Boesch, Brandon (2026) The Construction of Photographs as Scientific Representations. In: UNSPECIFIED.

Text Construction of Representation in a Scientific Photograph (2).pdf Download (3MB)

Abstract

Within philosophical discussions of the nature of scientific representation, relatively little attention has been paid to the representational nature of photographs. In this essay, I will explore a case study coming from meteorology: the use of modified photographs of tornadoes in the work of Roger Wakimoto. Close attention will be paid to the ways in which Wakimoto modifies photographs and presents them alongside and combined with other forms of measurement, especially radar. The photographs become useful scientific representations in virtue of the way in which Wakimoto constructs them as informational--with curated similarities, useful dissimilarities, and intended interpretations.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Boesch, Brandon boeschb@gmail.com 0000-0002-6092-1333
Keywords:	Scientific representation, photograph, tornado
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Climate Science and Meteorology General Issues > Models and Idealization
Depositing User:	Brandon Boesch
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2026 18:33
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2026 18:33
Item ID:	29857
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Climate Science and Meteorology General Issues > Models and Idealization
Date:	1 June 2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/29857

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