Photography at NPL

NPL has developed many digitization initiatives. Our Type Collection, the Mussel Collection and many others have been digitally imaged under such projects. In 2014 we hosted a Paleo Digitization workshop with iDigBio (the digitization hub for biological collections) where participants learned different approaches to imaging specimens, software for managing them and how to integrate those images into databases.

For ease of organization, we can break down our protocols based on the type of photography.

Macro photography:

for specimens large enough you can see details without the use of a microscope. About 1mm and up. These specimens use the reflected light microscope.

The Equipment
Technique: shooting images for Stacked Shot photography
Technique: 'Whitening' a specimen
- Ammonium Chloride whitening
- Cleaning up
Post Processing

Microphotography

for acetate and polished peels, as well as any other translucent flat preparation, use the transmitted light microscope.

Inventory Photography

With the advent of Google Glass, we've been able to image whole drawers of specimens. We also use iPads and cell phone cameras for inventory images.