To 'see animation', Click the IMAGE

There are a couple of very easy steps any digital photographer can take to enhance those prickly identification characteristics on many insects; especially in the larval and/or instar stages.

[1] Contrast and Brighten – ad a bit more ‘illumination’ and bit more ‘pop’ to the image to bring out the sometimes ‘hidden’ elements. Generally only a tiny amount is needed to make the difference between a squinting, “… not sure?” and a bona fide “… you betcha!”.

However, if the image is really under or over exposed, then – as we all know – that’s what the beauty of digital photographic capture’s immediate delete ‘n re-shoot is all about.

But again, sometimes even then nature does not give us the 2nd shot. So, getting it right the first time is still the best bet.

Just remember, with digital, that first time can be a lot closer to the edge of usable and still be brought into the light of useful imagery. And it doesn’t require you to be an expert photographic technician to learn to do this either.

[2] Shooting in RAW format provides a huge degree of latitude. If you’re off by 3 f-stops – over or under in film or in a digital JPEG, you’re out-of-luck. But in a digital RAW image, you can still recover – at least 90% of the time – a very usable image. It may not win any contest awards for clarity and quality, but it will be usable.

So, just imagine how powerful this digital tool can be when it’s used within the optimum recoverable parameters of 1.25 and 2 stops UP or DOWN.

Again, this, too is not outside the reach of the common knowledge photographer. A bit of practice and your images will garner more ‘Wows!’ than you would have imagined.

Have fun.

The image above is an animated GIF showing the difference between the original image – a very properly exposed image, shot by my friend (Flickrname: urtica; Realname: Jenn Forman Orth ©2010) .. and one slightly enhanced for optimizing the shoulder spines.

Also take note the rest of the insect’s more visible characteristics… without compromising the overall integrity of the photo for true-to-life identification

I was conducting my usual ‘cruise’ about the Internet, when on the Flickr site I followed a link on one of my Contacts site to this new Group called: National Wildlife Week: a Blogger BioBlitz. I read the comments and wanted to be involved so I joined.

I am in the middle of a complete overhaul of all my websites and blogs – so I created this blog to fill-in as an augment to my regular O’fieldstream Journals blog; until it’s back up and running.

So, I encourage all who read this to join in. Not just for the week, but for your lifetime!

There’s so much to learn and see that it will take your entire lifetime! And what a lifetime it will be.

So many new opportunities for learning from points all around the country, different formats and delivery systems abound. If we all give a bit of our time on a weekly basis, a far broader picture of the life that surrounds us will come into sharper and sharper focus.

I hope this blog will be inspirational to you in its content and direction. If you have any questions or comments, please – by all means – register to be a part of this blog and comment away. I look forward to your involvement here on the O’fieldstream BioBlitz Journal and in our manificent Natural World.

O’fieldstream