Design Plan

The purpose of my photo essay is to show people that there might be more out there when it comes to planets that can sustain life. I want people to question if our planet is the only one that can sustain life, as we know it. My strategy for this photo essay is to take pictures of nature, our atmosphere, and other things that would be required on other planet. I would also like to find pictures of characteristics that earth has that other planets cannot offer us. Exoplanets might offer some qualities we need but might not be capable of having everything necessary.

For my medium, I will be using 8-10 photos accompanied with captions. I want these pictures and captions to tell a story and explain my point of view. I want the audience to have and moment where they see it all come together and say I get it. The photos will be more nature based since there is no way I can get a real photo of the planets and solar system myself so hopefully those pictures can tell the story.

The arrangement will consist of me showing what we already have on this planet that help us sustain life and then work into showing something’s that other planets don’t possess that would hinder our us survival. I feel we sometimes forget that earth is just a fraction of what is out there and that their might be more to offer.

The project will be a series of photos and captions in PowerPoint format and will be shown like a gallery of artwork in a sense.

The way I might test it it to show it to a friend first and see what they feel when they watch the PowerPoint and if they understand the point that I am trying to make.

Narrative

I chose this topic because I really love learning about space, and what is out there. I know there have been many focuses of finding new planets that are like earth. Through research, I see that even though some planets might have some specific elements we have they do not offer them all. I want people to realize how special our planet can be and to recognize that we might not be the only planet that offer certain elements required. I chose pictures that showed key elements that are essential to life.

The photo used called Rainbow demonstrates the amount of fertile land that we have on earth. Without fertile land to grow plants and food to support ourselves and other life on earth we would never survive. I wanted to show the grass, trees, and crops that fertile land is responsible for producing. Without fertile land, Earth would be barren. Any planet that would ever be considered for life would have to offer this or else we would never be able to thrive. Fertile soil is a major element in our climate as well because it assists in filtering the carbon dioxide in the air. No exoplanet has been discovered that has fertile land as we do on earth. I wanted to highlight all the benefits of fertile land and point out that exoplanets as far as we know do not offer this element. This was used as a reason to show exoplanets do not possess some key elements that we need.

The next photo in the presentation called Puddles it was used as an example of the water we have here on earth. The majority of the planet is covered in water. It is probably the first resource that comes to mind when we think of things that are essential for life. One of the main elements that scientists look for on exoplanets is if they have water in the atmosphere and on the planet itself. Life would not be possible if it was not for water. Although scientists have found evidence that, some exoplanets possess water they have not been able to determine it its frozen or even capable of sustaining life. I wanted to make that distinction with the comments and pictures as a way to compare and contrast our essentials to elements that exoplanets might or might not possess.

The photo called Sunset was used as an example of the sun we see on earth. I used the sunset picture because I think it captures the beauty of the sun as well as relevance to the argument. The sun plays a major role in our climate and survival. The proper distance from the sun is essential. If were too far the climate would be too cold and we would not get the sunrays that are necessary for plants to grow. However if we are too close we would not be able to survive the heat nor the rays. I wanted to add a picture called Exo-Sun to illustrate that, like earth exoplanets also possess suns that are responsible for the same tasks our sun performs.

The picture called Stormy Day was used as a way to show the atmosphere that we have. I wanted to show the elements that make up our atmosphere and to demonstrate that once again science has not been able to find a planet that shares the same make up that we do. They have found some that have sodium in the atmosphere or abnormal levels of carbon dioxide but nothing that is habitable by our standards.

For the picture Flounder, I chose a picture of an animal to show that we depend on the survival of many other animals to help us survive. Earth not only provides sustenance for us as humans but it also is able to sustain the lives of many other creatures. No other planet has been found to possess any source of complex life. If another animal cannot survive, their chances are we will not be able to survive as well we also would miss having another source of food that many people depend on.

I utilized the picture Blizzard and Kite Flying to illustrate the different climates earth can offer. Although at times they might seem extreme, they are still habitable. Many factors influence our climate two of them is the sun and the moon. I wanted to add the caption that some exoplanets have been found to have suns and moons that are similar to ours which might suggest that even though scientists have not been able to prove exoplanets climates there might be a possibility that they might have some similar conditions to ours.

The slide on plants was used to show what important tasks plants perform to help us survive. I used the picture Tulips as just an example of the types of plants we have and are used to on earth. An exoplanet being able to support life of plants is a major concern. I added the picture Purple Forrest to illustrate that exoplanets might be discovered to have plants and when they do them most likely would not look like the ones we are accustomed too.

Work Cited

"Water Found in Atmosphere of Nearby Alien Planet." DiscoveryNews. Discovery Channel, 16 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/water-found-in-atmosphere-of-nearby-alien-planet-140226.htm

"What Is the Atmosphere of Earth Made Of?" Cool Cosmos. California Tech, Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/64-What-is-the-atmosphere-of-Earth-made-of.

"Three New Exoplanets Found Orbiting Sun-like Star." : Europe, News. India Today, 17 Jan. 2014. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/three-new-exoplanets-found-orbiting-sun-like-star/1/338246.html.

"2.2.3: PRECESSION AND CLIMATIC CHANGE:." EARTH’S CLIMATE.Web. 24 Mar. 2014. http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-phase/EARTHCLIMATE.htm.

Keys, Sydney.(2010). Rainbow.

---.Puddles.2014.

---.Sunset.2013.

---.Stormy Day.2013.

---.Flounder.2010.

---.Blizzard.2014.

---.Kite Flying.2013.

---.Tulips.2011.

Exo Sun. 1/12/2012. Extrasolar Planetary System Suggests Our Own Isn’t That Special. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. http://scitechdaily.com/extrasolar-planetary-system-suggests-our-own-isnt-that-special/.

Purple Forest. 5/20/2011. Space.com. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. http://www.space.com/11709-extraterrestrial-trees-planets-technique-proposal.html

My Photo Essay 

 Closing Comments

After completing the essay and the narrative, I feel I have accomplished my initial goal by giving the facts on what earth and exoplanets offer and do not offer and to questions yourself if living on another planet is possible. After this, I realize that although many planets might possess some elements earth is still unique and special.