned, but then I don't have kids and I drink a lot, so I'll be lucky to get another 40 years. As long as the world last that long I'm good. It's the rest of you who are screwed! You should drink more.
posted by cjorgensen at 5:54 AM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by cjorgensen at 5:54 AM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Nero envys our skill at fiddling.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:35 AM on August 26, 2014
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:35 AM on August 26, 2014
Tim Flannery will mug all night and all day, I know that much. Given his record in this area, I think he should really stick to the mammal business, and I say this as someone who believes the evidence of anthropogenic climate change is incontrovertible.
posted by Wolof at 6:44 AM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Wolof at 6:44 AM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Because that makes the viewer assume that these people are pretending to look concerned (even if they really are scared), which immediately leads that proportion of viewers who are stupid and easily befuddled to question the validity of the actual science -- hell, they're just making shit up all along the line, son! -- and that seems terribly counterproductive.
Yeah, I thought this was going to be pictures taken while the scientists were reading/watching some dumbass climate denialist piece.
These just seem forced.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:51 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I thought this was going to be pictures taken while the scientists were reading/watching some dumbass climate denialist piece.
These just seem forced.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:51 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
Segundus: I expect the other side will hit back with two or three pictures of people who are not exactly climate scientists (but, y'know) looking briskly unconcerned.
Done and done: rolling coal aka "clean air is for pussies."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:40 AM on August 26, 2014
Done and done: rolling coal aka "clean air is for pussies."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:40 AM on August 26, 2014
Well, as we all know, science is absolutely about feelings, and not about facts.
I hear the science on that is settled.
posted by gsh at 7:51 AM on August 26, 2014
I hear the science on that is settled.
posted by gsh at 7:51 AM on August 26, 2014
Who farted, you ask? Cows, that's who.
posted by nzero at 9:24 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by nzero at 9:24 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
These are terrible, trite, overwrought, overproduced photographs.
One must have a heart of stone to view these photos without laughing.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 9:27 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
One must have a heart of stone to view these photos without laughing.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 9:27 AM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
These remind me of those photographs that some artist took of people when they were high on various types of drugs. These look like that.
posted by I-baLL at 12:04 PM on August 26, 2014
posted by I-baLL at 12:04 PM on August 26, 2014
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posted by xammerboy at 7:55 PM on August 25, 2014