----- Forwarded message from Sive
Finlay
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:48:46
-0500
From: Sive Finlay
Reply-To: Sive Finlay
Subject: Macro lenses, lighting and scale in
tpsDIG
To: [email protected]
Sive Finlay
IRC EMBARK Initiative Postgraduate
Scholar
----- End forwarded message
-----
Dear all, --
I'm getting started with my new
PhD project studying morphological convergent evolution in tenrecs compared to
other mammalian groups. I have a few questions about the photography set up and
would be very grateful for any advice or comments.
I'm photographing skulls of very different sizes - from
shrews (around 2cm long) to hedgehogs (around 8cm). Should I use the same camera
height and zoom settings for every picture which would then show great detail
for the larger specimens and less detail for the smaller species? Alternatively,
would it be useful to divide my skulls into size classes and use one camera set
up for the large skulls and then change the height/zoom for the smaller
skulls?
A related question is whether I should maintain the same
camera height and zoom for every shot and use that to scale the pictures or can
I just manually set the scale for every photo when I'm placing the landmarks in
tpsDIG? (recommended in these instructions http://www.morpho-tools.net/softwareguide/GM%20guide%20v4%20OLs.pdf)
Regarding which size of macro lens to use, is there an
optimal working distance for the camera which allows for more consistent
lighting? (standard lenses seem to range between 60mm and 105mm). Given the size
range of my skulls, do I need to invest in equipment which would magnify images
to "larger than life" - i.e. greater than 1:1? Advice on which brands of lens
and/or camera would also be much appreciated.
Finally, I'm not in a position to bring my own copy stand to
museums so I will be using whatever is available in the various institutions. Is
variation in lighting (eg. different bulbs, wattage, background lighting etc.)
likely to be a problem and if so does anyone have any advice on how to deal with
potential issues?
I'd be very grateful for advice or tips regarding any or all
of the queries
above!
Thanks,
Sive
Macroecology and Macroevolution Research Group
Zoology
building
