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MCZ
Fish Imaging Project
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University |
The MCZ Fish Imaging Project began in 2001 and since then over 1400 specimens have been photographed and posted on our searchable on-line database. The emphasis of this project has been photographing primary type specimens to facilitate examinations by researchers around the world. As of May 2007, an estimated 70% of primary types in the collection have been photographed.
Major changes to the imaging project have taken place over the last six years. Our equipment has kept pace with the explosion of digital imaging technology, including major upgrades to our cameras, microscopes and computers. Labels accompanying type specimens are now being scanned to preserve supplementary data. Over the years, a number of department staff has worked on the digital imaging project, including Chris Kenaley, Anne Holmes, and currently Andrew Williston and Karsten Hartel.
Improvements at the MCZ have expanded the digital imaging capabilities of the Fish Department. Our new digital x-ray facility has allowed us to greatly expand our collection of radiographs. A Snycroscopy auto-montage system allows us to take images of our smallest specimens with almost unreal focus and depth of field. This growing range of imaging equipment at the MCZ will greatly contribute to the growth of our digital media archives.
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The
Camera The high resolution and excellent macro capabilities of the D70 allows the examination of even small specimens from a photograph. On occasion researchers have been able to examine fine structure in a photograph, saving us shipping a valuable or delicate specimen. |
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Set-Up |
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 Lighting :
We mount the camera on a commercial copy stand (Figure 1A). This offers stability and near hands-free operation. The camera can slide vertically to adjust the working distance easily. Two lamps mounted at a 45° angle (Figure 1B) on either side of the stand. While this lighting alone usually minimizes glare and reflection, a polarizing filter is often used.
The Wet Box: Many of the specimens we image are delicate and very susceptible to desiccation. To protect the specimens from the very intense heat of the lamps we developed a glass bottomed wet box (Figure 1C, 2). The wet box sits on the base of the copy stand and the specimen sits in fluid in the wet box. In
addition to its protective qualities, the light box allows the specimen
to sit in a fluid media whereby delicate structures such as fin ray
elements or escae can float freely. The detail and sharpness this method
produces is often stunning. The walls of the wet box are made of ¼ inch The
Scope Mount:
Hardware and Software The D70 is directly interfaced with a dedicated desktop computer using Nikon Capture Control software. Capture control allows the user to adjust many of the relevant camera settings and take pictures with just the click of a mouse. Photographs are automatically downloaded through a USB2 connection. Editing to erase dust particles in the fluid or on the back ground is done in Adobe Photoshop CS3. Images are archived as unedited RAW files, edited tiffs and a web quality edited jpeg. |
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Please contact Karsten Hartel for more information. |
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plexi-glass and are joined by acrylic cement. The glass bottom sits
in a sealed dado. The legs of the wet box lift the unit 3½ inches from
the base of the copy stand; elevating the stand leaves the background of the fish out of focus, providing an even backdrop.