Parallels
A few years ago, I started to get into photography. As a hobby, it seems perfect for me. On the one hand, the gear and specs and technical aspects speak to my engineering brain. On the other hand, the way you have to look at the world and compose your images really let me explore my artistic side.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how my photographic journey, so far, has paralleled the beginning of my engineering career. I started with some innate intuition and creativity, but I needed to learn a bunch of new techniques and how to use a whole series of tools and equipment. I also needed to learn how to work methodically to apply these tools and techniques to what I was trying to achieve.
Fresh out of school, I learned how to work in CAD to create models representing my concepts. I learned some basic machining skills in the shop, which built an understanding of the possibilities and constraints of CNC processes. I examined a large number of injection molded parts, torn down from other products, to explore not only how the “rules of injection molding” apply, but also how those rules can be bent or broken to achieve more complex things.
Progress came fast at the beginning, making huge leaps in understanding and abilities. Over time, all of this knowledge built up, augmented by the experiences from all the projects I worked on, each of which included learning a handful of new tricks in my CAD software, a new manufacturing process, and new injection molding or mechanism challenges. Each project also included mistakes that needed to be identified and corrected.
It all adds up (after 26+ years) to my current skill set and level of expertise.
In my photography, I’m still at the beginning. And that is exciting, knowing that I have decades ahead of me, to improve my skills and expertise (and, yeah, my gear, too).
In 2022, this was my astrophotography skill level (I’m hoping Squarespace doesn’t crush all the details in these images):
In 2023, after a lot of practice and reading up on techniques, here’s where I’m at:
