Back to forums

Blending Astrophotography and Music

Fine Art Astrophotography •11 replies•281 views
Gary Lopez avatar
Gary Lopez avatar
Last month I teamed up with astrophysicist/songwriter, Jewel Arianna, for a presentation/performance for the California Arts and Sciences Institute (CASI). The title of our presentation was, Tales Told By Ancient Light, and blended my astrophotography with Jewel’s songs. Our audience was composed primarily of people interested in the arts, very few of whom had science or technology backgrounds. Our goal was to engage them in the beauty and wonder of the cosmos.
 
I created a video documenting the event. Here is the link.

CASI: Tales Told By Ancient Light

Please take a look at the video and give me some feedback. We’ve been asked to perform the program again this winter at a much larger venue and any ideas for improvement would be appreciated.


Well Written Respectful Engaging
Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar

It’s a great idea and bravo for taking that on. There’s been a lot of talk lately about Astrophotography not really being a legitimate part of the art world. What you did helps to change that by giving people a greater appreciation of the universe around us. Bringing home the fact that beauty can be found everywhere and at all scales.

How would I do it differently? I think I would go a little lighter on the facts/lecture and rely more on the visuals and the music. Let the viewer fill in the details with their own imagination and feelings that the image and music invokes.

Well Written Insightful Respectful Engaging Supportive
Gary Lopez avatar
Gary Lopez avatar
Tony Gondola:
It’s a great idea and bravo for taking that on. There’s been a lot of talk lately about Astrophotography not really being a legitimate part of the art world. What you did helps to change that by giving people a greater appreciation of the universe around us. Bringing home the fact that beauty can be found everywhere and at all scales.

How would I do it differently? I think I would go a little lighter on the facts/lecture and rely more on the visuals and the music. Let the viewer fill in the details with their own imagination and feelings that the image and music invokes.

Thank you so much for your feedback, Tony.  Jewel and I struggled with the balance that you're pointing out. Over the years CASI has been primarily presenting scientists, not artists. In fact, I shared our original script which was more art focussed and the CASI organizers requested it be beefed up the science and tech. We held the event in an art gallery to underscore the art of the presentation and make the art crowd feel more comfortable. We had about 120 people attend the two events and an informal survey was about evenly split between those that expressed an interest in more science and those that craved more art. On the positive side, a lot of the science/tech folks purchased art, so maybe we made some converts.

Shortly after the CASI event, I was approached by the local chamber orchestra. I will be their "artist of the season, " with my images used in their programs and one of my pieces auctioned to raise money for the orchestra. I will also be presenting at one of the performances. That presentation will absolutely have more of an art focus. 

Thanks again for your feedback. Sometime I feel we have a foot in each to two very different worlds and it is tough to to deliver to both of them at the same time.

CS, Gary
Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging
Rick Veregin avatar
Rick Veregin avatar

Wow, this was a wonderful event, Gary, that you and Jewel put together! As a retired scientist, now as an astrophotographer who is trying to develop my artistic side, I really appreciate the combination of science and art you put together! And if you are getting a 50:50 split from attendees on more art or more science, you have got the balance right.

This was wonderful to watch and listen to as I sit here under the stars (and a bright moon) tonight doing my imaging—thanks so much!

All the best and CS

Rick

Well Written Respectful Supportive
Gary Lopez avatar
Gary Lopez avatar
Wow, thank you so much, Rick. I am delighted that you enjoyed the video, especially as you sat under the stars imaging. The scene could not be more perfect.

CS, Gary
Well Written Respectful Supportive
Gary Lopez avatar
Gary Lopez avatar
Rick Veregin:
Wow, this was a wonderful event, Gary, that you and Jewel put together! As a retired scientist, now as an astrophotographer who is trying to develop my artistic side, I really appreciate the combination of science and art you put together! And if you are getting a 50:50 split from attendees on more art or more science, you have got the balance right.

This was wonderful to watch and listen to as I sit here under the stars (and a bright moon) tonight doing my imaging—thanks so much!

All the best and CS

Rick

Wow, thank you so much, Rick. I am delighted that you enjoyed the video, especially as you sat under the stars imaging. The scene could not be more perfect.

CS, Gary
Well Written Respectful Supportive
Spacetime Pictures avatar
Spacetime Pictures avatar

There is a lot of ground to cover on the topic of astrophotography as an art form, and you had the courage to stand out for it. How did the audience respond? Congrats on the project!

Well Written Respectful Supportive
Vincent Goetz avatar
Vincent Goetz avatar

Gary,

Between this event and your recent book, I see you as the artist that will bring astrophography out of the closet. I live in a very remote area but every time I run into children I encourage them to see my telescopes and I give them a USSB stick with approximately fifty images. I explain that the first part of the file name is the name of the target image, that they can google and explore the science behind the images. I also have started a Substack page, posting images…

Astrophotography is a way to reconnect humanity with our place in the heavens…

Gary Lopez avatar
Gary Lopez avatar
Spacetime Pictures:
There is a lot of ground to cover on the topic of astrophotography as an art form, and you had the courage to stand out for it. How did the audience respond? Congrats on the project!

The audience response was strongly positive. The attendees were split between those with a science/tech background and those that follow the arts.  The tech group expressed their new appreciation for the power and value of artistic interpretation, while the art group told us that they have a new, powerful understanding of our place in the Universe (some of whom expressing this sentiment with tears in their eyes.) Overall, it could not have gone better and we have been asked to repeat the performance next year.

Thank you for you note and generous words,

CS, Gary
Respectful
Gary Lopez avatar
Gary Lopez avatar
Vincent Goetz:
Gary,

Between this event and your recent book, I see you as the artist that will bring astrophography out of the closet. I live in a very remote area but every time I run into children I encourage them to see my telescopes and I give them a USSB stick with approximately fifty images. I explain that the first part of the file name is the name of the target image, that they can google and explore the science behind the images. I also have started a Substack page, posting images…

Astrophotography is a way to reconnect humanity with our place in the heavens…

Thank you so much for your kind words, Vincent. I think that a lot of us got hooked on astronomy as kids. Sharing your astrophotography with children will likely spark their interest learning about the cosmos. I think you may be growing the AstroBin subscriber list with the next generation.

CS, Gary
Well Written Respectful Supportive
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar

On the subject of astrophotography and music, I’d like to share two of my latest astro music videos. In these videos I’ve chosen to integrate three of my life long passions—music, photography and astronomy. Please enjoy!

Jerry

https://app.astrobin.com/u/jsg?i=o8rajn#gallery

https://app.astrobin.com/u/jsg?i=0uufsl#gallery

Well Written
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar

Here’s another in my series of astrophotographic music videos, In Time There Will Be No Time.

At some point I may replace a few of the images with ones of better technical quality, but I think the feeling I was trying to convey still comes through..

I hope you enjoy watching/listening.

Jerry

https://app.astrobin.com/u/jsg?i=mieu9q#gallery

Well Written