 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Images of Habitats |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Canon Elf digital camera was used to photograph habitats. A Cannon 20D with a 70-300mm lens was also used to document different habitats. For microhabitats and ant nests, a Canon 100mm macro lens was used to supplement the cameras and lenses listed above. For ant study sites, images were taken toward each of the four cardinal directions starting in the east and ending in the north. For close up images of individual ants, a Canon 40D camera with a 60mm macro lens and two flashes was used. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Juniper-Pinon, Mexican Cry Mesa, Apache County, Arizona | Semi-Arid Desert, Oak Springs, Apache County, Arizona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pinon Pine, Black Mesa, Navajo County, Arizona | Aspen Grove, Carrizo Mountains, Apache County, Arizona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Images of Ants
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Montage Digital Imaging System Components
There are complete professional imaging systems you can purchase directly from a vendor or you can put together your own custom imaging system at less expense. For guidance, see Harvard University, Entomology Departments' E-Type Initiative and Imaging Considerations. * Use a microscope with a fine focus feature. This will allow smooth control over the focus plane for each image in a stack. A microscope with only a single coarse focus will not be adequate for stacking of images. * Automontage by Syncroscopy and Leica LAS systems allows detailed control of digital cameras so that white balance, lighting and other parameters can be adjusted as needed. There are excellent stacking software available free such as Helicon Focus and CombineZ. * Several digital cameras with excellent color qualities are available including JVC and Leica cameras. Digital Imaging Principles * Lighting is very important. Use light sources with the same temperature and create an even light using a light box system. LED lights provide a constant temperature profile. * A neutral gray background is a good background color for contrast with ants of any color. * Mounting ants and other insect specimens on black points and using black pins will help reduce image glare. * Images should have meta data attached including camerea settings, photographer credits, date and time and locality information. A naming protocol for all specimen based images should include the genus and species.
* All images should be shared and back up by a bioinformatics facility.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Field Photography
* Field photos taken with a normal or macro lens should have the same meta data as listed for museum specimens. This includes GPS data. * Even lighting taken with a flash will require a mobile light-box system. Many small ant species can be collected in the field and photographed in the lab under more controlled lighting conditions.Take lots of photos and save the best. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pogonomyrmex occidentalis forager taken with a Canon 40D camera using a 60mm macro lens and two flashes screened by a mobile light box. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biodiversity Images
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Throughout this study we often take photos of animals and plants discovered on the Navajo Reservation that we think are of interest. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
