Local photgrapher, David Rasmussen, recently wrote a story about his experience in the Particle Physics Photowalk this past summer. As a New Year's present, he has shared his story with us:
 | “Good morning, everyone. I’d like to welcome you all here.” I felt the excitement of what was about to begin. Our host continued. “Just to let you know, the Japanese, because of the time difference, have already completed their Photowalk. At Fermilab they are about midway through. And at CERN they are just wrapping up.” What a feeling it was to be part of the day’s global event – the Swiss and French at CERN, the Americans at Fermilab, the Japanese at KEK, the Germans at DESY. And here I was at TRIUMF, part of this select group of approximately two hundred people around the world. “On the Internet, photographs are already being uploaded from the event.” | |
David Rasmussen at the Photowalk |
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I looked around the small but crowded lobby. There were people of all ages – even some in their sixties – like me.There was a wide variety of photographic equipment in the room. I wondered if I would be the only one shooting film. I had carefully selected the equipment for my adventure – my Nikon camera body, a 24 mm lens, a 28-70 zoom and my Gitzo tripod. I was travelling light.
It was only a month before when I was on the Internet one evening. I had opened one of my ‘favourites’, Interactions - A Communication Resource from the World’s Particle Physics Laboratories. Immediately, the headline caught my eye:
World's Particle Physics Labs Take Amateur Photographers Behind the Scenes
8 July 2010 - Picture this: For the first time, amateur photographers around the world collide with the past, present and future of particle physics. Five of the world's leading particle physics laboratories will make the image a reality when they join together to host a Particle Physics Photowalk on 7 August. More than 200 people will have the rare opportunity to photograph state-of-the-art accelerators and detectors in all their beauty and complexity.
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Photos by David Rasmussen |
I thought to myself, ‘I wish I could have been part of this event. It would bring together my photography, my scientific background and my great interest in the field of particle physics. If only I could go to CERN or Fermilab.’ Then I read more from the computer screen:
Photographers will benefit from special behind-thescenes access to laboratories in Asia, Europe and North America, with tours tailored to the creative eye. Photographers are invited to register for a Particle Physics Photowalk at these participating laboratories:
- CERN in Geneva, Switzerland
- DESY in Hamburg, Germany
- Fermilab in Illinois, USA
- KEK in Tsukuba, Japan
- TRIUMF in Vancouver, Canada
There it was, TRIUMF. I wouldn’t even have to leave town to be a part of the Global Photowalk! I quickly sent off an email to register. I just hoped that I would get one of the forty spaces available. Only a few days later I received confirmation – I would be part of the Photowalk.
Over the next few weeks my excitement mounted. With only two days left before the event, I received an email:
Dear Photographers,
The day we have all been anxiously awaiting is almost here!
And then the morning of August 7th arrived and I was standing in the crowded waiting room at TRIUMF. My excitement grew as I thought about the next two and a half hours and what it could bring.
“Attention, everyone. It’s now ten o’clock and time to begin the Photowalk.”
We were divided into four groups. Our group, along with two guides, headed down a narrow hallway passing a wall of employee radiation badges. At the end of the hallway we stepped outside into the rain. I pointed my camera down and held it close to me to avoid it getting too wet. Soon we walked through a large service entrance. Once inside the building I was struck by its magnitude. We climbed up an open stairway and onto a large floored area.
I was actually standing on top of the world’s largest cyclotron.
My summer adventure had begun!
-- Story by David Rasmussen