Pauline Woolley

What is this project about?

My name is Pauline Woolley and I am an artist from the UK visiting The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (LTRR)  made kindly possible by the Agnese N. Haury Visiting Scholar & Trainee Fellowship.

 In 2022 I created a piece of artwork called 'Solar Tree' based upon research into carbon-14 traces found in some studies of tree-ring dating or dendrochronology. 

The basis of this work started from own own interest in astronomy and using the Sun's light to create art work namely from making solargraph images. One of my deep interests is in how we perceive our own skies from the different locations we all live in. With this I thought it would be really interesting for the public and communities of Tucson to participate in making their own solargraph images to contribute to a collaborative piece of art and science work. 

I really hope you will be a part of this!

Where shall I install my solargraph camera?

When setting up a solargraph camera, the key factors to consider are the direction of the sun’s movement and how much light your camera will receive over the course of the exposure. There are some great apps you can use to locate the movement of the Sun. SunCal is a free online site and is worth exploring. If you have been given a ready made camera it will have an arrow on it showing which way is up.

You will need some items to attach your camera. These could be zip clips or waterproof tape of some kind like electrical tape or gaffa tape. Reusable sticky putty is also handy for stabilising the camera.

Here are some tips on where to place your camera:

1. Direction of Exposure:

• South-facing (in the Northern Hemisphere): A south-facing location will capture the sun’s arc across the sky, especially if you're looking for the longest and most pronounced trails.

• East or West-facing: If you want the sun’s movement to be more dramatic at certain parts of the day (sunrise or sunset), these directions could work, but the arcs won’t be as long as they would be with a south or north-facing setup.

NOTE: Don't position in a North facing direction as you will not capture any sun trails due to our Northern Hemisphere postition.

2. Lighting Conditions:

• Sunny locations: To get clear, sharp solargraph images, you'll want to place your camera in a location that gets plenty of sunlight during the exposure period.
• Shaded areas: If you want a more subtle effect with softer sun trails, a shaded location can work, but make sure there’s still enough light filtering through.
• Avoid direct obstruction: Keep in mind that buildings, trees, or other obstructions can block the sun, leading to incomplete or unclear images.

3. Ideal Height and Placement:

• Elevated position: Placing your camera slightly off the ground (on a fence post, ledge, or tree branch) will help reduce interference from plants or animals.
• Stable surface: Ensure the camera is steady and won't move during the exposure period. Wind, rain, or other factors could blur the image if the camera shifts.
• Inside of windows can also work using some reusable reusable sticky putty.
• Use zip cables or electrical tape to keep the camera in position. 
• NOTE: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO INSTALL YOUR CAMERA AND PLEASE RESPECT WHATEVER YOU ATTACH THE CAMERA TOO. THE CAMERAS CAN ALSO LOOK A LITTLE STRANGE. THEY DO HAVE LABELS ON THEM EXPLAINING WHAT THEY ARE BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH LETTING PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY ARE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

4. Long Exposure Duration:

• Since solargraphs are meant to capture the sun's trail over a long period (typically weeks to months), make sure your camera is in a safe, secure location where it won’t be disturbed. 
• The length of time you leave the camera is up to you. The longer you leave it the more impressive the image will be, however fantastic solargraphs have been done in just one day.

How long do I leave my camera exposing for?

PUT FINISH DATE HERE