The coming of digital photography has revolutionised taking pictures of invertebrates. Many quite simple cameras will focus close-up, and operate in poor light. Taking lots of images to get ideal ones costs virtually nothing, compared with the expense of film.
 Claudia Watts.bmp) |
| Common blue (Polyommatus icarus) © Claudia Watts |
The image can be collected for identification rather than the specimen. Whilst many species are identifiable in this way, it helps to know the position of the essential features for identification of that type of invertebrate. This approach has its limits since a lot of invertebrates need more critical examination to be sure of a correct identification.
These days it is possible to e-mail digital pictures for verification by more experienced people.
Crucially, the photographer has a special role. It is he or she who can record the natural posture or activity of an invertebrate, and in a natural setting. Indeed softer-bodied invertebrates look very different when preserved (think what a collection of pinned or pickled slugs would look like!). Equally leaf-mines and galls are very uninspiring as herbarium specimens.
Digital photography equipment is rapidly advancing in capability. Single-lens Reflex Cameras (SLR) are best able to take high quality pictures, in particular through-the-lens focusing ensures crisp focus on the subject, and there is a greater range of lens and controls options (prices have been coming down but the cost of supplementary equipment all adds up). Without SLR, a camera is liable to focus on the background rather than a small invertebrate (just take snaps until the result required is achieved). Nonetheless, some quite basic cameras will focus very close and even though light levels may be low, digital is far more capable of giving a satisfactory result in poor light without long exposure times.
For some fantastic bug photo links, click here
