nered

"Goodbye, Stranger Things"

Jonathan's metaphor about the right shot reflects Will's journey through the gate, where he essentially "takes a photo," akin to the daguerreotype principle.

I'm unsure how canon the Stranger Things comics are, but after reading them, my confidence in the theory that Will shaped the dimension after gaining powers from dark matter exposure or lightning strikes has wavered. He is shown in the Upside-Down version of the shed right after going through the gate with the Demogorgon, indicating that the dimension already resembles a dark version of Hawkins when he enters.

If we assume the comics convey the Duffers' vision, Jonathan's metaphor about the right shot conveying more than words may literally apply to Will's experience when he crosses through the gate - he essentially "takes a photo," which could be scientifically explained using the principle of the daguerreotype.

The daguerreotype process allowed for the capturing of an image seen inside a camera obscura and preserving it as an object. In a camera obscura, light from the outside world passes through a small hole (the lens/aperture) and projects an upside-down image inside a dark chamber.

To create an analogue of a modern photograph, a polished silver-coated plate was placed inside the camera obscura. Light from the lens struck the plate and formed an image. This image was later developed and fixed by exposing the plate to chemicals.

(Before actual daguerreotypes were fully developed, early photographic tests often used lamps to expose light-sensitive plates. It's not a coincidence that we see a lamp glowing when Will is taken - it hints at how his light energy interacts with the dimension later).

Here’s how this all relates to Will:

The gate opened by the Demogorgon acts as the camera obscura lens.

The dark chamber represents Dimension X.

The plate covered in chemicals symbolizes the dimensional matter that emits radiation, which we see when El first opens the gate.

And Will...

Will represents the light!

Despite the trauma he has endured, including his father's cruelty, bullying, poverty, and being marginalized by the town, Will's light persists. As Noah confirmed recently, he embodies hope, kindness, and selflessness even when surrounded by darkness.

So when Will first enters the gate, I believe the dimension reacts to his unique mind, and his unconscious emotions project an upside-down version of Hawkins - a reflection of his experience there. The dark matter, like the plate in a daguerreotype, becomes sensitive to his inner light, instantly capturing an image of Will's trauma, making Jonathan's metaphor a reality.

Moreover, just as a photograph has edges, Will's Upside Down version of Hawkins has borders. I think it is made from Dimension X matter but exists as a separate pocket dimension between real Hawkins and Dimension X.

When Will created this copy, it effectively became a bridge between the endless, timeless Dimension X and Hawkins.

I believe Henry was impressed by what Will unconsciously accomplished and wanted this power for himself. However, he lacks the ability to create because he is shadow, not light. Shadows can distort or obscure an image, but they cannot create one. I suspect he "moved in" to the Creel house that Will "built" and continued his plan to open gates, potentially hoping to bring Will to his side later when the worlds merge.

The white goo we saw in the trailer may also relate to this concept - it could represent the Upside Down's deterioration, mirroring early photographs' degradation.

Objects can begin to melt into white goo, as if the very image itself is sliding off its surface. This reflects how early daguerreotypes broke down: mercury and silver would blur and tarnish, creating pale stains that spread across the plate until the picture disappeared.