Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Light, Time, and Dimension Theory : x4=ict

Einstein's most remarkable equation relates light, time, and dimension: x4=ict. This simple equation naturally leads to all of relativity, and too, as it sets time and space on equal footing, it exalts the "light cone," which I celebrate in this photograph. I sculpted this Light Cone Spacetime Scultpture via a long exposure capturing a spiraling drone with a light mounted on it. In addition to exalting the noble mystery and beauty of the California desert landscape at night with unique light, the drone also celebrates Einstein's relativity. As explained in this Smithsonian article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-physicist-uses-drones-to-create-giant-light-cones-in-the-desert-180982250/ This Physicist Uses Drones to Create Giant Light Cones in the Desert Evoking a key concept in relativity, Elliot McGucken traces out hourglass-like shapes in the sky that stretch as high as a seven-story building. “The first thing you have to accomplish is a sense of beauty. You owe that to the viewer before you start giving them any sort of physics lecture,” he says. “I want people to see the desert landscape at night, and then see the light cone, and then start wondering, ‘What is that? What does it mean?’”

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Trona, California, United States of America
Copyright: © Elliot McGucken