Heavens: Photographs of the Sky & Cosmos

The sun. The clouds. The moon. The stars. For more than 150 years, photographers have looked to the heavens for inspiration and personal expression.

With the invention of the telescope, whose scientific significance was undeniable, photographers were afforded a new way of looking at the seemingly constant sun, moon, and planets. Space exploration, too, allowed views of distant worlds unseeable to the naked eye. The strange beauty and inherent wonder of the craters on the moon, spots on the sun, or distant constellations gave astronomical photographs an appeal outside the realm of pure science.

Some photographers are captivated by the cyclical rhythms of the sky; the changing position of the moon and stars captured over a series of evenings. Similarly, others investigate the passing of time by following the predictable but often unnoticed trek of the sun across the sky.

Conceptually, photographers explore the different sides of photographic representation; some trick the viewer by confusing the real and the fictitious, others depict covert satellites that could be mistaken for ordinary constellations. Likewise, the shape-shifting clouds offer unending opportunity for personal interpretation.

Resource List
In conjunction with the photography exhibition Heavens, a Library Guide has also been compiled.