Here’s what A Pencil of Rays is all about:

In optical lens design, it’s easy to fall into a single discipline, or become very good at a few subsets of lens design. Especially when you’re just starting out. Very few things beat on-the-job training for learning.

Does the company you work for only have a specific niche? No cross-collaboration between other divisions?

If you are single-disciplined or close to it, it’s possible to feel limited or vulnerable. You might feel like an impostor, only knowing a small scope of optics or lens design, when you know there is so much more to learn.

If it were possible to feel secure about your job based on your skills, maybe you could demand a raise. Maybe you get more opportunities by moving to that division that does the interesting projects. Maybe you could venture out to get a better job knowing you could work anywhere. Maybe you could freelance or become a consultant. All of this is a form of control. It’s important to get control of your job, and your life, by proxy.

I’ve always thought that a community or website that helped you become a more well-rounded optical lens designer would be beneficial. If you have the abilities to design any optical system, you can work anywhere.

Want to be part of my journey?